NCJ Number
44093
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
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.