MCO P5800.16A CH5. Marine Corps Manual for Legal Administration (LEGADMINMAN)
This MARADMIN implements Change 5 to the Marine Corps Manual for Legal Administration, establishing strict notification and coordination requirements before releasing death investigations, media-requested investigations, or investigations that may generate media interest. The change mandates that next of kin must be notified and given the opportunity to review death investigations before any public release, and requires coordination with multiple HQMC offices for investigations that may attract media attention.
Issued: November 15, 2005
1. THIS MARADMIN OUTLINES THE NOTIFICATION AND COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF ANY DEATH INVESTIGATION; ANY INVESTIGATION REQUESTED BY THE MEDIA; AND ANY INVESTIGATION THAT MAY RESULT IN LOCAL OR NATIONAL MEDIA INTEREST. THIS CHANGE DOES NOT AUTHORIZE THE RELEASE OF NCIS INVESTIGATIONS OR MISHAP/SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS. 2. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, DELETE THE CONTENTS OF PARAGRAPH 8009.2(F) OF MCO P5800.16A AND REPLACE WITH THE FOLLOWING: PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF ANY DEATH INVESTIGATION TO ANYONE OTHER THAN NOK, THE RELEASE AUTHORITY WILL COORDINATE WITH MRPC, CASUALTY BRANCH, (703) 784-9512, TO CONFIRM THAT NOK HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE COMPLETED INVESTIGATION AND THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST/REVIEW A COPY OF THE REDACTED INVESTIGATION. RELEASING AUTHORITY WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT NOK ARE ADVISED THAT THE INVESTIGATION MAY SOON BE RELEASED PURSUANT TO A PRESS EVENT, MEDIA INQUIRY OR FOIA REQUEST. IN NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHALL A DEATH INVESTIGATION BE RELEASED BEFORE NOK HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE INVESTIGATION AND NOK ARE ADVISED THAT IT MAY SOON BE RELEASED. BEFORE RELEASING ANY INVESTIGATION TO THE MEDIA, THE RELEASING AUTHORITY, WORKING WITH MRPC, CASUALTY BRANCH, MUST COORDINATE WITH THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE. FOR ANY INVESTIGATION THAT MAY RESULT IN LOCAL, REGIONAL OR NATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE, THE RELEASING AUTHORITY WILL ENSURE THAT PROPER COORDINATION HAS BEEN MADE WITH CMC (JAD), (703) 614-2510 CMC (PAM), (703) 614-4309/8010, CMC (OLA), (703) 614-1686/1687, THE HQMC FOIA OFFICE (ARSF), (703) 614-4008, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT HQMC DEPARTMENT BEFORE AUTHORIZING RELEASE. FOR ANY JAGMAN INVESTIGATION INVOLVING AN AVIATION INCIDENT, THE RELEASING AUTHORITY WILL COORDINATE WITH DC, AVIATION, (APP), (703) 614-2261/2189/1794, AND ANY OTHER PERTINENT HQMC DEPARTMENT BEFORE AUTHORIZING RELEASE. RELEASING AUTHORITIES ARE REMINDED TO STAFF THESE ISSUES WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMANDS AND THROUGH THE PROPER CHAIN TO ENSURE ALL ECHELONS OF COMMAND ARE FULLY INFORMED. 3. ADD NEW PARAGRAGRAPH 80O9.2(G) MISHAP/SAFETY INVESTIGATION REPORTS. THE COMMANDER, NAVAL SAFETY CENTER IS THE SOLE RELEASE AUTHORITY FOR ANY GROUND OR AVIATION MISHAP/SAFETY INVESTIGATION. ANY REQUEST FOR A MISHAP/SAFETY INVESTIGATION SHALL BE REFERRED TO THE NAVAL SAFETY CENTER WITH A COPY OF THE REQUEST PROVIDED TO HQMC, SAFETY DIVISION, (703) 614-1202/1077/2147, WHO SHALL ENSURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE STAFF OFFICES WITHIN HQMC ARE AWARE OF THE REQUEST. 4. FILING INSTRUCTIONS. FILE THIS MARADMIN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING CHANGE 4 OF THE BASIC ORDER. 5. THIS CHANGE IS APPLICABLE TO ALL MARINE CORPS ACTIVITIES.