ABOUT IHIA

The mission of the International Homicide Investigators Association is to provide its members with support in homicide and death investigations through the provision of leadership, training, networking, resources and expertise necessary to solve cases.

The International Homicide Investigators Association was founded during a 1988 ViCAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program) international homicide symposium, sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at Quantico, Virginia. This symposium brought together an elite group of professionals, from around the world, representing all death investigation disciplines. The IHIA is the world’s largest and fastest growing organization of homicide and death investigation professionals. The non-profit organization represents the largest network of homicide professionals and practitioners ever assembled. The IHIAhas representatives in every U.S. state and nations on six continents. The membership includes highly respected death and homicide investigators, criminal behaviorists, forensic scientists, crime scene technicians, crime and intelligence analysts, prosecutors, and others, many of whom are considered among the foremost experts in their respective fields and disciplines.

The diversity of IHIA’s membership greatly enhances the organization’s capability to successfully address the myriad of demanding issues facing homicide and death investigators in today’s world. The IHIA’s primary mission is to support law enforcement death investigation professionals through the provision of leadership, training, networking, resources and expertise necessary to solve cases. Successful death investigations frequently require inter-agency and inter-disciplinary cooperation and partnerships. The IHIA’s multi-disciplinary membership promotes inter-disciplinary and inter-agency coordination, cooperation, and working partnerships. This basic tenet forms a foundation for conducting sound, successful and professional homicide and death investigations. The core values of IHIA are professionalism, responsibility, cooperation, teamwork, integrity, hard work, and diligence – all of which are necessary to accomplish successful investigations.

By bringing all disciplines together under one umbrella organization, the IHIA nurtures inter-agency cooperation, professional interactions, and increased communication relative to:

• Homicide/Death Case Management

• Latest Advancements in Forensic Technology

• Laboratory Sciences Trends in Criminal Behavior

• Methodology Case Comparisons to Determine Similarity in Criminal Activity

• Effective Handling of Major Cases/Critical Incidents Involving Child Abduction

• Single Homicides

• Serial Murder

• Mass Murder

• Missing and Unidentified Dead

• Mass Casualties

• Terrorism

• Weapons of Mass Destruction

• Other Significant Investigations Investigative

• Prosecutorial Strategy Obtaining Successful Case Closures and Trial Convictions

• Child & Infant Death Investigations