Person of Interest: What It Means When Police Use This Term in Criminal Investigations

Understanding the Term ‘Person of Interest’

“Person of interest” is a term used by law enforcement in the United States, Canada, and other countries when identifying someone possibly involved in a criminal investigation who has not been arrested or formally accused of a crime. The phrase has gained significant attention recently following several high-profile criminal cases, making it essential for the public to understand what it truly means when authorities use this designation.

It has no legal meaning, but refers to someone in whom the police are “interested”, either because the person is cooperating with the investigation, may have information that would assist the investigation, or possesses certain characteristics that merit further attention. While terms such as suspect, target, and material witness have clear and sometimes formal definitions, person of interest remains undefined by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Recent High-Profile Cases

The term has been making headlines in early 2026. On Monday, police released security footage of a person of interest that shows the person walking in an alley near the couple’s home during the three hours in which investigators believe they were attacked. Police in Columbus who were asked to conduct a wellness check found Dr. Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe shot to death in their home on Dec. 30. The person was wearing light coloured pants and a dark hooded jacket, and police asked for the public’s help in identifying them.

Why Law Enforcement Uses This Term

In most cases, it appears to be a euphemism for “suspect,” with enough vagueness thrown in to temper expectations and afford legal protection. A professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center stated that “nobody knows what it means and that it has no definition,” noting it “covers a multifarious group of situations.”

While the phrase can be used to describe someone who may have information about a crime that law enforcement hopes to speak to, many consider it a way to refer to someone as a suspect in a criminal investigation without the potential legal ramifications. This distinction is crucial for protecting both the investigation’s integrity and individuals’ reputations during ongoing enquiries.

The Controversy and Historical Context

The term was used widely in mass media at least as early as the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing in reference to Richard A. Jewell. Its initial uses aroused controversy, but it has since seen increasingly regular use. Media outlets named him a “person of interest,” and it took years for Jewell to clear his name. Domestic terrorist Eric Rudolph, a bomber of nightclubs and abortion clinics, confessed to the crime in 2005.

What It Means for the Public

Understanding the implications of being designated a person of interest is vital for public awareness. While “person of interest” doesn’t carry a legal definition, it remains open to interpretation and can easily be abused. Given how quick some are to overreact, the results can be destructive, dangerous, and even life-threatening. For anyone contacted by law enforcement, seeking legal counsel immediately is strongly advised to protect their rights and navigate the complexities of criminal investigations.