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Subtopic: Medicolegal death investigations

Emerging Forensic Research Series: Medicolegal Death Investigations

March 2019

Forensic science research and development plays a key role in the advancement of the practice of forensic science, as noted by the 2009 National Academies of Science report “Strengthening Forensic Sciences in the United States: A Path Forward.”

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on March 14, 2019.

A Medical Examiner's Perspective on the Use of Toxicology in NPS Related Cases

July 2018

This recording one of a group of presentations on Interpretative Toxicology for NPS in Forensic Casework, which is session III of the Best Practices Guidance for Advancing Research Initiatives and Combatting the Synthetic Drug Epidemic Online Workshop Series.

The workshop was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 25, 2018.

An LC-MS-MS Method for the Analysis of Fentanyl in Postmortem and Impaired Driving Cases

July 2018

This recording one of a group of presentations on Analysis of NPS – Practical Considerations and Analytical Approaches, which is session II in the Best Practices Guidance for Advancing Research Initiatives and Combatting the Synthetic Drug Epidemic Online Workshop Series.

The workshop was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 25, 2018.

Death Scene Investigations: Roles & Responsibilities

July 2018

Death Scene Investigations: Roles & Responsibilities Presenter: Ms. Barbara Butcher This presentation discusses the difference between the cause and manner of death, steps of a scene investigation, and the role of a medicolegal death investigator. Additionally, this session describes what happens after death, artifacts caused after death, and methods for identifying a decedent. Finally, Ms. Butcher provides examples of scenarios that a death investigator may encounter.

Census and Surveillance Efforts in the Medicolegal Death Investigation System

July 2018

Census and Surveillance Efforts: Insight into the U.S. Medicolegal Death Investigation System Presenters: Dr. Jeri Ropero-Miller & Dr. Hope Smiley-McDonald In 2015, nearly 2.5 million people died in the United States. Of these, about one million were referred to the nation’s medical examiner and coroner offices (MECs), which accepted about half of these cases. MEC caseloads are at all-time high because many of these deaths require a complex, in-depth investigation.

Ethics & Report Writing in Medicolegal Death Investigations

July 2018

Ethics & Report Writing Presenter: Mr. Paul Parker There are currently many resources that explore ethics within law enforcement, but there is a lack of resources on ethics within the field of medicolegal death investigation (MDI). MDI personnel are placed in a position of public trust, and it is necessary that there is a focus on the ethics, character, and behavior of MDI personnel. This session discusses professional ethics, ethical and unethical behaviors, and fostering and maintaining professional integrity.

NIJ’s Role in Strengthening the ME-Coroner System

July 2018

Medicolegal death investigators serve a fundamental role for public safety and ensuring justice by conducting death scene investigations and providing investigation services for suspected homicides and violent deaths, sudden and unexpected deaths, and deaths due to suspicious circumstances, as well as deaths related to drugs, drug overdoses, terrorism, and mass fatality incidents.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence in July 2018.

Update on Legalized Marijuana from the Mile High City

July 2018

Update on Legalized Marijuana from the Mile High City Presenter: Dr. James Caruso In 2012, the state of Colorado passed amendment 62, which allowed the possession, recreational use, production, distribution, and personal cultivation of marijuana. Since then, other states have also legalized marijuana for medical and recreational uses. This session covers the history, “discovery,” criminalization, and legalization of marijuana in Colorado and other states.

Standardizing a Large-Scale, Whole Body CT Image

February 2018

The NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium is a free and open meeting where attendees learn about NIJ-funded research across a variety of forensic science areas. This is one of 17 videos recorded at the 2018 symposium.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on February 18, 2018.

A Study on the Asymmetry Between the Left and Right Human Pubic Symphysis for Age-at-Death Estimation Based on 3D Laser Scans and Computational Methods

February 2018

The NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium is a free and open meeting where attendees learn about NIJ-funded research across a variety of forensic science areas. This is one of 17 videos recorded at the 2018 symposium.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on February 18, 2018.

Building a Science of Cranial Fracture

February 2018

The NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium is a free and open meeting where attendees learn about NIJ-funded research across a variety of forensic science areas. This is one of 17 videos recorded at the 2018 symposium.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on February 18, 2018.

The NC Statewide Medical Examiner System Laboratory Approach

November 2017

This webinar will focus on the North Carolina Medical Examiner System and the toxicology laboratory that serves the system. Included will be information on the changing landscape of death certification and changes to the laboratory approach to testing.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on November 21, 2017.

Nerve Agent Uptake and Detection in Human Bone

May 2017

This presentation discusses experimental tests of a model for drug uptake by human bone and explores how the results may be applied to detect nerve agent exposure from human remains recovered from mass graves during human rights investigations.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on May 9, 2017.

Forensic Entomology Overview, Part 2

March 2017

Entomology has a multitude of uses when it comes to forensic investigation. Whether investigators are estimating post-mortem interval or trying to understand damage dealt to a corpse after death, insects and their behaviors may provide clues or missing information. In this presentation, Neal Haskell, Ph.D., discussed specific case studies and how forensic entomology aided these investigations.

Forensic Entomology Overview, Part 1

March 2017

Entomology has a multitude of uses when it comes to forensic investigation. Whether investigators are estimating post-mortem interval or trying to understand damage dealt to a corpse after death, insects and their behaviors may provide clues or missing information. In this presentation, Neal Haskell, Ph.D., discussed specific case studies and how forensic entomology aided these investigations.

Funding Opportunities for Publicly Funded Crime Labs, Fiscal Year 2017

January 2017

This webinar will inform the audience of the changes to three programs available for publicly funded forensic laboratories and introduce a new program for FY 2017. Changes to existing programs will be highlighted and presenters will discuss the background and goals of the solicitations, recommendations for successful applications, application expectations and requirements, the review process, and the application checklist. There will also be time for questions and answers at the end of the webinar.

Solicitations discussed include:

Variability in Blow-Fly Development - Research and Implications for PMI Practice

November 0218

Dr. Leon Higley’s work to characterize blow-fly species indicates that there is variation within a single population--the bell curve is wide. Dr. Higley will share his research and discuss how the science is challenging some notions about PMI analysis.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on November 7, 2018.