An immersive program
Western's Cold Case Program with Michigan State Police is a leader in student cold case investigation, putting cohorts shoulder to shoulder with detectives solving homicide and missing persons cases. An exemplar of experience-driven learning, the program allows students to engage in criminal investigative techniques supported by seasoned law enforcement officials with the intent of resolving cases that have gone unsolved for decades.
Students graduate from the program in high demand, ready to hit the ground running at agencies from the FBI to local and state law enforcement and forensic labs. Their work also contributes to the public good, bolstering the police force while helping victims' families find justice and closure decades in the making.
Apply
Join our mission to bring answers to families and justice to victims. Learn how to apply and become part of our dedicated team working to solve cold cases.
FAQs
Have questions about how the program works? Find answers about eligibility, case submissions, and how we collaborate with law enforcement and the community.
10,000
hours worked by student per semester
58
cold case homicide and missing persons cases worked on by students and detectives
7
student-assisted cold case solves
Being a part of the Cold Case Program has been life-changing. It has given me the opportunity to develop my investigative and leadership skills while making professional connections in the field. I feel confident and prepared to step into a career in criminal justice having gained real-world, hands-on experience working with the program.
As part of the Cold Case Program with Michigan State Police, student investigators gain countless skills by performing tasks such as:
Organizing
Sorting and cataloging decades of case files from witness tips and lab analyses to photographs and police reports, to help investigators uncover new connections and keep every piece of evidence within reach.
Digitizing
Digitizing thousands of case documents and files into a secure, searchable database designed to streamline access for detectives and enhance the efficiency of ongoing investigations.
Analyzing
Developing detailed timelines, indexes of individuals and interviews, and organized records of evidence. This includes labeling security footage, identifying phone numbers and vehicles, and creating investigative tools such as maps and family trees to help detectives visualize connections and uncover new leads.
PLEASE NOTE: Deciding which cold cases in Michigan to reopen/re-investigate is a complicated decision-making process involving the type of physical evidence that is available and still testable, which witnesses are still available for interviews and whether weapons or property was retrieved at the time of murder. The Cold Case Program with the Michigan State Police does not choose which cases will be reopened for further investigation; it is assigned cases by detectives.
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Giving
Your support helps preserve critical evidence, fund advanced technology, and provide resources that bring investigators closer to solving unsolved cases. Every contribution makes a difference in the pursuit of justice.
Meet the team
Meet the faculty and detectives who guide the Cold Case Program. Their expertise, leadership, and dedication drive our mission to uncover the truth and bring resolution to unsolved cases.