---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 60901"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "60901"
heading: "Case file review"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/60901"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Other Crime Control and Law Enforcement Matters"
  - "Chapter 609 — Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights"
---

# §60901. Case file review

- (a) **In general—** The head of an [agency](/usc/34/60911.md?p=5) shall review the case file regarding a [cold case murder](/usc/34/60911.md?p=6) upon written application by one [designated person](/usc/34/60911.md?p=1) to determine if a full reinvestigation would result in either the identification of probative investigative leads or a likely perpetrator.
- (b) **Review—** The review under [subsection (a)](#a) shall include—
  - (1) an analysis of what investigative steps or follow-up steps may have been missed in the initial investigation;
  - (2) an assessment of whether witnesses should be interviewed or reinterviewed;
  - (3) an examination of physical evidence to see if all appropriate forensic testing and analysis was performed in the first instance or if additional testing might produce information relevant to the investigation; and
  - (4) an update of the case file using the most current investigative standards as of the date of the review to the extent it would help develop probative leads.
- (c) **Certification in lieu of review—** In any case in which a written application for review has been received under this chapter by the [agency](/usc/34/60911.md?p=5), review shall be unnecessary where the case does not satisfy the criteria for a [cold case murder](/usc/34/60911.md?p=6). In such a case, the head of the [agency](/usc/34/60911.md?p=5) shall issue a written certification, with a copy provided to the [designated person](/usc/34/60911.md?p=1) that made the application under [subsection (a)](#a), stating that final review is not necessary because all probative investigative leads have been exhausted or that a likely perpetrator will not be identified.
- (d) **Reviewer—** A review required under [subsection (a)](#a) shall not be conducted by a person who previously investigated the [murder](/usc/34/60911.md?p=4) at issue.
- (e) **Acknowledgment—** The [agency](/usc/34/60911.md?p=5) shall provide in writing to the applicant as soon as reasonably possible—
  - (1) confirmation of the [agency](/usc/34/60911.md?p=5)’s receipt of the application under [subsection (a)](#a); and
  - (2) notice of the applicant’s rights under this chapter.
- (f) **Prohibition on multiple concurrent reviews—** Only one case review shall be undertaken at any one time with respect to the same [cold case murder](/usc/34/60911.md?p=6) [victim](/usc/34/60911.md?p=3).
- (g) **Time limit—** Not later than 6 months after the receipt of the written application submitted pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a), the [agency](/usc/34/60911.md?p=5) shall conclude its case file review and reach a conclusion about whether or not a full reinvestigation under [section 60903 of this title](/usc/34/60903.md) is warranted.
- (h) **Extensions—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [agency](/usc/34/60911.md?p=5) may extend the time limit under [subsection (g)](#g) once for a period of time not to exceed 6 months if the [agency](/usc/34/60911.md?p=5) makes a finding that the number of case files to be reviewed make it impracticable to comply with such limit without unreasonably taking resources from other law enforcement activities.
  - (2) **Actions subsequent to waiver—** For cases for which the time limit in [subsection (g)](#g) is extended, the [agency](/usc/34/60911.md?p=5) shall provide notice and an explanation of its reasoning to one [designated person](/usc/34/60911.md?p=1) who filed the written application pursuant to this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–164, § 2, Aug. 3, 2022, 136 Stat. 1358.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

For short title of Pub. L. 117–164, which enacted this chapter, as the Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act of 2021, see section 1 of Pub. L. 117–164, set out as a Short Title of 2022 Amendment note under section 10101 of this title.