Coroners, Medical Examiners, & Forensics
During a medicolegal death investigation, data elements that may be of interest and relevant to criminal justice and public health stakeholders are collected by coroners, medical examiners, and other forensic professionals. These data elements include cause and manner of death (such as an overdose); drugs identified in toxicology testing, along with concentrations of those drugs; identification and other demographics of the decedent; and details of the incident leading to death, including location, date/time, and route of administration of the substance(s).
Highlighted Resources
NIJ’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence
In a joint effort with the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP), the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) develops capabilities that meet the needs of forensic science organizations to improve collaborations across the criminal justice and public health sectors. The cornerstone of COSSUP is its emphasis on partnership and collaboration across the public health, behavioral health, and public safety sectors. Effective community responses leverage the combined expertise of each of these disciplines and rely upon unified and coordinated strategies.
FTCOE resources include a Working Group on Data Exchange in Medicolegal Death Investigation, co-funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as numerous reports, podcasts, and webinars. These resources are available on the FTCOE COSSUP page.
