NCJ Number
223804
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2008 Pages: 249-263
Date Published
August 2008
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article examines the benefits of using law enforcement reports in conjunction with a violent death surveillance system in Utah.
Abstract
Results indicate that law enforcement reports contribute substantively to the surveillance system, and often augment or provide additional information to the medical examiner reports. This study compared information gathered from medical examiner reports to information gathered from law enforcement reports in characterizing incidents of homicide and homicide followed by suicide that were abstracted for a public health violent-death surveillance system. It also notes that the utility of law enforcement data, particularly the narrative information, must be balanced with the time needed to gather the law enforcement reports and funding limitations. Additionally, as violent-death surveillance needs grow, the report cites the need to link police and other law enforcement data with medical examiner and other public health data sources to provide a clearer picture of the circumstances relating to homicide and other violent deaths at the State and national level. Data reviewed was collected from 47 homicide incidents and 11 homicide followed by suicide incidents from 2002 and 2003 in Utah for which both medical examiner and law enforcement reports could be obtained. Figures, table, appendix, and references