When a persons is discovered dead, do the authorities automatically do a crime scene investigation?

Answer 1

In Pennsylvania, if a person is discovered dead [other than in the hospital], the county coroner investigates.

Deaths Investigated:

* Sudden deaths not caused by readily recognizable disease, or wherein the cause of death cannot be properly certified by a physician on the basis of prior (recent) medical attendance
* Deaths occurring under suspicious circumstances, including those where alcohol, drugs or other toxic substances may have had a direct bearing on the outcome
* Deaths occurring as a result of violence or trauma, whether apparently homicidal, suicidal or accidental (including, but not limited to, those due to mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical or radiational injury, drowning, cave-ins and subsidence's)
* Any death in which trauma, chemical injury, drug overdose or reaction to drugs or medication or medical treatment was a primary or secondary, direct or indirect, contributory, aggravating or precipitating cause of death
* Operative and perioperative deaths in which the death is not readily explainable on the basis of prior disease
* Any death wherein the body is unidentified or unclaimed
* Deaths known or suspected as due to contagious disease and constituting a public hazard
* Deaths occurring in prison or a penal institution or while in the custody of the police
* Deaths of persons whose bodies are to be cremated, buried at sea or otherwise disposed of so as to be thereafter unavailable for examination
* Sudden infant death syndrome.
* Stillbirths.


Statutory References (non-inclusive):

Pennsylvania Constitution Art. 9, Section 4. Penn. Stat. Ann. title 11, Section 2201 et seq.; title 16, Section 401 et seq; 1231 et seq.; 1550 et seq.; 1601 et seq.; 3401 et seq.; 4321 et seq.; 4802 et seq.; 9521 et seq.; Sections 110119, 1101110.1, 1101111; 11072; 11103; 11361 et seq.; Section 13001 et seq.; title 18 PA C.S. Section 3220; title 35, Sections 450.502, 450.503; title 52, Section 701001 et seq.; title 53, Section 13132; title 71, Section 801; title 75 PA C.S. Sections 102, 4571; Act of March 2, 1988 (P.L. 108, No. 22).

Answer 2

Depends on what you call a "crime scene investigation".

If you are thinking like one of the CSI programs, no. Most deaths do not get that kind of treatment.

What normally happens is the police are called, the beat cop arrives and makes a preliminary and very basic investigation. He determines that there is a body, that the body is dead, and whether or not a crime is involved. No crime? He calls the meat wagon and the body is taken away to the morgue where a medical examiner will take a look at it.

If it does appear that a crime as taken place, then the more through investigation starts. Even then, most agencies do not have the luxury of teams of several CSI personnel, whose female members are also really good looking. You might get one or two overworked, underpaid, grumpy guys who will go through the drill.

Answer 3

Yes, Its a mandated thing by the book, the Scan the area for possible reasons, some investigations pend on how the person was found dead or not, But Yes they do at less check around the Body and Room, or car or whereva the Body is found

Answer 4

Depends on where you live and the circumstances of death; if there is any reason to believe that it is under suspicious circumstances, then it might be treated as a crime scene investigation.

Answer 5

Yeah, i love CSI also and that i'm perplexed, i imagine Sara were given transferred to a distinct Crime Lab or something. i'm no longer certain what grow to be happening between Grissom and Sara although.

Answer 6

I think there has to be something to suggest it was a crime before they will investigate it as such.

Answer 7

Depends on the circumstances - a doctor will have to certify death, and it is dependant on his findings.

Answer 8

They'll cordon off the place then do that

Answer 9

no,it is not a crime just to die.

Answer 10

no...