Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

OSAC Research Needs Assessment Form

Title of research need:

Keywords:

Submitting subcommittee(s): Date Approved:

(If SAC review identifies additional subcommittees, add them to the box above.)

Background information:

1. Description of research need:

2. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need:

3a. In what ways would the research results improve current laboratory capabilities?

Evaluating scene investigation caseload for medicolegal death investigators, and their perceptions 

of the scene investigation caseload’s effects on a proper medicolegal investigation. 

There is currently a deficit in the literature as no studies on workload have been performed examining the acceptable 

caseloads for medicolegal death investigators in medical examiner and coroner offices. There is, however, a large 

body of research on workloads in other professions. An example of this would be studies examining nursing 

professionals

The laboratory in which medicolegal death investigators work is that of a medical 

examiner/coroner office. Their work in the field plays an integral role in evaluating the available 

information of the death scene, as well as thorough follow-up work to help certify the cause and 

manner of death of individuals that fall under their jurisdiction. Proper certification of decedents’ 

deaths is an imperative function of both public health and safety. 

Medicolegal Death Investigator Workload Analysis

Death investigation, workload, mixed methods, investigations

Medicolegal Death Invest 1/28/16
Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

3b. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)?

3c. In what ways would the research results improve services to the criminal justice system?

4. Status assessment (I, II, III, or IV): 

This research need has been identified by one or more subcommittees of OSAC and is being provided as an 

informational resource to the community.

Major gap 

in current 

knowledge

Minor gap 

in current 

knowledge

No or limited

current research 

is being 

conducted

I III

Existing current 

research is being 

conducted

II IV

There is currently no data to support standards associated with medicolegal professionals. This 

study would fill that gap by not only evaluating office-based factors, but the professionals’ views on 

their workplace and workload.

Medicolegal death investigators perform parallel, yet separate, investigations as law enforcement 

when a death has occurred. The investigation by medicolegal death investigators, and the eventual 

certification of death by the forensic pathologist, are an essential function that law enforcement 

agencies utilize in their evaluation of whether or not a crime has been committed.

I
Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

// Approval date:

(Approval is by majority vote of subcommittee. Once approved, forward to SAC.)

1. Does the SAC agree with the research need? Yes ⃝ No ⃝ 

2. Does the SAC agree with the status assessment? Yes ⃝ No ⃝ 

If no, what is the status assessment of the SAC:

Approval date:

(Approval is by majority vote of SAC. Once approved, forward to NIST for posting.)

Subcommittee

SAC