What happens to the significance of an NCIC hit as time passes?

The significance of an NCIC hit decreases over time primarily due to the potential for changes in the circumstances surrounding the original incident or record. As time passes, details related to a criminal record, missing person report, or stolen property can become less relevant. For instance, witnesses may forget specific details, leads may go cold, and the urgency of resolving cases might diminish. Additionally, individuals may have been cleared of suspicion or charges may have been dropped, which would further reduce the relevance of older hits.

In essence, as time elapses, the immediacy of the information diminishes, making it less impactful for current investigations or actions. Therefore, recognizing the temporal aspect of NCIC hits is crucial for law enforcement to prioritize cases that require immediate attention.