N.J. Admin. Code § 8:70-1.7

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 8:70-1.7 - Medical examiner's investigative standards for unidentified decedents

(a) A decedent is to be regarded as "unidentified" when, at the time of initial discovery and investigation:

1. The body is visually recognizable but there is no circumstantial indication of the decedent's full name either by personal effects on the body or by personal acquaintance of those present at the scene of discovery; or

2. The body is not visually recognizable due to alteration of physical features and there is no obvious reason to suspect a tentative identity for the decedent.

(b) The unidentified decedent is to be identified initially on the medical examiner records under the alias, "(AKA) UNIDENTIFIED (race) (sex)". The name John Doe, Jane Doe, or assigned nicknames are not to be used to identify official records of unidentified decedents.

(c) A physician medical examiner shall personally visit the scene of discovery of partly or completely skeletonized unidentified bodies, as defined in (a)2 above, and shall assist in the recognition, isolation, documentation, and recovery of items that may help to determine the cause and manner of death, and the identity of the decedent, and shall direct the search for and removal of additional body parts.

(d) A detailed examination of the body, clothing, and personal effects shall be performed and shall be fully and completely documented.

(e) No unidentified body shall be released or referred for burial until the following have been performed:

1. Postmortem x-rays of skull, chest, abdomen; pelvis, and extremities are made;

2. High quality postmortem photographs of available facial and other identifying features are made;

3. A complete autopsy is performed;

4. All available postmortem fingerprints are recorded;

5. Dental examination, charting, and radiographs are completed;

6. A form entitled, "UNIDENTIFIED PERSON REPORT", is filed with National Crime Information Center (NCIC); and,

7. A minimum of 30 days has elapsed after entry of unidentified person report into the NCIC.

(f) In any event, an NCIC entry shall be made no later than seven days following completion of the autopsy incorporating all features of identification, including estimations of age, time of death, height, sex, race, any known medical conditions discovered by autopsy, and a full description of clothing and personal effects. The Unidentified Person File Data Collection Entry Guide may be used as an aid.

(g) No unidentified dead body shall be cremated.

(h) All skeletonized human remains reportable to the medical examiner shall be examined or physically reviewed at the State Medical Examiner Office prior to burial. In the case of non-skeletal unrecognizable bodies and recognizable but unidentified decedents, the medical examiner's report shall be reviewed by the State Medical Examiner's Office (SMEO) prior to burial.

(i) Any medical examiner who is unfamiliar with the processing of unidentified remains shall call upon the State Medical Examiner Office for assistance.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:70-1.7

New Rule, R.1989 d.110, effective 2/21/1989.
See: 20 N.J.R. 2856(b), 21 N.J.R. 447(a).
Amended by R.1994 d.30, effective 1/18/1994.
See: 25 N.J.R. 5104(a), 26 N.J.R. 484(a).