Developing medicolegal death investigator systems in forensic pathology.

As a result of recent national events involving high-profile murder cases, medicolegal death investigation has begun to slowly receive the attention it deserves. Despite continued local problems of financial support and political control, the development of regionalized centers of forensic excellence is gradually improving the access of rural and suburban areas to high-quality forensic science services. Recent efforts to improve the quality of lay death investigators through hiring practices, training, and certification promises to eventually provide more professionally qualified and experienced death investigators.