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Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program

NCJ Number
309536
Date Published
October 2024
Length
2 pages
Annotation

This publication by the US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) provides a brief overview of efforts to shore up the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program.

Abstract

This fact sheet published by the US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) summarizes efforts to strengthen the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program. This program was initiated in 2017 to increase the number of practicing, board-certified forensic pathologists and to strengthen the quality and consistency of medical examiner-coroner (ME/C) services to ensure equitable application of death investigation services. Two purpose areas are funded under this program: (1) forensic pathology fellowships, and (2) ME/C office accreditation. The medicolegal death investigation (MDI) workforce is experiencing a national shortage of practicing, board-certified forensic pathologists. Moreover, there is variability in the practice of death investigation across the United States, resulting in an inconsistent provision of MDI services.