Medicolegal Investigator I

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner investigates cases of persons who die within New York City from criminal violence, by accident, by suicide, suddenly when in apparent health, when unattended by a physician, in a correctional facility or in any suspicious or unusual manner or where an application is made pursuant to law for a permit to cremate a body of a person.

The core values of CARES guide our work for communities and inform our behavior toward each other and all those we serve.
- Commitment: Dedicated to the mission at all times
- Accountability: Responsible to each other and the community
- Resilience: Adapt in the face of adversity
- Excellence: Achieve and maintain the highest quality
- Service: Innovate to meet evolving needs

Under direction, with wide latitude for independent judgement and action, the candidate investigates deaths reported to the OCME. Typical tasks include the following:

- Interviews witnesses to obtain information useful to determining OCME jurisdiction and certifying cause and manner of death
- Responds to death scenes and hospitals, citywide and documents scene/investigative findings
- Examines and takes possession of bodies plus supervises their transport to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
- Identifies and establishes evidentiary value of items and determines which items are to be taken into evidence.
- Documents evidence and directs its removal, while safeguarding its quality, and establishes and maintains chain of evidence.
- Obtains/documents information that will facilitate the decedent identification process
- Investigates death as required for cremation clearance.
- Identifies immediate life-threatening conditions and takes/coordinates action to remove hazards.
- Testifies in court.
- Provides information to family and authorized others as to cause of death, manner and circumstances as determined, thus providing counseling, understanding, and education.
- Performs follow-up investigations and interviews within well-defined parameters, as assigned.
- Recommends release or maintenance of jurisdiction over bodies based upon preliminary investigation.
- Prepares detailed investigative reports.
- Uploads records/photos as part of case investigation.

MEDICOLEGAL INVESTIGATOR (OCME - 53299

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with specialization in police science, forensic science, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, medicine, nursing, or other related field of study; or
Education and/or experience described in “1” above.
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with specialization in police science, forensic science, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, medicine, nursing, or other related field of study; or

Education and/or experience described in “1” above.

In addition to meeting the “Qualification Requirements” above, to be eligible for placement at Assignment Level II, individuals must have one of the following:

One year of satisfactory full-time experience as a Medicolegal Investigator at OCME; or

Two years of full-time satisfactory experience conducting death investigations.

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with specialization in police science, forensic science, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, medicine, nursing, or other related field of study; or

Education and/or experience described in “1” above

In addition to meeting the “Qualification Requirements” above, to be eligible for placement at Assignment Level III, individuals must have one of the following:

Three years of experience gained as a Medicolegal Investigator at OCME; or.

Four years of full-time satisfactory experience conducting death investigations.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.