The Central New Mexico Community College Criminal Justice program is collaborating with the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) to solve cold cases. 

The new Cold Case Collaborative course will launch at the end of April. The course was developed in partnership with the NMSP to provide students with real-world experience and to help serve communities across New Mexico. 

“We’ve been developing this class over the last two years and we’re so glad to have our first cohort start this summer term,” said John Solomon, CNM Criminal Justice program director and instructor. “This is a very unique opportunity for our students to live out the ideal of relentlessly seeking truth and justice.”

Solomon began developing this class in 2021 as the Criminal Justice program director. As the new program director, he was asked to find innovative ways to advance CNM’s Criminal Justice program. He found inspiration from a four-year institution in Michigan that had developed and launched a successful cold case class.

With the guidance of the lead instructor from the university in Michigan, Solomon worked on developing a similar class for CNM and contacted state police.

“The state police were very excited to partner with CNM, which was critical to this course getting off the ground,” Solomon said. “They have numerous cold cases and a limited amount of staff to work on them, so it’s a win-win for everyone.”

During the 14-week course, a selected cohort of criminal justice students will review and digitize the files of one cold case.

Students won’t testify in court but will play a critical role in helping police make connections and follow leads in ways that may not have been possible before. 

The first cold-case cohort will begin on April 29, and applications are now open.  

“This course has been two years in the making, and I’m just really looking forward to seeing it get off the ground,” Solomon said. “With cold cases, you can’t find a solution until you find the beginning, and I’m really proud and grateful to help the state police and the community uncover those beginnings while also serving our students.” 

Applicants must be a declared criminal justice major, have completed CJUS 2140 Criminal Investigations, and submit an application form. Students will also be required to submit to a thorough NMSP background check and sign confidentiality agreements with both CNM and NMSP.