About Us

The California Homicide Investigators Association (CHIA) is a non-profit organization that was formed in 1968 when homicide detectives from Los Angeles and San Francisco met over dinner to discuss the Zodiac Killer investigation.

This simple dinner gathering grew into what is now the largest organization of homicide and death investigation professionals in the United States. Since its inception, the CHIA membership has grown to over 1,400 members that include law enforcement representatives from all over the United States and Canada.

The mission of the California Homicide Investigators Association (CHIA) is to provide investigative support, training and networking opportunities to homicide investigators, prosecutors and death investigation professionals throughout the Western United States.

The “cornerstone” of our Association is our annual training conference that now attracts upwards of 600 homicide detectives, coroner investigators, support workers and prosecutors from across the nation. During this three-day event, the participants attend notable case presentations and training seminars. In addition, the conference provides a fertile environment for networking, individual case evaluations and discussions of investigative techniques with some of the top investigators and prosecutors in the country.