CRJU 420 - Death Investigations

Credit(s): 3
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a broad overview of death investigations. The measures that are concentrated upon include the process associated to investigating homicides, suicides, accidental, natural, and the unknown causes of death. Elements associated to the analysis of the death scene will be explored to include physical and psychological evidence and autopsy-related methods that are employed in the investigative process. Concepts associated to jurisdiction scene management, and discrepancies that are associated to death-related evidence will be addressed and critically evaluated. Students will be able to develop and understand factors that are directly involved in arriving at an estimation of time of death, wounds inflicted by sharp force injury, gunshot wounds, internal and external, powder residue, size, shape, entry/exit and the deceptive nature of these wounds. Students will also have the opportunity to explore the process of decomposition and the anthropological associations to human identification.

Prerequisites: Junior Standing.
Course Level: Undergraduate