My biological mother was brutally murdered at a young age of 23. She lay unidentified as a Jane Doe for an agonizing 27 years. It was only in 2006 that she was finally given a name. The first two sheriffs who were handed her case worked dedicatedly to solve it. As the years rolled by and new sheriffs took charge, the commitment to her case dwindled, as did the contact with our family.

I've seen firsthand the anguish and helplessness that clouds the families left behind. I've experienced the gnawing pain of not knowing who is responsible for taking away our loved ones. That is why I firmly believe in the necessity of enhanced transparency and family engagement in cold case investigations. This petition aims to require law enforcement agencies to give access to the case files and updates on investigative progress to the immediate family after a case has been cold for 10 years. In addition, it hopes to mandate these agencies to provide families with regular updates, at least monthly, if the family so chooses.

According to the National Institute of Justice, there are estimated to be over 240,000 unsolved murders in the United States since 1980. Allowing families more access to case files would not only provide them with a sense of involvement but could also potentially aid the investigation. Family members may have insight or connections that have previously been overlooked. Hence, this petition strives to bring about this much-needed change.

It's time that we let these voiceless victims be heard through the voices of their families. Sign this petition to demand that lawmakers enforce this change. Let's forge a future where the journey to justice is a shared one, where families and law enforcement work together to solve the many cold cases that still haunt our society.