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NCISS Legislative Alerts

Legislative Watch - The most important function of NCISS is to monitor and direct federal legislation. NCISS plays an important role in acting as a conduit for state legislative information. Be sure and check the current and past issues Legislative Alerts - click here.

Here are the most recent Legislative Alerts:
-- Hearing Raises Privacy Issues

(http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs179/1102296473151/archive/1115868939681.html)

Several privacy issues, including breach notification and data collection, were raised at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade today.  Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez called for legislation to establish baseline privacy requirements for businesses which collect consumer data.

-- Analysis of Data Broker Oversight Hearing - Senate Commerce Committee
(http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs179/1102296473151/archive/1116030156243.html)

On 12/18/2013 a hearing for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on "What Information Do Data Brokers Have on Consumers and How Do They Use It?" was held. This is part of an ongoing investigation by Chairman Rockefeller concerning data broker industry practices.

-- Death Master File Incorporated Into House Budget 

(http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs179/1102296473151/archive/1116008129067.html)

Language restricting access to the Death Master File (DMF) was incorporated into the budget agreement that was signed into law.  The Secretary of Commerce will not disclose any information on the DMF for a period of three years following an individual's death, except to "persons" who are certified under a program, administered by Commerce.  It would appear that NCISS members can, by and large, meet the conditions of subsection (A) detailed above.  If this language is signed into law, NCISS will participate in the promulgation of regulations to preserve NCISS Member abilities to access the Death Master Files.

Prescription Medications - The Dangers of Legal and Illicit Drugs

We are frequently contacted by the media for commentary on current events related to legal investigations and death investigations.  Recently we were contacted for commentary on a story, and presented two questions.

1. Marijuana is virtually never implicated in the overdose deaths of Larimer County residents, and only twice in suicide deaths in 2012, and those people were also drunk.  What has been our experience? 

2. Prescription drugs have the imprimatur of safety because they come from a doctor, what can and should families be doing to protect themselves? 

Forensic Magazine

Chain of Custody of a Body Begins with the Death Scene Documentation

http://www.forensicmag.com/articles/2013/12/chain-custody-body-begins-death-scene-documentation

We consult nationally on death investigations and protocols. We have completed a course for investigators, and a guide for survivors.

This is one of the first things we look into - and it is where mistakes often begin. The most common reasons are 1) the coroner is not timely notified; and 2) the coroner does not take proper jurisdiction of the body. In other words, there continues to exist a mentality that coroners are only body transport and law enforcement can investigate. WRONG! The county we trained and worked built an excellent reputation with law enforcement. More important, the Medicolegal Death Investigators are the eyes and ears of the forensic pathologist; entrusted with unparalleled expertise.

As Medicolegal Death Investigators with Subject Matter Expertise (including consultation and expert witness), we review the records, reports, photographs and evidentiary documentation in order to provide a non-medical expert opinion, within the scope of our education, training and experience, as to the totality of the circumstances of the death, injury and injury causation, and the competence of the official investigation, with respect to death investigation protocol and standards.  

-- Medicolegal Death Investigator - Scene Findings, Trace Evidence, Gross Examination and Findings, and Photography and Documentation.

-- Forensic Pathologist - Trace Evidence, Gross Examination and Findings, Histology and Microscopic Examination and Findings, and Diagnostics.

Crime Scene Response Guidelines: Overview

The purpose of crime scene investigation is to help establish what happened (crime scene reconstruction) and to identify the responsible person. This is done by carefully documenting the conditions at a crime scene and recognizing all relevant physical evidence. The ability to recognize and properly collect physical evidence is oftentimes critical to both solving and prosecuting violent crimes. It is no exaggeration to say that in the majority of cases, the law enforcement officer who protects and searches a crime scene plays a critical role in determining whether physical evidence will be used in solving or prosecuting violent crimes.

Investigation Books - fiction and non-fiction - for every PI 

AFI-LLC has compiled some of the leading books for private investigators, by private investigators, including those for specialized certifications.  Many of the authors are also friends of AFI-LLC.  Included are fiction and non-fiction novels.  You can find these books and order direct from Amazon at http://amazon.privateinvestigations.org 

Do you have a book to be reviewed or special announcement?  Let us know!