Cuba, Missouri
This 1-day course is written and instructed to national standards of scene management and death investigation.
This course is an intermediate overview of the investigation of suicide and self-harm death. The course is specifically designed for patrol officers, investigators, and coroners who have the duties of responding to and/ or investigating a death.
The course assumes the student's basic understanding of a crime scene and evidence collection methods. It goes beyond the preliminary death scene and targets what suicide deaths are and what they are not. It also gives insight into the mental aspect of suicide and self-harm behaviors. Participants will learn how to evaluate a scene, obtain evidence specific to making a determination of suicide, as well as how to properly document the scene and obtain vital victim history information and family statements.
This course will cover specific causes of suicide deaths such as self-inflicted gunshot wounds; which are the most common form of suicide in the United States. Also covered in this course is drug overdose deaths, which may be ruled; accidental, homicide, or suicide, and only a complete investigation will determine the true manner of death. Another area covered in this course is hanging and asphyxia deaths. It is important for the investigator to know that most hanging deaths do not occur from a full suspension position. Other self-harm deaths covered in this course are; autoerotic deaths, helium - inert gases inhalation deaths, as well as planned and assisted suicides.
Students will learn the best practices and standards for investigating suicides and self-harm deaths. This course is not intended to set department policy but rather focuses on generally approved methods of criminal investigations as it applies to a death scene involving the possibility of suicide and self-harm.
Darren Dake is a law enforcement professional with over 35 years experience in criminal and medicolegal death investigation. Darren has worked in both the law enforcement realm of investigations as well as in the role of senior investigator with the Coroner’s office for over 20 years. This combined investigative experience has uniquely established Darren as an expert in investigations which allows him to consult and teach internationally on investigation practices and procedures.
Darren holds national certification as a Medicolegal Death Investigator through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI), as well as being a nationally certified criminal investigator and certified criminal investigations instructor.
Other accomplishments include the founding of the Death Investigation Academy as well as other investigator focused resources such the Coroner Talk Podcast. Darren has also published several books related to investigations; Investigating Suicide and Self-Harm Deaths, Interviews and Interrogations- getting the information you want, and Autoerotic Fatalities – a guide to investigating and interpreting the scene. Darren also co-authored the book CODE-Living healthy, happy, and whole submerged in tragedy, trauma, and death.
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Contact the organizer of this event at [email protected] or call 1-888-556-0177
Can I pay by check or purchase order?
Yes - If your agency or government body wishes to register and pay by check or purchase order, simply register as normal and choose the pay by invoice option.
What's the refund policy?
A refund cannot be given for this event. However, the credit will be given for this - or other courses in the future with one year.
Disclaimer: The instructors, authors, and DITA make no warranty, expressed or implied, to the students attending this training and accept no responsibility for its use or application. The student assumes sole responsibility for determining the appropriateness of any suggested methodology, calculation or investigative application; for any conclusions drawn from the results of its use, and for any actions taken or not taken as a result of analysis performed using this investigative training.
