Some are homicides, some are missing persons’ cases, the DOC sells the cards to inmates because inmates may have useful information tend to know a lot. If a prisoner has information, sometimes they’ll talk in hopes of a deal--and that can be helpful to investigators in a pinch.
This is the third edition, 52 cards, and since the DOC started the card program back in 2010, more than 470 tips have come in.
Nine arrests have been made in murder cases shown on previous cards.
The deck has a hotline telephone number on it and even a special phone extension inmates can use on phones in corrections facilities.
If you want to a look at the unsolved crimes-- the CT Department of Corrections has a tab on their homepage--cold case cards.
The Chief’s Attorney’s Office says the goal here is to achieve “justice for victims and familes” and the CT Police Chiefs Association also contributes to the playing card program.