Medical Examiner Identification Notification Policy:

OFFICE OF CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER
520 FIRST AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10016
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
CHARLES S. HIRSCH, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner
SHIYA RIBOWSKY, RPA-C, Deputy Director, Investigations

Notification Policy

Dear Family Member:

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is charged with the identification of victims of the World Trade Center Disaster. Identifications are primarily made through fingerprints, dental records and DNA matching.

Once an identification is made, an OCME investigator notifies the New York Police Department (NYPD), and provides the police with the name and address of the next of kin. If the next of kin lives outside New York City, NYPD contacts police in the appropriate jurisdiction, and the local department makes the notification.

All initial notifications of identification are done in person. After receiving notification information from OCME, the local police department sends a representative to the home of the next of kin. Notifications are generally made between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. However, the hours of notification can vary by jurisdiction. The next of kin can specify or limit the hours of notification. To make changes to the notification process, please contact the DNA Hotline at (212) 447-7884. You will be asked to submit your request in writing and notarized.

When the police arrive at the home of the family, they will have the case number assigned to the identified person and a telephone number through which family members can contact the OCME. The police can discuss the process of property reclamation with the family.

Once remains are identified, the next of kin can contact a funeral home to have their loved one’s remains picked up for burial or cremation. The funeral home will need the case number given to the family by the police. At the funeral home, the next of kin will be asked to complete a Release Authorization Form. This form specifies the family’s wishes with regards to any remains that may be identified in the future. Notification of additional remains is done by phone to the family or to the funeral home. At the time of an identification, we encourage you to contact the Medical Examiner’s Office to discuss your options and address any questions you may have.

If you have any questions regarding the identification or notification process, please contact the DNA Hotline at (212) 447-7884. Questions regarding the collection of property can be addressed to the Mayor’s office of Community Assistance at (212) 788-7418.