Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator - National ...

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Contents Message From the Attorney General .............................................................. iii National Medicolegal Review Panel .................................................................. v Acknowledgments ............................................................................................ vii Foreword: Commentaries on the Need for Guidelines for Death Investigation ........................................................ xiii Jeanne M. Adkins, Representative, State Legislature ........................... xiii Richard T. Callery, M.D., F.C.A.P., Chief Medical Examiner ............... xiv Mary E.S. Case, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner .................................. xiv Joseph H. Davis, M.D., Professor of Pathology Emeritus and Retired Director, Medical Examiner Department .................... xv Halbert E. Fillinger, Jr., M.D., Forensic Pathologist and Coroner ........xvi Bruce H. Hanley, Esq. ......................................................................... xvii Randy Hanzlick, M.D., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...... xviii Richard C. Harruff, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Medical Examiner ...........xix Jeffrey M. Jentzen, M.D., Medical Examiner......................................... xx Mary Lou Kearns, R.N., M.P.H., Coroner .............................................xxi Scott L. King, Chairman, NMRP, and Mayor ..................................... xxii George H. Kuhler, Elected Coroner..................................................... xxii Douglas A. Mack, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Examiner and Public Health Director ......................................... xxiii Donald L. Mauro, Commanding Officer, Homicide Bureau .............. xxiii Elaine R. Meisner, Coroner ................................................................. xxiv Thomas J. O’Loughlin, Chief of Police................................................ xxv John E. Smialek, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner ...............................xxvi ix
x Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Medicolegal Death Investigation Guidelines .................................................. 11 Section A: Investigative Tools and Equipment ....................................... 13 Section B: Arriving at the Scene............................................................. 15 1. Introduce and Identify Self and Role ........................................ 15 2. Exercise Scene Safety ............................................................... 16 3. Confirm or Pronounce Death .................................................... 17 4. Participate in Scene Briefing (With Attending Agency Representatives) ............................. 18 5. Conduct Scene “Walk Through” ............................................... 19 6. Establish Chain of Custody....................................................... 20 7. Follow Laws (Related to the Collection of Evidence) .............. 21 Section C: Documenting and Evaluating the Scene ............................... 23 1. Photograph Scene ..................................................................... 23 2. Develop Descriptive Documentation of the Scene ................... 24 3. Establish Probable Location of Injury or Illness....................... 25 4. Collect, Inventory, and Safeguard Property and Evidence........ 26 5. Interview Witness(es) at the Scene ........................................... 27 Section D: Documenting and Evaluating the Body ................................ 29 1. Photograph the Body ................................................................ 29 2. Conduct External Body Examination (Superficial) .................. 30 3. Preserve Evidence (on Body) .................................................... 31 4. Establish Decedent Identification ............................................. 33 5. Document Post Mortem Changes ............................................. 33 6. Participate in Scene Debriefing................................................. 35 7. Determine Notification Procedures (Next of Kin) .................... 36 8. Ensure Security of Remains ...................................................... 37
Page 1 and 2: U.S. Department of Justice Office o
Page 3 and 4: National Guidelines A Guide for for
Page 5 and 6: Message From the Attorney General T
Page 7 and 8: vi International Association of Cor
Page 9: viii The Director of NIJ, the Honor
Page 13 and 14: Foreword: Commentaries on the Need
Page 15 and 16: the tremendous importance of medico
Page 17 and 18: With many of the deaths today havin
Page 19 and 20: The creation of guidelines for medi
Page 21 and 22: Commentary Mary Lou Kearns, R.N., M
Page 23 and 24: I would encourage the adoption and
Page 25 and 26: Commentary Thomas J. O’Loughlin C
Page 27 and 28: Introduction “Is it [death invest
Page 29 and 30: The following groups were formed fo
Page 31 and 32: The educational backgrounds of the
Page 33 and 34: defense needs, the technique is use
Page 35 and 36: Training Guidelines The purpose of
Page 37 and 38: Medicolegal Death Investigation Gui
Page 39 and 40: 14 29. Pocketknife. 30. Shoe-covers
Page 41 and 42: 16 1. Introduce and Identify Self a
Page 43 and 44: 18 3. Confirm or Pronounce Death Su
Page 45 and 46: 20 6. Establish Chain of Custody Pr
Page 47 and 48: Documenting and Evaluating the Scen
Page 49 and 50: C. Describe scene environments incl
Page 51 and 52: Procedure: After personal property
Page 53 and 54: Documenting and Evaluating the Body
Page 55 and 56: C. Document the decedent’s positi
Page 57 and 58: 4. Establish Decedent Identificatio
Page 59 and 60: 6. Participate in Scene Debriefing
Page 61 and 62:
8. Ensure Security of Remains Princ
Page 63 and 64:
Establishing and Recording Decedent
Page 65 and 66:
3. Document Decedent Medical Histor
Page 67 and 68:
5. Document Social History Principl
Page 69 and 70:
46 2. Release Jurisdiction of the B
Page 71 and 72:
48 4. Assist the Family Principle:
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