ABSTRACT
Historically, police administrators have created a public impression that all crimes reported to the police are investigated. But the Uniform Crime Reports for the United States show that law enforcement agencies cleared approximately 45 percent of violent crime and 17 percent of property crimes in 2008 (Crime in the U.S., 2010, p. 201). A 46 percent clearance rate was reported for violent crimes (p. 220). e clearance rate for crimes does not change signi–cantly from year to year. For example, in 1988 there was a 46 percent clearance rate for violent crimes (FBI, 2001, p. 157). e 46 percent clearance rate compares to 45 percent clearance in 2008.
