The Lake County Coroner’s Office has received reaccreditation as one of only 51 coroner’s offices in the United States to achieve the special recognition from an international association.
The International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners (IACME) announced last week that the Lake County Coroner’s Office received reaccreditation from the association.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office self-submitted to the process for the purpose of ensuring its operating policies, procedures and practices are within international guidelines.
The coroner’s office was subjected to a review of 285 standards, including administrative, forensic, investigative and facility review.
The IACME requires 100% compliance with mandatory standards and 90% with all applicable standards. The coroner’s office achieved 100% in both categories.
The IACME said it extends its compliments to Lake County for submitting to the extensive level of review.
“When an agency elects to subject themselves to this process, it clearly indicates their desire to stand to peer review and demonstrate to the public and stakeholders a strong desire to provide excellence in service provision,” the association said.
“I especially appreciate the commitment to prepare for this process by Chief Deputy Steve Newton and our hardworking staff, who are dedicated to this work every day. Additionally, I want to thank the Lake County Administration for their ongoing support of our office and its mission,” Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said.
The coroner’s office was first accredited by the IACME in 2019. The accreditation lasts for five years.
“The IACME congratulates the Lake County Coroner’s Office and Coroner Jennifer Banek for their diligence in complying with these standards, leading the way in service and compassion for those they serve and their community,” the IACME said.
Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said the coroner’s office is one of only 51 accredited offices throughout the nation out of over 2,000 offices.
“I am proud of the office and staff. Receiving this reaccreditation, under the leadership of Coroner Jennifer Banek, highlights our office’s commitment to continued excellence and adhering to standardized processes,” Newton said.
Newton said the auditors who completed the in-person audit at the coroner’s office noted a “strong commitment to community engagement, solid working relationships with various local agencies, and our offering of robust outreach programs for grieving families.”
“A thorough review of randomly selected manner-of-death reports found them to be concise, complete, and organized, with each case demonstrating adherence to established protocols and standards,” he said.