Dealing With The Authorities After A Suicide Death

• NJ DOCJ Homicide and Sudden Death Survivor Guidelines

  • Resource: 15 page PDF

  • Summary: This document by the NJ Department of Criminal Justice outlines how the survivors of a suicide or other sudden death should be treated. These guidelines are for the police when working with you.

• NJ State Police Office of The Attorney General (OAG) Department of Law & Public Safety (LPS) Open Public Records Site

  • Resource: Webpage

  • Summary: Explains how to get police records from the NJ State Police.

• How do I get police records?

  • • Resource: Webpage

    • Summary: Webpage that explains the Open Public Records Act in NJ and how you can get a police report.

• A Guide to the New Jersey Medical Examiner System

  • Resource: 2 page PDF

  • Summary: This is a simple brochure that explains how the coroner and the autopsy process works in New Jersey.

• Request For A Copy of An Autopsy Report

  • Resource: 1 page PDF

  • Summary: Depending on where your loved one died, this maybe the form you need to fill out to receive a copy of the autopsy results of your loved one. This can often take 3-4 months before the report is available. Contact the appropriate agency listed below in the Medical Examiner Directory.

• NJ County / Regional Medical Examiner Directory

  • Resource: Webpage

  • Summary: Contact information for medical examiners in NJ

• NJ Office of The State Medical Examiner FAQs

  • Resource: Website

  • Summary: Frequently asked questions about the autopsy process and how the medical examiner's office works.

• Toxicology Testing and Results for Suicide Victims

  • Resource: Webpage

  • Resource: 5 min Podcast

  • Summary: It is common for drugs and alcohol to be found during the autopsy process. Here are some statistics about the results of drug and alcohol use found after suicides.

• Directory of NJ state, county and municipal Law Enforcement phone numbers and addresses

  • Resource: 50 page PDF

  • Summary: Contact information for every law enforcement agency in NJ

• Typical Autopsy Form (Blank)

  • Resource: 19 page PDF

  • Summary: This is a blank template that is the Adult Autopsy Reporting Protocol as recommended by the College of American Pathologists.

• Autopsy Report: What You Must Know

  • Resource: Webpage

  • Summary: Understanding the basics of how the autopsy process works and what they are

• Reviewing and Comprehending Autopsy Reports

  • Resource: 20 Page PDF

  • Summary: An in depth analysis of the autopsy process and what type of information it can reveal.

• The Question of Suicide Equivocal Death Investigations

  • Resource: Webpage

  • Summary: From Voltaire, “To the living we owe respect. To the dead we owe only the truth.” That is the purpose of an Equivocal Death Analysis and Investigation (EDA or EDI); collectively referred to as equivocal death case review. This leaves the possibility of closure for the families impossible, particularly if foul play is suspected, or even an accident. The wrong determination can also result in benefits, such as life insurance or workers’ compensation, underpaid - or worse, denied.

• Current Trends Operational Criteria for Determining Suicide

  • Resource: Webpage

  • Summary: Understanding the criteria that coroners use to determine if a death was a suicide.

• The Psychological Autopsy, Part I: Applications and Methods

  • Resource: 5 Page PDF

  • Summary: The psychological autopsy (PA) is a procedure that assists in the classification of “equivocal deaths”—note that this term is used throughout this article to indicate situations in which the manner of death (e.g., suicide, accident, other) is uncertain or not immediately clear. The procedure involves a thorough and systematic retrospective analysis of the decedent’s life, with a particular focus on suicide risk factors, motives, and intentions

Books About What To Do Right After A Suicide