Overdose Death Investigations

This comprehensive course provides law enforcement officers, investigators, detectives, and supervisors with the knowledge and investigative techniques necessary to effectively investigate overdose fatalities from the initial response through successful prosecution. Students will learn how to properly manage an overdose death scene, identify and preserve critical evidence, coordinate with medical examiners and forensic laboratories, conduct effective witness and suspect interviews, analyze digital evidence, and develop investigative strategies that support state and federal prosecutions. The course also explores current drug trends, toxicology considerations, legal issues, search warrants, cell phone investigations, social media exploitation, financial investigations, and case development.

Course Objectives:

-Conduct comprehensive overdose death investigations using current investigative best practices.
-Identify, document, and preserve evidence that supports criminal prosecution.
-Utilize digital, forensic, and intelligence resources to identify drug suppliers.
-Develop legally sound investigative strategies that withstand judicial scrutiny.
-Collaborate effectively with medical examiners, forensic laboratories, and prosecutors.
-Build prosecutable overdose death cases that target those responsible for distributing fatal controlled substances.

Audience:

Local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers.