How do exceptional clearances differ from traditional clearances?

• A. An arrest in the same case.
• B. A case closed without arrest due to circumstances like suspect death or victim noncooperation.
• C. A case closed due to lack of evidence.
• D. A case reopened later.

Answer: (B)

Exceptional clearances happen when a case is considered solved even without an arrest, due to extraordinary circumstances that prevent taking one. For example, the suspect may be dead, the victim may refuse to cooperate, or the offender may be in custody for another offense or outside the jurisdiction—yet investigators identify the offender and finish the case, so it’s counted as cleared. This is different from traditional clearance, which requires an arrest, charge, and turnover for prosecution. The other scenarios—closing a case because there was no arrest (or lack of evidence) or reopening a case later—don’t fit the exceptional-clearance concept, which hinges on solving the case but waiving the arrest due to special circumstances.