Mass Fatality Incidents: A Guide for Forensic Identification

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SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05B. Implement a simple, consistent, andexpandable numbering system for remains,personal effects, and evidence.C. Establish recovery and evidence processingprocedures relevant to thetype and extent of the incident.D. Document the location, collection, andremoval of remains, personal effects,and other evidence.E. Establish onscene staging areas tofacilitate the efficient processing ofcollected items.F. Assign rotating shift schedules.Regardless of the type of incident, consider allremains, personal effects, and other itemsrecovered as evidence.G. Provide the remains/evidence processingteams with regular breaks, debriefings,and stress management.Summary. The incident command is expectedto implement procedures to initiatethe transition between search-and-rescueand search-and-recovery operations.8
Section 3: Processing the Scene I. Initial ConsiderationsPrinciple. The complete and accurate identificationof remains and evidentiary processingbegins at the scene of the massfatality incident. In most circumstances,the medical examiner/coroner has the ultimateresponsibility for the recovery andidentification of the deceased. The remains/evidence processing teams have to assumethat any mass fatality scene could be acrime scene. They are expected to carefullydocument every piece of physical evidencerecovered from the scene. Thescene should be large enough to ensureits protection from public access until allagencies have agreed to release the scene.Although teams can discard informationlater, scene processing always involvesthe physical destruction of the actualscene, and additional information may notbe recoverable after the scene has beenprocessed and released. Efficient informationrecovery proceeds from the least intrusiveto the more intrusive (e.g., takingphotographs is allowed only after teamslocate, flag, and sequentially number theremains). Although protocols may changein the middle of an event depending onthe scope and extent of the incident, documentingevery aspect of the remains/evidence processing operation will ensurethe preservation of information.Procedure. Before processing the scene,the incident command, in consultationwith the medical examiner/coroner, isexpected to—A. Identify team leaders responsible forremains/evidence processing.B. Determine the size and compositionof the remains/evidence processingteams (usually a function of the teamleaders), which may include:1. Medical examiner/coroner.2. Forensic anthropologist.3. Odontologist.4. Police crime scene investigator.5. Forensic photographer.6. Evidence technician.7. Scribe/notetaker.C. Integrate the remains/evidence processingteams according to existinginteragency jurisdiction and chain ofcommand. The scope and extent ofthe mass fatality incident determinesthe number of agencies involved.D. Establish and/or verify control overaccess to the scene.E. Establish communication among transportvehicles, the incident command,and the morgue.F. Establish an onscene remains processingstation.G. Consider the recovery of remains andpersonal effects as evidence and preservethe chain of custody throughoutthe recovery operation.Summary. Effective organization and compositionof the remains/evidence processingteams ensures the proper collectionand preservation of remains, personaleffects, and evidence.II. Establish a Chain of CustodyPrinciple. Establishing and maintaining achain of custody verifies the integrity ofthe evidence. The remains/evidence processingteams are expected to maintainthe chain of custody throughout the recoveryprocess.Procedure. Throughout the investigation,those responsible for preserving the chainof custody are expected to—9
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Page 5 and 6: Message From the DirectorEvery acti
Page 7 and 8: Technical Working Group for Mass Fa
Page 9 and 10: Cook County HospitalChicago, Illino
Page 11 and 12: AcknowledgmentsThe National Institu
Page 13 and 14: Appendix D. Procedures for DNA Samp
Page 15 and 16: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05III. Consid
Page 17 and 18: Section 2: Arriving at the SceneI.
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Page 25: Identification of Human Remains SEC
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Appendix F. Dental Numbering System
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Appendix G. Sample Remains ReleaseA
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SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05AFIP, Office
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SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05Indiana Stat
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SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05National Gov
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SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05Tarrant Coun
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About the National Institute of Jus
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Mass Fatality Incidents: A Guide for Forensic Identification

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