Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation Training Text

The Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation  was written to assist those who investigate infant deaths, and these materials were used at the SUIDI National Training Academies. At the conclusion of each section, discussion and sample questions are provided to test readers in their knowledge of the content.

The text is divided into the following four sections:

Section One: Infant Death Investigation Foundation Skills
This section consists of three knowledge-building chapters written specifically to expose the student to essential information needed to successfully perform an infant death investigation. Topics include identifying the different types of sudden unexplained infant deaths; understanding infant growth and development; and learning the psychology of interviewing. The material covered is supplemented with charts, graphs, and illustrations. These materials are referenced throughout the remaining chapters of the training text.

Section Two: Case Interviews
This section consists of two chapters devoted to witness interviewing. The first chapter covers the types of interviews that should be conducted with witnesses at the scene or with other individuals in contact with the decedent. The second chapter focuses on information that should be collected by other agency professionals at the various scenes. The success of each interview depends on the investigator’s ability to know who to interview, what to ask, and how to ask the questions.

Section Three: Infant Scene Investigation
This section consists of two chapters. The first addresses how to conduct a scene investigation and the second how to conduct a doll reenactment.

Section Four: Pre-Autopsy and Post–Autopsy Reporting
This section consists of two chapters that provide an overview of infant pre-autopsy and post-autopsy reporting. The SUID “Top 25” criteria are covered to teach the investigator the data deemed critical to collect for forensic pathologists to conduct their pre-autopsy review. The narrative report, along with its content and formatting, is dissected and explained so investigators can describe important aspects of the scene in a clear, concise manner.

Download the training manual by individual chapters, appendixes, glossary, and references in
a PDF format. 

Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death Investigation: Guidelines for the Scene Investigator

Download Guidelines for the Scene Investigator PDF 459KB

The Guidelines for the Scene Investigator is a 39-page, 5x7 informational handbook that guides investigators in conducting an infant death investigation using recommended practices. The handbook also demonstrates how to comprehensively report scene investigation data to the pathologist conducting the autopsy and determining the cause and manner of death. It is not intended to take the place of existing laws or regulations.

The Guidelines for the Scene Investigator have been endorsed by the National Sheriff’s Association, the National Association of Medical Examiners, the International Coroners and Medical Examiners Association, and the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.

The handbook consists of the following six sections—

• Section A: Investigative Tools and Equipment.
• Section B: Arriving at the Scene.
• Section C: Documenting and Evaluating the Scene.
• Section D: Documenting and Evaluating the Body.
• Section E: Establishing Infant Profile Information.
• Section F: Completing the Scene Investigation.

The handbook also includes the “Top 25" items forensic pathologist consider critical to determining the cause and manner of death, before the forensic autopsy is performed.

Curriculum Guide Directions

Download Curriculum Guide PDF 698KB

This curriculum guide was created to improve teaching and evaluation techniques in the death investigator education and training programs. It provides instructional outlines and references to assist the instructor in the educational program. Covering only the topics delineated in the publication Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death Investigation, it should be sufficiently comprehensive to help subject matter experts design instructional plans for teaching the recommended investigative guidelines. In addition, the performance objectives and criterion statements written for each task provide a consistent way to establish standards for people completing the program.

This curriculum guide is representative of the occupational job duty categories that list major activities and tasks performed by an entry level death investigator. It contains a resource list and criteria statements that indicate the minimum standards of performance accepted as evidence of competence in completion of the task by participants in the field of infant death investigation. This performance-based curriculum guide helps the instructor develop a teaching style where students learn by doing. It is based on task analysis, and it reflects the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that employers expect incumbent investigators to posses.

This guide is intended to be used to provide relevant training or retraining for employment in the rapidly expanding field of medicolegal death investigation.

National SUIDI Training Academies

CDC began conducting train-the-trainer academies in five U.S. regions in 2006. These regional train-the-trainer academies provided training for the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a 5-member team per state, producing more than 250 trainers. The 5-member teams consist of—

• Medical examiners and coroners.
• Law enforcement officers.
• Child advocate/protection experts.
• College faculty members.
• Medicolegal death scene investigators.

The SUIDI Training Academies have concluded in May 2008. For local trainings, states have access to their own trained five member team as well as the curriculum materials available on this website.

Other Training Activities

CDC provided SUID investigation training for—

• The New York State Police Child Physical Abuse and Neglect Seminar in Albany, New York. Included training of 200 law enforcement officials, district attorneys, parole officers, prosecutors, and child protective services caseworkers during a 4-day training seminar.
• The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and the Washington State Children’s Justice Conference in Seattle, Washington. These organizations held a 2-day training for law enforcement officials, district attorneys, and other agencies dealing with sudden, unexplained infant deaths.

CDC has worked with American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) representatives to identify specific training needs and implement training workshops for AI/AN communities, and professionals and those working in the AI/AN community. The following is a list of specific training activities conducted in the AI/AN community—

• Provided information about the SUIDI at the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Tribal Public Health Workshop in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Sought input about AI/AN training needs from participants who attended the FBI's Indian Country Unit Management Conference.
• Provided a 3– day training to about 120 law enforcement officers and coroners. Training took place in Riverton, Wyoming, at an Indian reservation and included representatives from four states, many of whom work in AI areas.

To learn more about PDF files and to download PDF files, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader software, which is available free of charge from Adobe. The HTML version alters the format of the original printed document. Using the PDF version will preserve the document's formatting and graphics.

Page last reviewed: 10/24/08
Page last modified: 10/24/08
Content source: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion