Death Investigations Basics
The branch of law that deals with death investigations involving suspicious or unexplained circumstances.
What is medicolegal investigation?
The internal examination of the body to determine cause of death.
What is an autopsy?
The stiffening of muscles after death.
What is rigor mortis?
The Innocence Project works to free individuals who were wrongfully convicted using this type of evidence.
What is DNA evidence?
This term means that evidence has been documented and tracked from collection to court.
What is chain of custody?
The official responsible for determining the cause and manner of death, often elected.
Who is a coroner?
The examiner determines this when identifying the physical reason the body stopped functioning.
What is cause of death?
The cooling of the body after death.
What is algor mortis?
Over 70% of wrongful convictions overturned were originally based on errors in this type of testimony.
What is eyewitness testimony?
Investigators must wear these to avoid contamination.
What are gloves (PPE)?
The type of physician who performs autopsies and determines cause of death.
What is a forensic pathologist?
The examiner determines this classification of how the death occurred socially and legally.
What is manner of death?
Rigor mortis generally begins this many hours after death.
What is 1-2 hours?
This type of lab mistake can lead to wrongful convictions through contamination or mislabeling.
What is forensic laboratory error?
The principle that states: "Every contact leaves a trace."
What is Locard's Exchange Principle?
The four manners of death legally recognized.
What are natural, accidental, suicidal, and homicidal?
Bruises are medically known as this.
What are contusions?
Stomach contents can be analyzed to estimate this.
What is the time of death?
A person freed from prison after their conviction is overturned is said to be this.
What is exonerated?
A body found in hot temperatures will decompose at this rate compared to one in cold temperatures.
What is faster?
When a medical examiner cannot determine the manner of death with the information available, the manner may be listed as this.
What is undetermined?
A medical term describing the settling of blood in the lowest parts of the body after death.
What is livor mortis?
The time between death and body discovery is called this.
What is postmortem interval (PMI)?
Many wrongful convictions occur when suspects admit guilt even if innocent due to psychological pressure. This is called a _________ confession.
What is a false confession?
Livor mortis becomes FIXED after this many hours.
What is 8-12 hours?