Recovery of Human Remains Course
by M/Sgt Hayden B. Baldwin, Retired
Illinois State Police
 


  The success of an investigation that involves the recovery of human remains depends on the investigators knowledge of proper recovery techniques. More often then not the skeleton remains are removed from the scene without proper documentation and with little or no regard to the amount of physical and testimonial evidence that is present.

This couse was designed to enhance the investigators knowledge. They will be able to recognize and collect crucial evidence from recovery sites and understand the techniques used to gain maximum information from these recovery sites.

This course is for all investigators who are involved in death investigations. Discussed and demonstrated in this class are the following topics: proper search techniques and identifiers, techniques of surface recoveries, excavation techniques, and exhumation techniques. Physical and testimonial evidence will be discussed in the relationship to recovery techniques.

This is a "hands on" class on recovery techniques. The student will be required to participate in the actual recovery process. Under the direct supervision of the instructor, the student will learn the proper techniques of surface and burial recoveries by performing these tasks themselves.

At the end of this course the student will be able to identify the proper procedure and techniques used in the recovery of human remains from surface recoveries, clandestine burial sites, and exhumations from cemeteries. The student will also be able to process the "crime scene" for the maximum amount of information relative to the crime. The student will be able to correlate the information obtained from the recovery sites, and combine with the physical evidence recovered, have the necessary information to reconstruct the events at the recovery site crime scene.

RECOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS CLASS COURSE SCHEDULE

Monday
Introduction
Lecture
Field Examination

Tuesday
Surface Recovery practical
Set up Teams
Process scene

Wednesday
Burial Recovery Practical
Set up Teams
Process Scene

Thursday
Lecture
Pathology
Odontology
Entomology
Facial Reconstruction
Exhumations

Friday
Synopsis of Week
Critique of Practicals
Written Test

This course can be designed for a three or four day course if preferred.

RECOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS COURSE OUTLINE
by Hayden B. Baldwin

Paper on Recovery of Human Remains

DISCOVERY CHANNEL: SCIENCE DETECTIVES

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at hbb@feinc.net
 

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