Interactive Map: Medicolegal Death Investigation Data Flow

• NCJ Number: 308613
• Date Published: December 2023
• Grant Number(s): 15PNIJ-21-GK-02192-MUMU
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, Fiscal Year 2021

Annotation

This interactive map illustrates data flow as well as dynamics between data producers and users in a medicolegal death investigation.

Abstract

This interactive graphical map helps users better understand the flow of data and the complex relationships between entities in a medicolegal death investigation. By using an interactive process map users can explore and drill down into specific details and access additional information and resources, which helps provide a high-level global understanding of the diversity of data needs and requirements to inform process improvement and data standardization at the local, state, national and international levels.  Medicolegal death investigations are complex and multidisciplinary processes that involve the collaboration of various professionals, including medical examiners, coroners, law enforcement, first responders, forensic pathologists, toxicologists, and other experts. During an investigation, data plays a critical role in gathering evidence, identifying leads, and drawing conclusions. Data can come from various sources, including physical evidence, witness statements, documents, surveillance footage, and digital records. These data are authorized, shared, and exchanged by numerous entities including data producers and data users. Data sharing allows professionals in the investigation to collaborate, analyze and make decisions regarding the cause and manner of death.