Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator (Technical Update)

• NCJ Number: 234457
• Date Published: June 2011
• Length: 64 pages
• Publication Series: NIJ Research Report
• Grant Number(s): 96-MU-CS-0005; 2007-MU-BX-K008
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This updated guidelines document provides details that follow 2024 best practices and standards for medicolegal death investigators when performing tasks, including: initial notification and determination of response; arriving at the scene; documenting and evaluating the scene; documenting and evaluating the body; recording decedent profile information; and completing the scene investigation.

Abstract

This document presents the 2024 update to the guidelines for death scene investigation, reflecting advances in communication, photography, and documentation technology. The document also reflects other updates, such as procedural advances in drug, child, and infant death investigations; and an elevated awareness of the importance of the medicolegal death investigator (MDI) among professional partners, families, and media. The document emphasizes the importance of understanding the potential value of evidence associated with a body, and acknowledges that MDIs must be allowed to perform independent yet collaborative investigations with law enforcement personnel. The updated document aims to provide the best possible outcome for death and criminal investigations. This revised, 2024 edition presents the most updated information about issues facing MDIs, thanks to work performed by a multidisciplinary group to update the content according to contemporary standards. The guidelines document provides insights into the update process for the guidelines before presenting sections A through F, with detailed descriptions of MDI guidelines, followed by Appendixes noting investigative tools and equipment, a glossary of terms, and information about the Technical Update Working Group Committee.