02/28/2013

ON THE WEB — County Lines

Medicolegal Death Investigation Training Course

Summary of Ronnie Schwin’s suggested coroner curriculum and training. Schwin is the chief forensic investigator for the Arkansas State Crime Lab. 

Definition: A basic medicolegal death investigation course designed for the coroners and investigators tasked with investigating deaths.

• Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigations

This course would give the death investigator a basic knowledge of infant death scenes.

• Crime Scene Investigation for Medicolegal Death Investigators

This course focuses on how a death investigator processes a scene. 

• Investigative Report Writing              

This course would aid the death investigator in preparing coroner reports and other documents required by the Medical Examiner.

• Communicating with Families

This course prepares the coroner for the stressful task of communicating with the families of deceased individuals. 

• Working Relationships with law enforcement/other agencies

        This course stresses the importance of teamwork during death investigations. 

• Identifying Trauma in Infants

This training is designed to give the death investigator knowledge to recognize trauma or injuries that may be subtle.

• Mass Fatality Investigation

This course is intended to prepare the coroner for a mass casualty event and to inform them of available resources.

• Organ Tissue Procurement Process

This is an overview of the organ procurement process.

• Handling Stress Associated with Death Investigation

This course helps the death investigator cope with the stress of investigating traumatic events.

• Body Recovery, Transportation, and Custody 

This course focuses on the proper techniques used for body recovery. Transportation and evidence custody issues are also covered in this course.

• Overview of State Crime Lab and Resources Available to the Coroner

This lecture gives the coroner an overview of the resources available through the State Crime Lab.