Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Heroin and Crime Initiative: Informing the investigation and prosecution of heroin-related overdose

The applicant proposes to evaluate the Cuyahoga County Heroin Involved Drug Investigations (HIDI) protocol that guides medical examiners and law enforcement in the collection and preservation of forensic evidence in heroin-involved death incidents. The purpose is to improve the HIDI’s ability to secure faster indictments and successful manslaughter prosecutions of drug dealers after an overdose death. The applicant will analyze all overdose cases investigated by the medical examiner over 2014-2017, and 40 successfully prosecuted manslaughter cases matched with 40 unsuccessful cases. These case reviews will be augmented by two waves of 35 stakeholder interviews of medical examiners, police, and prosecutors. This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law," and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR 200.210(a)(14). ca/ncf