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Questions and Answers
Which of the following is considered an accidental death?
Which of the following is considered an accidental death?
What is an attended death?
What is an attended death?
What is a life-threatening medical event?
What is a life-threatening medical event?
What is the difference between homicide and murder?
What is the difference between homicide and murder?
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What is an unattended death?
What is an unattended death?
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What should officers do if they find a victim dead?
What should officers do if they find a victim dead?
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What should officers do to preserve the crime scene?
What should officers do to preserve the crime scene?
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What should officers do with information regarding the deceased?
What should officers do with information regarding the deceased?
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What do Florida Statutes outline regarding death investigations?
What do Florida Statutes outline regarding death investigations?
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Which of the following is considered an accidental death?
Which of the following is considered an accidental death?
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What is an attended death?
What is an attended death?
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What is a life-threatening medical event?
What is a life-threatening medical event?
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What is the difference between homicide and murder?
What is the difference between homicide and murder?
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What is an unattended death?
What is an unattended death?
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What should officers do if they find a victim dead?
What should officers do if they find a victim dead?
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What should officers do to preserve the crime scene?
What should officers do to preserve the crime scene?
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What should officers do with information regarding the deceased?
What should officers do with information regarding the deceased?
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What do Florida Statutes outline regarding death investigations?
What do Florida Statutes outline regarding death investigations?
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What is an attended death?
What is an attended death?
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What is a life-threatening medical event?
What is a life-threatening medical event?
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What is homicide?
What is homicide?
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What is a traffic fatality?
What is a traffic fatality?
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What is an unattended death?
What is an unattended death?
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What should officers do if they find a victim dead?
What should officers do if they find a victim dead?
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What should police officers do upon arrival at a crime scene?
What should police officers do upon arrival at a crime scene?
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What is the duty of medical examiners according to Florida Statutes?
What is the duty of medical examiners according to Florida Statutes?
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What is the difference between murder and homicide?
What is the difference between murder and homicide?
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Study Notes
Death Investigation Procedures
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Accidental deaths include deaths caused by non-criminal actions and events such as fire, drowning, electrocution, accidental shooting, sexual perversion, poisoning, or work-related accidents.
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An attended death is a death in which the decedent has been treated by a physician within the past year and the physician will sign the death certificate.
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Homicide is the act of killing another person, while in-custody death is the death of a person in the custody of law enforcement officers or other authorities.
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Life-threatening medical events are medical emergencies that pose an imminent danger to the life of the individual suffering the event, such as cardiac arrest, seizures, stroke, and significant respiratory distress.
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Murder is the unlawful killing of another person, while natural death occurs in the course of nature resulting from an illness or internal malfunction of the body.
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Primary or attending physician is the physician responsible for the treatment and care of the patient.
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Suicide death is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death, while a suspicious death is a death resulting from suspicious circumstances.
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Traffic fatality is the death of a person that occurs within 30 days of a traffic crash involving a motor vehicle where the death is a result of the crash.
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Unattended death is when a person dies more than 30 days after being treated by a physician.
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Officers are required to notify the district sergeant of all death investigations and the district sergeant will notify the shift lieutenant.
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Officers should determine if the person is alive and request emergency medical personnel if necessary, and if the victim is found dead, officers should not move or change the body position, clothing, or items on the body.
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Officers should conduct a cursory inspection of the body and surrounding area for anything of a suspicious nature, interview family and witnesses, and attempt to ascertain if there was anything that might have contributed to the death.Police Procedures for Death Investigations
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Police officers are instructed to preserve the crime scene and prevent contamination.
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Officers should establish a perimeter around the crime scene and restrict access to authorized personnel only.
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One route in and out of the crime scene should be established, and all persons entering should be logged.
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Emergency personnel should be identified and their names and unit numbers obtained.
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The Department of Children and Families should be contacted if the decedent is under the age of 18.
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Suspect BOLO information should be initiated if applicable.
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Upon arrival of a detective or supervisor, the investigating officer will give a briefing on witnesses, evidence found, and any relevant information.
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All officers involved should thoroughly document their involvement in the case, including statements made and evidence recovered.
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Procedures for handling witnesses and witness control should be followed.
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Information regarding the deceased should not be released to anyone without clearance from the lead investigator.
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Protocols for handling prescription medications during natural death investigations are established.
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Florida Statutes outline the duty of medical examiners, the duty to report deaths, and the duty of law enforcement officers in death investigations.
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Description
Do you know the ins and outs of death investigation procedures? Test your knowledge with this quiz that covers topics such as accidental deaths, homicide, natural deaths, and suicide. Learn about the responsibilities of police officers in preserving crime scenes, handling witnesses, and documenting evidence. Brush up on the Florida Statutes that govern the duty of medical examiners and law enforcement officers in death investigations. Challenge yourself to see how much you know about these important procedures.