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

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xxii Commentary Mayor Scott L. King, Chairman, NMRP Mayor Gary, Indiana As the representative of the United States Conference of Mayors, I was pleased to serve as Chairman of the National Medicolegal Review Panel, particularly given the expertise and wide range of diverse experience of the balance of the panel. Because the duties of a mayor include responsibility for public safety functions, and because I served for 20 years as both a prosecution and defense attorney before assuming my present office, I am acutely aware of the importance of establishing and utilizing appropriate protocol for death-scene investigations. These guidelines will, I hope, accomplish the goal of uniformity in the conduct of such investigations nationwide without requiring significant additional expenditure of budget funds. Commentary George H. Kuhler Elected Coroner Beadle County, South Dakota I would like to encourage all elected coroners to consider supporting national guidelines for coroner investigations. As a funeral director and elected coroner, I know firsthand how important proper investigation is to the law enforcement community, as well as to the forensic medical/ legal investigation of the death. With no “official training” required for elected coroners, it is difficult for the elected coroner to know what should be done in investigations. Most elected coroners have begun their jobs with little or no knowledge as to how and what they need to do. Having a set of national guidelines for medicolegal death investigation would ensure that at least the elected coroner would have a “cookbook” to follow and would have some idea of what is expected of him/her in every case.
I would encourage the adoption and use of the following guidelines for all coroners, medical examiners, and death investigators. These guidelines have been developed by a panel of members from all of these fields from across the United States. The use of these guidelines on every scene will ensure quality and uniform death investigation every time. Commentary Douglas A. Mack, M.D., M.P.H. Chief Medical Examiner and Public Health Director Kent County, Michigan As a representative of the National Association of Counties and as Chief Medical Examiner for Kent County, Michigan, I enthusiastically endorse the medicolegal guidelines developed by the National Medicolegal Review Panel for death-scene investigation and medical examiner system processes. An efficient, well-managed, and high-quality medical examiner system is a critical element in death investigation and benefits the law enforcement, criminal justice, and public health systems. This protocol provides direction for the interaction of these systems, and helps assure that the work of those involved results in high-quality investigations and outcomes. Commentary Donald L. Mauro Commanding Officer, Homicide Bureau Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Los Angeles, California As a representative of the National Sheriffs’ Association, I have been honored to participate with the very capable and diverse group that comprises the National Medicolegal Review Panel. The results of our efforts are the national guidelines, which will direct the efforts of fellow death investigators in “other than natural” death investigations. The xxiii
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 and 10: viii The Director of NIJ, the Honor
Page 11 and 12: x Introduction ....................
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: Commentary Mary Lou Kearns, R.N., M
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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