Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: 4/5ths
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Robert Foucrault, Coroner
Subject: Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program grant from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance for re-accreditation with the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation to:
A) Adopt a resolution accepting a Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program grant from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the amount of $12,744 for re-accreditation with the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners during the period of October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2027; and
B) Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) in the amount of $12,744 in grant funds from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance to the Coroner’s Office FY 2024-25 budget for the Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program.
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BACKGROUND:
The Medical Examiner-Coroner system in the United States struggles with inconsistent death investigation practices, system variability, shortages of qualified staff performing investigations and related duties, and a lack of available funding. These systemic issues potentially impact the criminal justice system by compromising the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of criminal behavior associated with suspicious deaths.
As a result, the National Commission on Forensic Science recommended that, by 2020, all Medical Examiner-Coroner offices be accredited according to a national or international standard. Such accreditation provides quality assurance through the development and standardization of industry best practices related to staffing, equipment, training, facilities maintenance, and forensic specialties.
The San Mateo County Coroner's Office received accreditation in November 2019 and is currently seeking re-accreditation through the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME). Although the Coroner's Office has implemented a number of improvements to its death investigation practices, including certification of veteran investigators and updating applicable policies to comply with new industry best practice standards, additional improvements are required in order to obtain IACME accreditation.
DISCUSSION:
In September 2024, the Coroner’s Office was awarded a three-year Bureau of Justice Assistance FY24 Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program grant in the amount of $12,744 (“BJA Grant”), to fund its IACME re-accreditation efforts. The Coroner’s Office intends to use the BJA Grant to certify four medicolegal death investigators through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI); and fund the re-accreditation costs, including accreditation fees, transportation, lodging, and meal costs for the assigned accreditors. The Coroner’s Office projects achieving re-accreditation by March 2025, and the BJA Grant requires that the Coroner’s Office report to the Bureau of Justice Assistance on the status of progress made in achieving re-accreditation.
An Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) is required since receipt of the BJA Grant will require an adjustment to the Coroner’s Office FY 2024-2025 budget. The BJA Grant does not require matching funds.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 24-25 (Actual) |
FY 24-25 year-end (Projected) |
FY 25-26 (Projected) |
|
Accreditation of San Mateo County Coroner’s Office |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Percent of ABMDI Certified Investigators |
67% |
78% |
100% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the resolution and ATR will result in the appropriation of the BJA Grant in the amount of $12,744 to the Coroner’s Office FY 2024-25 budget for the Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program. There is no additional net cost to the County associated with this item, though staff time will be dedicated to management of the BJA Grant and participation in accreditation-related activities funded by the BJA Grant.