The Department should establish guidelines for timely assignment of cases to investigators to minimize such occurrences. There should also be clear guidelines for case progress and follow-up. For example, assigned cases should have a general target date for completion, such as 30 days from receipt, and there should be routine calendared follow-ups by supervisors at set intervals, such as 30, 60, and 90 days. As indicated earlier, each case has its own timeline based on numerous factors, such as availability of witnesses, the number of interviews to be conducted, the availability of evidence, and the amount of labor required in the preparation and execution of search warrants. The goal is not to impose hard deadlines that will discourage thorough investigation, but to ensure that case progress is monitored and kept on track.
