Page 47 - CFDI Guide

Certified Forensic Death Investigator (CFDI) Program
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI, CFDI-Expert and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI, CFDI-SME
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC) Accredited

related concerns. Expanding on the foundation you have developed from experience and the prerequisite
skill building, the CFDI is able to review and analyze the prosecution discovery and conduct a detailed

investigation into the death / SBI to assist the defense team specifically to the elements of the charges.
This includes incident scene photography (including video) and investigation, evidence collection in some

cases and evidence review, evidence analysis and expert referrals, complete party – involved persons –

workups and statement acquisition, including analysis of present and past statements, and review of
discovery and disclosures. This process is part of the overall goal of defense litigation and trial support for
the intended purpose of developing and supporting the legal strategy of the defense client. This process is

conducted and completed by following five basic steps from Practical Methods for Legal Investigations:

5
Prepare, Inquire, Analyze, Document and Report , or for Certified Criminal Defense Investigators (CCDI)
the CDITC Component Method. Although developed separately by their respective authors, they are very

similar – as experience shows all legal investigations require the same competency and attention to detail.

Death / Serious Bodily Injury investigations are very similar, as the components of death investigation
apply to serious bodily injury (SBI) investigations; there will be no forensic autopsy in a SBI investigation,

however, there may be medical reports, toxicology and metabolic reports, photographs and other records
and reports as found in death investigations. It is important to obtain, review and analyze these for SBI

investigations in the same manner. Understanding death investigation lends to a better understanding of
these, adds marketing value to the CFDI and, more importantly, adds value to the services and benefits to

the client. This is simply because fractions of an inch, or an alteration in an event, or series of events, may
be the only difference between a serious bodily injury or death. Death investigation, like criminal defense,

is not limited to homicide. Any component of death investigation can be applied to any SBI investigation –
from the chain of events leading to the injury and/or death, to the underlying cause of injury or death. The

following cases may involve deaths, or serious bodily injury in criminal defense – they all benefit from
understanding death investigations:

▪ Personal Injury and Negligence
▪ Consumer Safety and Product Liability

▪ Occupational Safety and Workplace Incidents
▪ Wrongful and Equivocal Deaths

▪ Motor Vehicle Collisions

5 Adapted from ‘Practical Methods for Legal Investigations: Concepts and Protocols in Civil and Criminal Cases’, Dean
A. Beers, CLI – CRC Press, 2011
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