2018 Census of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices

Form CJ-XX

OMB No. XXXX-XXXX: Approval Expires DD/MM/YYYY

2018 CENSUS OF
MEDICAL EXAMINER AND CORONER OFFICES
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics
Acting as collection agent: RTI International
Please use this form to provide information on behalf of the following agency:
[FILL AGENCY NAME HERE]
If the agency name printed above is incorrect, please call us at 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX.

Survey Instructions:
• Submit this form using one of the following four methods:
o Online: https://www.bjscmec.org

Agency ID:
Password:
o E-mail: xxxxxxx@rti.org
•
•
•
•

o Fax: 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX (toll-free)
o Mail: Use the enclosed postage-paid envelope
Please do not leave any items blank.
If the answer to a question is none or zero, write “0” in the space provided. When exact numeric answers are not available,
please provide estimates and mark the estimate check box where appropriate.
Use blue or black ink and print as neatly as possible.
Use an X when marking an answer in a box.

Please indicate the primary person who completed this form:
Name:
Last Name

First Name

MI

Title:

—

Phone:
Area Code

Number

Extension

—

Fax:
Area Code

Number

E-mail:
Agency
Website:
If you have any questions, call RTI toll-free at 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX, or send an e-mail to xxxxxx@rti.org. If you have general projectrelated questions, please contact Connor Brooks of BJS at (202) 307-0765 or AskBJS@usdoj.gov.
Burden Statement
Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor an information collection, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid
OMB Control Number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 90 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions,
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate, or any other aspects of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street,
NW, Washington, DC 20531. The Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended (34 USC 10132), authorizes this information collection. Although this survey is
voluntary, we urgently need your cooperation to make the results comprehensive, accurate, and timely. We greatly appreciate your assistance.

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SECTION A: ADMINISTRATIVE
A1. What is the title of the chief position in your medical examiner or coroner office (e.g., Chief
Medical Examiner, Coroner) and who holds that title?
Title:
Name:
A2. Which of the following best describes your death investigation office?
Coroner office
Medical examiner office
Sheriff-coroner office
Justice of the peace
SKIP to the end of the survey and
My office does not
return in the enclosed envelope
investigate deaths
Other medicolegal death investigation office (please specify)

A3. What level of government best describes your office?
City office
County office
District/regional office
State office
A4. Which of the following best describes the agency your office reports to?
Public health agency (e.g., department or division of public health)
Law enforcement agency (e.g., department or division of public safety)
Government attorney’s office (e.g., district attorney)
Department or division of forensic science
My office does not report to another agency
Other (please specify)

A5. What jurisdictions does your office serve (e.g., Illinois State, Los Angeles County, New York
City, First Judicial District)? If you serve multiple jurisdictions, enter a comma (,) between each
jurisdiction.

A6. Is your office accredited by the International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners
(IAC&ME)?
Yes
No
I expect that my office will be accredited by IAC&ME by December 31, 2019.
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A7. Is your office accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)?
Yes
No
I expect that my office will be accredited by NAME by December 31, 2019.

A8. Enter the number of employees during the pay period including December 31, 2018. Report
each employee in only one category. If an employee fills more than one role, please put them in
their primary role. If none, enter 0.
• Full time employees are those who work on average 35 or more hours per week.
• Part-time employees are those who work on average 34 or fewer hours per week.
• Consultants/Contractors are those who work under another company or as a consultant and
are hired to work for your office.
• On-Call employees are those who do not have regularly scheduled hours and only work
when they are needed.
During the pay period including December 31, 2018
Full-Time
Employees

Role

Part-time Consultants/
On-Call
Employees Contractors Employees

a. Autopsy pathologists
b. Coroners/non-physicians
c. Death investigators (or coroner
investigators)
d. Forensic toxicologists (i.e., performs case
interpretation)
e. Forensic analysts or chemists (i.e., does not
perform case interpretation)
f. Other scientific investigative support staff
(e.g., anthropologists, histologists)
g. Administrative staff (e.g., secretary,
accountant)
h. Ancillary staff (e.g., drivers, photographers)

Total (sum of rows a-h):

Column 1
Total

4

Column 2
Total

Column 3
Total

Column 4
Total

A9. Enter the starting annual salary range for full-time staff for each position in your office as of
December 31, 2018. Exclude benefits and overtime when reporting annual salaries. If the position
does not exist on a full-time basis, mark N/A. In cases where there is not a range in salary, please
write the same salary twice.
Starting Salary
Starting Salary
Minimum
Maximum
N/A
a. Autopsy pathologists
b. Coroners/non-physicians
c. Death investigators (or
coroner investigators)
d. Forensic toxicologists (i.e.,
performs case
interpretation)

$
$
$

,

,

,

$
$
$

$

,

$

,

,

,
,

A10. How many of your internal autopsy pathologists (i.e., medical examiners) are certified by the
American Board of Pathology (ABP)? Do not count any contractors, consultants, or volunteers.
All autopsy pathologists are ABP certified
Some autopsy pathologists are ABP certified
No autopsy pathologists are ABP certified
We do not employ any internal autopsy pathologists
A11. How many of your internal coroners or death investigators are certified by the American
Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)? Do not count any contractors, consultants, or
volunteers.
All death investigators are ABMDI certified
Some death investigators are ABMDI certified
No death investigators are ABMDI certified
We do not employ any internal death investigators
A12. How many of your internal forensic toxicologists are certified by the American Board of
Forensic Toxicology (ABFT)? Do not count any contractors, consultants, or volunteers.
All forensic toxicologists are ABFT certified
Some forensic toxicologists are ABFT certified
No forensic toxicologists are ABFT certified
We do not employ any internal forensic toxicologists
A13. How many of your internal forensic analysts or chemists are certified by the American Board
of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT)? Do not count any contractors, consultants, or volunteers.
All forensic analysts or chemists are ABFT certified
Some forensic analysts or chemists are ABFT certified
No forensic analysts or chemists are ABFT certified
We do not employ any internal forensic analysts or chemists

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SECTION B: BUDGET AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
B1. For the most recently completed fiscal year, what was your total budget?

$

,

.00

,

If estimate, check here:

B2. What was the last day of your most recently completed fiscal year (e.g., 06/30/2018, 09/30/2018,
12/31/2018)?

/

/

MM /DD/ Y Y YY
B3. Does your office have a specific personnel budget for items such as wages, salaries and
benefits?
Yes
No → SKIP to B5
B4. What was the total budget allocated for personnel costs?

$

,

,

.00

If estimate, check here:

B5. Does your office receive money from any of the following?
Revenue Source

Yes No

a. Consultant fees
b. Cremation waiver/authorization or permit fees
c. Private autopsy fees
d. Report/record fees
e. Teaching/speaking honorarium fees
f. Testimony fees
g. Transportation fees
h. Grants
i. Other (please specify)

6

Don’t
Know

SECTION C: WORKLOAD
C1. In 2018, did your office receive any reported cases? Include all cases in which your office
documented or investigated the report of a case to your office.
Yes
No → SKIP to C11 on page 8

C2. In 2018, what was the total number of cases reported to your office?
We did not track reported cases

,

Reported Cases

If estimate, check here:

C3. “Accepted cases” are cases for which the office completes the death certificate or otherwise
determines the cause and manner of death. In 2018, did you have any accepted cases? Do not
include cremation approval cases or cases in which jurisdiction was declined.
Yes
No → SKIP to C5

C4. In 2018, what was the total number of cases accepted by your office? Do not include
cremation approval cases or cases in which jurisdiction was declined.
We did not track accepted cases

,

Accepted Cases

If estimate, check here:

Please Check Your Numbers!
The number of your “accepted cases” in C4 should be LESS THAN or EQUAL TO the number of
“reported cases” in C2.
C5. In 2018, did your office receive any reported cases from tribal lands? The term ‘tribal lands’
includes areas labeled Indian Country, federal or state recognized reservations, trust lands, Alaska
Native villages, and tribal communities.
Yes
No → SKIP to C11 on page 8

C6. In 2018, how many of the total cases reported to your office were from tribal land(s)?
We did not track reported cases from tribal lands separately

,

Reported Cases

If estimate, check here:

7

C7. Did you include cases reported from tribal lands (C6) in the total number of reported
cases (C2) you indicated?
Yes
No

C8. In 2018, did your office accept any cases from tribal lands?
Yes
No → SKIP to C11

C9. In 2018, how many of the total cases accepted by your office were from tribal
land(s)?
We did not track accepted cases from tribal lands separately

,

Accepted Cases

If estimate, check here:

Please Check Your Numbers!
The number of your “accepted cases” from tribal lands in C9 should be LESS THAN or
EQUAL TO the number of “reported cases” from tribal lands in C6.

C10. Did you include cases accepted from tribal lands (C9) in the total number of
accepted cases (C4) you indicated?
Yes
No

C11. In 2018, how many complete autopsies did your office conduct? A complete autopsy is defined
as an examination and dissection of a dead body by a physician for the purpose of determining the
cause, mechanism, or manner of death, or the seat of disease, confirming the clinical diagnosis,
obtaining specimens for specialized testing, retrieving physical evidence, identifying the deceased or
educating medical professionals and students.

,

Complete autopsies

If estimate, check here:

8

C12. Some functions of a medical examiner or coroner’s office are done within one’s own office
(internally). Other functions may be done by using an outside organization or independent
facility, such as a health department or commercial laboratory (externally).
Below, please indicate if your office primarily provides these functions internally, externally, if
your office does not have access to this function, or if the function is not necessary for your
office.
My office
My office
My office
primarily
primarily
does not
This function
provides this provides this have access
is not
function
function
to this
necessary for
Function
internally
externally
function
my office
a. Death scene investigation
b. Death scene photography
c. Medical record review
d. External examinations
e. Partial autopsy
(Minimal dissection, less than a
complete autopsy)
f. Complete autopsy
(Remove and examine the brain,
thoracic, and abdominal organs)
g. Characterization of skeletal
remains
h. Autopsy photography
i.

Forensic toxicology testing

j.

Imaging (X-ray, CT)

k. Metabolic screen
l.

Cremation waivers/authorization

m. Death certificate distribution
C13. Below, please indicate if your office primarily provides these functions internally, externally, if
the function or service is not available to your office, or if the function or service is not
necessary for your office.
My office
My office
My office
primarily
primarily
does not
This function
provides this provides this have access
is not
function
function
to this
necessary for
Function
internally
externally
function
my office
a. Anthropology
b. Cardiac pathology
c. Histology
d. Microbiology
e. Neuropathology
f. Odontology
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C14. For those functions that are conducted internally at your office, who are the people that
perform those duties? Please mark all that apply.

Duty

Autopsy
Pathologists

Coroner/
NonPhysician

Not
Performed
Death
Other
by My
Investigators Internal Staff
Office

a. Death scene
investigations
b. Determination of which
cases are accepted/
declined
c. External examinations
d. Determination of which
cases are autopsied
e. Determination of which
cases receive forensic
toxicology testing
C15. For your office, who of the following is responsible for notifying the next of kin about the
individual’s death? Please mark all that apply.
Medical examiner/coroner personnel
Family services personnel (either internal or external)
Law enforcement personnel
Someone else (please specify)

C16. For your office, who of the following is responsible for follow-up communication with the next
of kin, such as cultural preferences, returning belongings, and other policies and procedures?
Please mark all that apply.
Medical examiner/coroner personnel
Family services personnel (either internal or external)
Law enforcement personnel
Someone else (please specify)

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SECTION D: SPECIALIZED DEATH INVESTIGATIONS
D1. Does your office have a written policy for final disposition (e.g., burial, cremation) of
unidentified remains after a specified period?
Yes
No
Don’t Know

D2. Did your office have possession of any unidentified remains that were not identified by the end
of 2018?
Yes
No → SKIP to D6
D3. In your office, how many total cases of unidentified remains …
a. Were on record as of December 31, 2018?

,

Cases

If estimate, check here:

Don’t Know
b. Were on record as of December 31, 2018 and have had DNA evidence collected from
them? Please count DNA that has been collected, even if it has not yet been tested.

,

Cases

If estimate, check here:

Don’t Know
Please Check Your Numbers!
Make sure the number of unidentified remains that have had DNA evidence collected in D3b is
LESS THAN or EQUAL TO those presently on record in D3a.

D4. In what year was the oldest case of unidentified remains currently on record reported to
your office?
If estimate, check here:

Don’t Know
D5. In 2018, how many unidentified remains were classified as unidentified in their final
disposition?

,

Cases

If estimate, check here:

Don’t Know

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D6. Are the following procedures standard parts of your office’s death investigations for sudden
unexpected infant deaths?
Procedure

Yes

No

Don’t Know

a. Scene investigation
b. Scene or doll re-enactment
c. Comprehensive forensic toxicology (e.g.,
multiple toxin screens)
d. Complete autopsy
e. Child or infant death review
f. Genetic testing (e.g., sudden cardiac deaths)
g. Metabolic screening (e.g., pediatric inborn errors
of metabolism)
h. Microbiologic testing
i. Pediatric skeletal survey (e.g., radiology)
D7. Does your office use the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, diagnosis?
Yes
No
D8. Does your office use the Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, or SUID, diagnosis?
Yes
No
D9. Has the increase in drug-related deaths and the opioid epidemic changed your strategy for
forensic toxicology testing?
Yes
No
D10. At the death scene, external examination, or at autopsy, does your office perform drug
screening tests?
Yes
No → SKIP to E1 on page 13
D11. After performing these drug screening tests, does your office routinely confirm results
with toxicology testing in a laboratory?
Yes
No

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SECTION E: RECORDS AND EVIDENCE RETENTION
E1. Does your office have a computerized system used to manage, compile, or track cases or
evidence? Such a system is also known as a computerized information management system or
CMS. This does not include the use of Excel or other spreadsheet software to manage case
information.
Yes
No → SKIP to E3
E2. Is your computerized information management system or CMS networked so that
information on all cases is available to all authorized users?
Yes
No
E3. Does your office have a written retention schedule for the following sources?
Source

Yes

No

Don’t Know

a. Case records
b. Forensic toxicology specimens
c. Physical evidence
d. Unidentified remains
e. Records pertaining to unidentified remains
(including x-rays, fingerprints, DNA)
E4. Are case records maintained for storage as hard copies, electronically, or both?
Hard copies
Electronically
Both
E5. Does your office archive hard copies of your official investigative records and reports?
Yes
No → SKIP to F1 on page 14
E6. Are hard copies of your official investigative records and reports archived at any of the
following places?
Location

Yes

a. On site
b. A government-owned or government-paid storage
facility
c. A regulated third-party storage facility (e.g., Iron
Mountain)

d. Some other location

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No

SECTION F: RESOURCES AND OPERATIONS
F1.

Does your office currently have access to the Internet separate from a personal device?
Yes
No

F2.

Does your office currently have access to the following resources, either directly or through a
partner agency?
Yes,
Yes, through a
Resource
directly
partner agency
No access
a. Criminal history databases
b. Fingerprint databases
c. Prescription drug monitoring programs

F3.

Does your office currently have access to the following trainings or resources, either directly
or through a partner agency?
Yes,
Yes, through a
Training or Resource
directly
partner agency
No access
a. Mass fatality investigation
b. Disaster planning (e.g., National
Incident Management System [NIMS])
c. Bloodborne pathogens
d. Proper lifting procedures
e. Stress management

F4.

Does your office participate in county/statewide emergency response drills?
Yes
No

F5.

Does your office have access to a computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT) scan, either
directly or through a partner agency?
Yes, directly
Yes, through a partner agency
No

F6.

Does your office have access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), either directly or through
a partner agency?
Yes, directly
Yes, through a partner agency
No

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F7.

Does your office currently have access to the following specialized investigation teams, either
directly or through a partner agency?
Yes,
Yes, through a
Specialty Area
directly
partner agency
No access
a. Child fatality
b. Drowning investigative team
c. Drug case review/surveillance
d. Elderly investigative team
e. Infectious disease investigative team
f. Maternal death investigative team
g. Poison investigative team
h. Suicide investigative team
i. Vulnerable adult fatality review

F8.

Does your office currently participate in any of these data collection efforts?
Data Collection
a. Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)
Sponsor: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
b. Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
Sponsor: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
c. National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
Sponsor: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
d. National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Sponsor: Department of Justice (DOJ)
e. National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)
Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
f. State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS)
Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
g. State or local data collections
h. Other data collection

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Yes

No

Don’t
Know

F9.

Does your office currently have access to the following support services, either directly or
through a partner agency?
Yes,
Yes, through a
Support Service
directly
partner agency
No access
a. Advocates for families of victims
b. Grief and bereavement services for
survivors (e.g. counseling or therapy,
homicide survivor groups)
c. On-scene support or advocacy for
bystanders or other family and friends
of the deceased

F10. Is your office located within another business, such as a funeral home?
Yes
No

F11. Does your office have a Department Originating Agency Identifier Number or, ORI number?
Yes
No
SKIP to the end
Don’t know of the survey

F12. What is your Department Originating Agency Identifier Number or ORI number?

Thank you for your participation in the 2018 Census of Medical Examiner
and Coroner Offices (CMEC).
Your feedback is very important to us!

Please return your survey in the enclosed envelope
or send to:
Census of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
Raleigh, NC XXXXX

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