How Sacramento County is bucking the national trend of murder cases going unsolved

Sacramento — In a collaboration with CBS News, CBS Sacramento is examining why crime is often going without punishment in our country. The national homicide clearance rate is at an all-time low, according to FBI data. Barely half of the murder cases in the United States get solved. "We are most grateful for the thorough investigation of Emma's death. The homicide detectives in the case showed Emma's mother and me a great deal of compassion as well."

In the mid-1960s, more than 90 percent of murders were solved, generally resulting in an arrest. By 1990, the percentage fell into the sixties.

And our analysis with CBS News also discovered a difference by race.  The national homicide clearance rate for White victims keeps improving while the rate of solving murders for Black and Hispanic victims is much lower.