ONSITE INVESTIGATION (FROM GUIDE TO THE INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING OF DRUG-ABUSE DEATHS - PROBLEMS AND METHODS, 1977 BY LOUIS A GOTTSCHALK, ET AL - SEE NCJ-44092)

• NCJ Number: 44093
• Author(s): M E ARONSON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ASPECTS OF ONSCENE INVESTIGATION OF DEATHS INVOLVING DRUG ABUSE ARE EXAMINED; HANDLING OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AND FACTORS CHARACTERISTIC OF DRUG-RELATED DEATHS ARE EMPHASIZED.

Abstract

THE ARTICLE COVERS THE IMPORTANCE OF DESIGNATING BEFOREHAND AN OFFICIAL WHO WILL COORDINATE THE TEAM OF DEATH INVESTIGATORS DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE; THE ROLE OF THE TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER; LOCATING THE SITE OF DEATH AND DECIDING TO PERFORM AN ONSITE INVESTIGATION; DESCRIBING AND OBSERVING THE SCENE OF DEATH; LOCATING DRUGS OR PARAPHERNALIA; CLASSIFYING THE MANNER OF DEATH; OBSERVING THE BODY; AND IDENTIFYING THE BODY. THE VALUE OF USING A WELL-TRAINED FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST AS THE LEADER OF AN ONSCENE INVESTIGATION TEAM AND OF MAINTAINING AS SHORT A CHAIN OF EVIDENTIARY CUSTODY AS POSSIBLE IS STRESSED.