Medicolegal death investigations on tribal lands—underrepresented or underserved?

• Published in: Forensic science international. Synergy Vol. 8; p. 100480
• Main Authors: Ropero-Miller, Jeri D., Pitts, Wayne J., Imran, Anum, Bell, Ronny A., Smiley-McDonald, Hope M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: American Indian/Alaska Native; Medical examiner and coroner; Medicolegal death investigation; Missing and unidentified persons; Tribal lands; American Indian/Alaska Native; Medicolegal death investigation; Missing and unidentified persons; Tribal lands; Medical examiner and coroner
• ISSN: 2589-871X; 2589-871X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2024.100480

Death investigation on tribal lands and of American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) people is complex and not well documented. An analysis of data from the 2018 Census of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices (CMEC) provides a timely update on the extent of medicolegal death investigations (MDIs) on federal and state-recognized tribal lands. An estimated 150 MEC offices serve tribal lands, however, 44 % of these offices (i.e., 4 % of MEC offices) do not track cases from tribal lands separately. MEC offices with a population of 25,000 to 250,000 that serve tribal lands had more resources and access to information to perform MDIs than all other MEC offices. Analysis also indicates that the median number of unidentified human remains cases from MECs serving tribal lands is 6 times higher than that of jurisdictions not serving tribal lands. This analysis begins to elucidate gaps in the nation's understanding of MDI on tribal lands. •MEC systems serving US tribal lands are underrepresented among death investigations.•Deaths of AIAN people from violent crimes are higher than the general population.•Median unidentified human remains cases for MECs serving tribal lands is 6 times higher than others.•MECs serving tribal lands among other jurisdictional regions represent smaller populations.•Resources of MECs serving tribal lands are similar to MECs not serving tribal lands.