The project, funded by the National Institute of Justice, began in 1980 with the organization of the Death Investigation Advisory Group, its meeting in November 1980 to define the problem and determine the categories of deaths to be included in the project, and the gathering of death investigation report forms and accompanying instructions from 51 agencies. Three additional meetings and extensive staff work produced the product of the project: a book of guidelines for the conduct of investigations of deaths caused in circumstances not considered normal. The guidelines are in the form of checklists which remind investigators of things to do or consider. The guidelines take into account the two main variables responsible for differences in death investigation procedures: external regulations and internal task execution preferences determined by such factors as the agency budget or the will of the chief executive officer. The guidelines should be made available for the widest possible sale to all units of local governments that conduct death investigations and to trial lawyers and judges. In addition, members of the advisory group which developed the guidelines should be hired to conduct 1-day units of instruction in the use of the formal team approach to death investigations and in the content and use of the checklists. Appendixes present addresses of advisory group members, agendas of meetings, and outlines of topics discussed by the committees involved in the process.