Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied: Helping Solve Unsolved Crime

Every homicide leaves behind more than a crime scene. It leaves grieving families, traumatized neighborhoods, and communities searching for answers.

While Philadelphia has made significant progress in solving murders, too many families are still waiting for justice. Nearly 800 homicides committed between 2021 and 2023 had not resulted in an arrest as of late 2025, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Even more troubling, nearly 2,000 homicides dating back to the 1970s remain unsolved. 

Each unsolved murder represents a victim denied justice, a family denied closure, and potentially a violent offender who remains free to harm others. Solving homicides is not simply about accountability for past crimes; it is one of the most effective ways to prevent future violence. Many unsolved crimes can be attributed to a shortage of police personnel and a lack of investment in the technology and tools needed to solve them.

That’s why I introduced Senate Bill 911, the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Act, which recently passed the Pennsylvania General Assembly and was signed into law by Governor Shapiro as part of the FY2026-2027 Budget. 

The VICTIM Act is designed to increase the clearance rates for homicides and other violent crimes by providing our law enforcement with necessary tools to help solve serious crimes. The law establishes a grant program, administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which allows local law enforcement agencies to apply for funding to help solve homicides and other violent crimes. Grants could be used to hire and retain detectives and investigators; upgrade technology used to analyze evidence; and ensure compliance with the grant’s reporting requirements.Significantly, the law also requires that this program be evaluated to determine what’s working and what isn’t, and to identify any areas of needed improvement.Solving homicides and other violent crimes is about more than improving statistics; it is about making our communities safer, restoring confidence in the justice system, and ensuring that victims are not forgotten. Every case that is solved represents a dangerous offender removed from our streets, making our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Higher clearance rates also serve as a powerful deterrent. When violent criminals know law enforcement has the resources, technology and determination to identify and prosecute offenders, it sends a clear message that these crimes will not go unanswered. 

Equally important, successfully solving violent crimes strengthens public trust in law enforcement. Residents are more likely to cooperate with police, report suspicious activities and serve as witnesses when they believe investigations are thorough, effective and capable of delivering results. That partnership between law enforcement and the community is essential to preventing future crime.

Above all, every solved homicide represents justice for a victim and a measure of peace for the loved ones left behind. Families should not have to spend years – or even decades – wondering who took the life of someone they loved. While no investigation can erase their loss, holding offenders accountable provides answers, honors the victim’s memory and allows families to begin the difficult process of healing. Our justice system has a responsibility to ensure that no victim is forgotten, and no family is left without hope that justice will ultimately prevail.