Background:
In 2019, DCJS finalized the Child Death Investigation Protocol as recommended by the State Child Fatality Review Team under the direction of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office as a result of the increase in child deaths in Virginia. In response to case reviews which identified a need for improved collaboration surrounding the investigation process, DCJS moved the recommendation forward to create the final protocol and subsequent training to be used by law enforcement and child protective service investigators across the Commonwealth. The protocol, which outlines a multitude of child death modalities and the specific requirements of investigation for prosecution, calls for a uniform, collaborative response to child death investigations in Virginia. This interactive training provides a foundation for child death investigations and how to adequately investigate child deaths in a manner that is consistent across disciplines and provides case scenarios to reinforce the importance of collaborative investigations.
Target Audience:
Law Enforcement investigators, Child Protective Services (CPS) investigators, and Prosecutors. Teams of at least one law enforcement and one CPS investigator are encouraged to attend.
Cost: This in-person training is free to attend. All travel expenses are the sole responsibility of the participant’s agency.
For more information, contact Jenna Foster, CJA Coordinator, at jenna.foster@dcjs.virginia.gov