Death and Homicide

Please be aware that this class is a 35-hour training. Therefore, the first four (4) days of training will be 8am-5pm local time. The last day will be 8am-12pm local time.

“This course has been approved for 35 hours of certification/recertification training credits by the IAI Crime Scene Certification Board.”

This course provides advanced training in death and violent crime investigations for criminal investigators. The course addresses the recognition, documentation, and investigation of death scenes involving homicide, suicide, accidental, natural, and undetermined manners of death.

Instruction includes crime scene assessment, injury and wound identification, the investigative value of autopsies, and the collection, preservation, and forensic analysis of physical and digital evidence, including DNA and firearms-related evidence. Students are instructed in investigative considerations related to cause of death, manner of death, and means of death across a range of case types, including mass casualty incidents, unusual deaths, and individual death investigations.

The course is delivered through lectures, case studies, visual evidence review, and guided class participation to support investigative decision-making and effective case management. Additional topics include death notification procedures and the preparation and presentation of courtroom testimony as they relate to death investigations.

Course Goals

The goals of this course are to:

1. Provide advanced training to criminal investigators and first responders in the recognition, documentation, and investigation of death and violent crime scenes. 
2. Enhance investigator competency in crime scene assessment and evidence handling related to death investigations. 
3. Develop investigative understanding of cause of death, manner of death, and means of death across a range of death‑related cases. 
4. Improve investigative decision‑making skills that support effective case management and criminal prosecution. 
5. Prepare students to address additional investigative responsibilities, including death notifications and courtroom testimony, as part of the death investigation process. 

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Recognize and differentiate death scenes involving homicide, suicide, accidental, natural, and undetermined manners of death. 
2. Conduct a systematic assessment of death and violent crime scenes consistent with investigative best practices. 
3. Document death scenes using appropriate investigative methods and procedures. 
4. Identify and describe injuries and wounds relevant to death and violent crime investigations. 
5. Explain the investigative value of autopsies and their role in determining cause and manner of death. 
6. Identify, collect, and preserve physical evidence associated with death investigations in accordance with forensic principles. 
7. Identify, collect, and preserve digital evidence relevant to death and violent crime investigations. 
8. Describe the role of DNA evidence in death investigations and its contribution to forensic analysis. 
9. Recognize firearms‑related evidence and its significance within death and violent crime scenes. 
10. Differentiate between cause of death, manner of death, and means of death in varied investigative scenarios. 
11. Apply investigative decision‑making skills through participation in lectures, case studies, and visual evidence review. 
12. Analyze investigative considerations in mass casualty incidents, unusual deaths, and individual death investigations. 
13. Describe investigative practices that support effective case preparation and criminal prosecution. 
14. Explain procedures and considerations for death notifications as part of the death investigation process. 
15. Demonstrate knowledge of courtroom testimony preparation and presentation related to death investigations.