Death Investigation: Systems and Procedures is the first book dedicated to the topic of death investigation from a legal standpoint as well as the administrative and operational procedures that pertain to the medical examiner and the coroner system in the United States. Unique in its perspective, this book is the only one not concerned with instruc

Death Investigation: An Introduction to Forensic Pathology for the Nonscientist provides students and law enforcement professionals with an accurate, clear overview of forensic pathology. It presents death investigation at the scene and autopsy, providing readers with a broad understanding of forensic pathology and giving them a clear picture of what happens after the examination of the scene. Readers learn what first responders should (and should not) do at the scene, and get a forensic pathologist's perspective on the importance of preserving evidence. Death Investigation methodically explains what happens during autopsy to determine cause and manner of death — including particulars of blunt force trauma, sharp force injuries, asphyxia, and gunshot wounds — and how findings are presented in court. Written for a criminal justice audience by a practicing forensic pathologist and educator, Death Investigation makes challenging forensics concepts accessible to nonscientists. Presents the principles of death investigation in clear language and for the non-scientist Covers all types of death investigations beyond just homicide Explains the difference between coroner and medical examiner systems Includes detailed photographs, key terms, learning objectives, and checklists Online ancillary materials for students and instructors

The US Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of The National Academies to conduct a workshop that would examine the interface of the medicolegal death investigation system and the criminal justice system. NIJ was particularly interested in a workshop in which speakers would highlight not only the status and needs of the medicolegal death investigation system as currently administered by medical examiners and coroners but also its potential to meet emerging issues facing contemporary society in America. Additionally, the workshop was to highlight priority areas for a potential IOM study on this topic. To achieve those goals, IOM constituted the Committee for the Workshop on the Medicolegal Death Investigation System, which developed a workshop that focused on the role of the medical examiner and coroner death investigation system and its promise for improving both the criminal justice system and the public health and health care systems, and their ability to respond to terrorist threats and events. Six panels were formed to highlight different aspects of the medicolegal death investigation system, including ways to improve it and expand it beyond its traditional response and meet growing demands and challenges. This report summarizes the Workshop presentations and discussions that followed them.

All too often, police called to the scene of a water-related death may consider it an accidental drowning before they even arrive. But the investigation of these types of deaths requires the same careful and thorough documentation as in other potentially non-natural deaths and these efforts must be carried through all stages of investigation. Water

A Practical Guide to the Medicolegal Investigation of Death this guidebook written by a veteran death investigator specifically for field investigators and students. The book is unique because of the field investigators focus and approach, and is not distracted by graphic images or an overabundance of case studies, scientific, or medical jargon. The book addresses the most common death scene situations faced by investigators but is brief enough to fit into every death investigator's gear bag. With helpful Rules of Thumb for quick and practical reference, and detailed explanations, the book is an investigator's tool. Specific topics include historical foundations, legal issues, identification methods of human remains, time of death estimation, and wound analysis. Specific areas addressed are fire deaths, asphyxial deaths, drowning deaths, electrical deaths, and motor vehicle accidents

Essentials of Medicolegal Death Investigation uses a unique approach by combining medical issues, injury patterns, and investigative procedures to provide the reader with the basic fundamentals for a death investigation. The text introduces the reader to death investigation, common causes of death, and very specific types of death, including blunt-force injuries, gunshot wounds, and toxicology deaths. Each section includes case studies with written and visual descriptions. Written by a well-known and experienced medicolegal death investigator, the book fills a void in medicolegal literature for both students and professionals alike. - Provides a valuable guide to the interpretation of medical death investigation for practitioners and students - Covers the following circumstances in death investigations: asphyxiation, blunt-force injuries, sharp-force injuries, gunshot wounds, toxicology deaths, and natural causes - Includes case studies with written and visual descriptions and discussion, as well as up-to-date literature review

Remember: Do it right the first time. You only get one chance.Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S., 1980, Homicide and Forensic Consultant, Author of Practical Homicide Investigation and the Series Editor of Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations.In Practical Homicide Investigation, renowned author and investigator Vernon J. Gebert

Why is the American system of death investigation so inconsistent and inadequate? In this unique political and cultural history, Jeffrey Jentzen draws on archives, interviews, and his own career as a medical examiner to look at the way that a long-standing professional and political rivalry controls public medical knowledge and public health.