Bill > SB2649

This bill mandates the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), a state law enforcement agency, to create a dedicated "cold case division" to re-examine unsolved homicides and missing person cases. This division will be structured into three geographic regions, each overseen by a regional director and at least five detectives specializing in these difficult investigations. Local law enforcement agencies will be required to transfer any unsolved missing person or homicide cases that have remained unresolved for ten years to this new TBI division. Furthermore, the bill allows family members of victims to request a review of their unresolved case if the local agency lacks a dedicated unit, the incident occurred in a small town, or the case has been open for at least a decade. In certain circumstances, family members who have had a missing person report filed for at least ten years can request controlled access to the case file, provided they have no criminal convictions and are not suspects, with limitations on copying or photographing materials to protect the integrity of the investigation. The bill also permits private investigators hired by families to collaborate with local law enforcement on these cold cases.