Department of Justice Holds Meeting on Forensic Death Investigations

WASHINGTON, June 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is hosting a symposium on forensic death investigations in Scottsdale, Ariz., June 7 – 9, 2010. OJP's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is sponsoring the event.  Today's closing remarks at 12:15 are open to media.

The symposium brings together for the first time a multidisciplinary group of criminal justice practitioners (medical examiners, coroners, death investigators, and other allied professionals) from across the nation to discuss the challenges within the death investigation community. The symposium is designed to advance the discussion about best practices, standardized and verified procedures, and identify areas in need of further research.

"NIJ recognizes the critical role the death investigation community plays in protecting the public health and safety and is committed to helping the community meet the needs of this critical role," said NIJ Acting Director, Kristina Rose.

Professional organizations, such as the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, and National Association of Medical Examiners, are participating in the symposium and assisted with developing the agenda that outlines the needs of the death investigation community.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant Attorney General Laurie O. Robinson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims.  OJP has seven components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; the Community Capacity Development Office, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking.  More information about OJP can be found at http://www.ojp.gov.

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SOURCE Office of Justice Programs - U.S. Department of Justice