ALTHOUGH FORENSIC MEDICINE IS A FIELD FOR EXPERTS, OFFICERS MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH TYPES OF INFORMATION VITAL TO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION; E.G., METHODS FOR DETERMINING CAUSE OF DEATH, ANALYZING THE CRIME SCENE, AND IDENTIFYING BODIES. THEY MUST ALSO BE AWARE OF TOXICOLOGY; ANALYSIS OF BLOOD AND FLUID TRACES; WOUNDS; BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS; AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL ILLNESSES DURING INTERVIEWS. PATHOLOGY IS DISCUSSED WITH REGARD TO CORPSES AND MATTERS RELATING TO AUTOPSY, DETERIORATION AND IDENTIFICATION, VARIOUS SIGNS OF VIOLENT DEATH, STARVATION, FATAL INJURIES, POISONING, OR PSYCHOLOGICAL SHOCKS. ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO APPLICATIONS OF FORENSIC MEDICINE TO THE INVESTIGATION OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, FATAL OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS, PRIVATE ACCIDENT INSURANCE, TYPICAL SUICIDE SITUATIONS AND SUICIDE MEANS, ACCIDENTAL DEATHS IN AUTOEROTIC SITUATIONS, SEX-RELATED MURDERS, DISMEMBERMENT OF CORPSES, COMPETING CAUSES OF DEATH, AND DIFFERENTIATION OF MURDERS, SUICIDES, AND ACCIDENTS. ALSO CONSIDERED ARE SIGNS AND SITUATIONS OF INFANTICIDE; TECHNIQUES AND CONSEQUENCES OF ABORTION; THE LEGAL BASIS FOR EXAMINATION OF LIVING PERSONS INCLUDING CRIME SUSPECTS; FINDINGS INDICATIVE OF VIOLENT MURDER; AND LAWS AND PHYSICAL FINDINGS FOR CHILD ABUSE. FINALLY, DISCUSSION TREATS SEXUAL OFFENSES; DETERMINATION OF MENTAL COMPETENCE; AND OVERVIEW OF BLOOD TYPES; ANALYSIS AND INVESTIGATIVE USEFULNESS OF TRACES SUCH AS BLOOD, FINGERNAILS, SPERM, SALIVA, OR HAIR; EFFECTS AND MEASURMENT OF ALCOHOL IN THE HUMAN BODY; IMPAIRMENT OF DRIVING ABILITY BY LICIT AND ILLICIT DRUGS; AND THE LEGAL BASIS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CAUSALITY THROUGH FORENSIC MEDICINE. ILLUSTRATIONS, TABLES, A GENERAL BIBLIOGRAHY, AND SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHIES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)