Accreditation Document Repository for Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices

July 2025

This repository provides a collection of example policies, procedures, and related documents to support Medical Examiner and Coroner (ME/C) offices in achieving accreditation through the International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners (IACME) and the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME). It is intended as a practical resource for ME/C offices across the United States, offering a diverse range of materials contributed by accredited offices.

While not exhaustive, the repository represents a valuable compilation of documents generously shared by offices that have successfully undergone the accreditation process. Users should note that these examples may not reflect all policies or materials required for accreditation, as they are limited to what contributing offices have provided.

The repository is divided into ten primary categories, with filtering options by accrediting body to support easy navigation and reference. These categories include:

General Facility and General Operations
Investigations
Property and Evidence, including storage, collection, and sample types
Morgue Operations and Transportation, including storage of remains and unclaimed remains
Postmortem Examination
Toxicology
Reports and Records, including autopsy and investigation reports, death certificates and certification, and photos
Personnel and Staffing, including consultants
Mass Disaster Plans/Policies
Annual Reports and Other Documents

For the purposes of this repository, a small office is defined as an office that serves a jurisdiction size of up to 100,000 people. A medium-sized office is defined as an office that serves a jurisdiction size of 100,000 to 500,000 people. And a large office is defined as an office that serves jurisdiction size of more than 500,000 people.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all offices that have contributed documents to this repository. Accredited ME/C offices interested in submitting additional materials are encouraged to email their documents to ForensicsTTA@rti.org.

Resource List

General Facility and General Operations

Large Office: Health and Safety Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,General Facility and General Operations,Multiple Resources NAME Accredited

These documents provide guidance for organ procurement, tissue removal, and health and safety – including safety apparel and procedures at scene – and address standards for NAME General, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Large Office: Maintenance and Facility Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,General Facility and General Operations,Multiple Resources Dual Accredited

These documents pertain to facility maintenance and security – including employee safety – and address standards for NAME General, section “A” and IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Medium Office: Confidentiality and Training Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,General Facility and General Operations,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to confidentiality, use of county property, employee safety, internet content and social media policies – including standard operating procedures for training – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at other facilities...

Medium Office: Facility Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,General Facility and General Operations,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to fiscal management, exposure control – including safety, facility security, and facility maintenance – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office that performs autopsies in-house and at other facilities...

Medium Office: Health and Safety Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,General Facility and General Operations,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to health safety and ethics – including organ tissue donation – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at their state medical examiner’s office...

Small Office: Health and Safety Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,General Facility and General Operations,Multiple Resources NAME Accredited

These documents provide guidance for health and safety, autopsy refusal, organ tissue release – including peer review quality assurance – and address standards for NAME General, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a small office with autopsies performed at a hospital facility...

Small Office: Safety and Confidentiality Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,General Facility and General Operations,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to exposure to biohazard and other agency exposure – including donation and confidentiality – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a small office that performs autopsies in-house...

Investigations

Large Office: Case Involvement Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Investigations,Multiple Resources Dual Accredited

These documents pertain to case notification, acceptance, and declination – including death notification, in-custody deaths, death scene investigation/child death investigation, and identification – and address standards for NAME Investigations, section “B” and IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of...

Large Office: Investigation Guidelines Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Investigations,Multiple Resources NAME Accredited

These documents pertain to the duties and expectations of investigators, scene/photography protocol – including investigator guidelines – and address standards for NAME Investigations, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Medium Office: Case Involvement Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Investigations,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to case file closure – including cremains disposition, determining need for autopsy, identification, formal pronouncement of death – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at...

Medium Office: Death Investigation Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Investigations,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to decedent identification, how to navigate hospital and nursing home deaths, how to report deaths – including general guidelines for death investigation – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized...

Medium Office: Investigative Practices Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Investigations,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to cremation permits and procedures, information security services, custodial deaths – including death scene investigation, and case reporting documentation/closure – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office that performs...

Small Office: Case Involvement Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Investigations,Multiple Resources NAME Accredited

These documents pertain to case notification, decedent identification, scene investigation protocol, scattered remains/body recovery – including notifying next of kin, and more – and address standards for NAME Investigations, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a small office with autopsies performed at a hospital facility...

Small Office: Investigative Practices Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Investigations,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to the handling of digital photography, identification methods, interoffice communication – including handling jurisdictional cases – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a small office that performs autopsies in-house...

Property and Evidence

including storage, collection, and sample types

Large Office: Property and Evidence Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Property and Evidence Dual Accredited

These documents pertain to medication collection and disposal – including evidence collection and storage – and address standards for NAME Investigations, section “B” as well as NAME Morgue Operations, section “C” and IACME Agency Practices, section “A”, IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”, as well as IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C”...

Medium Office: Evidence Procedures Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Property and Evidence IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to prescription medication and general evidence procedures, and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”, IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”, as well as IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at their state medical examiner’s office...

Medium Office: Medication and Property and Evidence Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Property and Evidence IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to medication and evidence at scene – including general property and evidence – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”, IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”, as well as IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at...

Medium Office: Property and Evidence Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Property and Evidence IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to property and evidence control – including prescription medication, and firearm safekeeping – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”, IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”, as well as IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office that performs autopsies in-house...

Small Office: Property and Evidence Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Property and Evidence IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to illicit drug and personal effects guidance, prescription medication – including chain of custody – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”, IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”, as well as IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a small office that performs...

Small Office: Property and Evidence Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Property and Evidence NAME Accredited

These documents pertain to evidence collection, packaging, handling, destruction – including medications at the scene – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a small office with autopsies performed at a hospital facility...

Morgue Operations and Transportation

including storage of remains and unclaimed remains

Large Office: Decedent Transportation Document

Accreditation Document Repository,Morgue Operations, Transportation, and Unclaimed Remains Dual Accredited

This policy example provides guidance on decedent transportation to the facility – including receipt and release – and addresses standards for NAME Morgue Operations, section “C” as well as IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C”. This example is reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Large Office: Morgue Operations Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Morgue Operations, Transportation, and Unclaimed Remains,Multiple Resources NAME Accredited

These documents pertain to mortuary guidelines and radiography tests, and address standards for NAME Morgue Operations, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Medium Office: Morgue Operations and Lab Services Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Morgue Operations, Transportation, and Unclaimed Remains,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to body receiving and releasing, disposition of unclaimed decedents, in-house autopsy policy, portable dental machines – including x-ray machines, and Rapid DNA machine use – and address standards for IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C” as well as IACME Laboratory Services, section “D”. These examples are reflective of...

Medium Office: Morgue Operations and Lab Services Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Morgue Operations, Transportation, and Unclaimed Remains,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to radiographs, release of unidentified remains, rotation plans for on-call mortuaries – including decedent transportation – and address standards for IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C” as well as IACME Laboratory Services, section “D”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at other facilities...

Medium Office: Morgue Procedures Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Morgue Operations, Transportation, and Unclaimed Remains,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to morgue procedures, preparing decedent for transportation, and guidelines for unclaimed or indigent remains – including cremation policies – and address standards for IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at their state medical examiner’s office...

Small Office: Morgue Operations and Lab Services Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Morgue Operations, Transportation, and Unclaimed Remains,Multiple Resources IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to body handling and body scales, organ and tissue retention – including child scenes, DNA collection, and morgue intake – and address standards for IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C” as well as IACME Laboratory Services, section “D”. These examples are reflective of a small office that performs...

Small Office: Morgue Operations Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Morgue Operations, Transportation, and Unclaimed Remains,Multiple Resources NAME Accredited

These documents pertain to body receiving and release – including transportation, body procedures, and unclaimed remains – and address standards for NAME Morgue Operations, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a small office with autopsies performed at a hospital facility...

Postmortem Examination

Large Office: Postmortem Examination Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Postmortem Examination Dual Accredited

These documents pertain to postmortem examination and general responsibilities of the forensic pathologist, and address standards for NAME Morgue Operations, section “C” and IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Large Office: Postmortem Examination Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Postmortem Examination NAME Accredited

These documents pertain to autopsy reports and performing forensic examinations, and address standards for NAME Morgue Operations, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Medium Office: Autopsy and External Examination Document

Accreditation Document Repository,Postmortem Examination IACME Accredited

This policy example provides guidance around conducting forensic autopsies and external examinations – including autopsy photographs and equipment – and addresses standards for IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C”. This example is reflective of a medium-sized office that performs autopsies in-house and at other facilities...

Small Office: Postmortem Examination Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Postmortem Examination IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to autopsies and forensic exams, guidelines surrounding forensic pathologists – including haz mat procedures – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Morgue Facilities, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a small office that performs autopsies in-house...

Toxicology

Medium Office: Toxicology Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Toxicology IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to toxicology – including other samples and rapid toxicology guidelines – and address standards for IACME Laboratory Services, section “D”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office that performs autopsies in-house and at other facilities...

Small Office: Toxicology Document

Accreditation Document Repository,Toxicology NAME Accredited

This policy example is designed to provide guidance on rapid toxicology and addresses standards for NAME Toxicology, section “E”. This example reflects a small office with autopsies performed at a hospital facility...

Small Office: Toxicology Document

Accreditation Document Repository,Toxicology IACME Accredited

This policy example is designed to provide guidance on toxicology collection, storage – including shipping – and addresses standards for IACME Laboratory Service, section “D”. This example is reflective of a small office that performs autopsies in-house...

Reports and Records

including autopsy and investigation reports, death certificates and certification, and photos

Large Office: Records and Policy Review Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Reports and Records NAME Accredited

These documents pertain to general procedures for the production, storage, and release of records – including policy review and completion of pending cases – and address standards for NAME Reports and Recording Keeping, section “F”. These examples are reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Large Office: Records Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Reports and Records Dual Accredited

These documents pertain to records retention, social media, release of information – including daily case review – and address standards for NAME Reports and Recording Keeping, section “F” and IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a large office...

Medium Office: Investigation and Records Management Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Reports and Records IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to death certificates, scene photography, Preservation of Evidence Act (The DNA Act) policy, records management, release of information, reporting writing – including subpoenas – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a...

Medium Office: Investigative Reports Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Reports and Records IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to investigative reports and forms – including media requests, release of information, report storage and photos – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at other...

Medium Office: Records Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Reports and Records IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to procedures for death certification – including file storage, records and fees, and media relations – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at their state...

Small Office: Media and Release of Information Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Reports and Records IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to interaction with news agencies and multimedia use – including release of documents – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a small office that performs autopsies in-house...

Small Office: Records Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Reports and Records NAME Accredited

These documents pertain to files and records – including death certificates and working with the media – and address standards for NAME Reports and Recording Keeping, section “F”. These examples are reflective of a small office with autopsies performed at a hospital facility...

Personnel and Staffing

including consultants

Large Office: Personnel Training Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Personnel and Staffing Dual Accredited

These documents pertain to personnel training and support services, and address standards for NAME Personnel and Staffing, section “G” as well as NAME Support Services and Consultants, section “H” and IACME Forensic Specialists, section “E”. These examples are reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Medium Office: Deputy Coroner Training Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Personnel and Staffing IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to training for deputy coroners as well as general training prior to employment, and address standards for IACME Forensic Specialists, section “E”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at their state medical examiner’s office...

Medium Office: Personnel Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Personnel and Staffing IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to recruitment, selection and employment requirements – including the use of forensic specialists/disciplinary action – and address standards for IACME Forensic Specialists, section “E”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office that performs autopsies in-house and at other facilities...

Medium Office: Personnel Policy Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Multiple Resources,Personnel and Staffing IACME Accredited

These documents pertain to personnel policies and address standards for IACME Forensic Specialists, section “E”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at other facilities...

Small Office: Training Guideline Document

Accreditation Document Repository,Personnel and Staffing IACME Accredited

This policy example is designed to provide guidance on the initial and continued training of personnel, and addresses standards for IACME Forensic Specialists, section “E”. This example is reflective of a small office that performs autopsies in-house...

Mass Disaster Plans/Policies

Large Office: Mass Disaster Plan

Accreditation Document Repository,Mass Disaster Plans/Policies NAME Accredited

This policy example pertains to mass disaster planning – including multiple fatalities from a single event and disaster to OCME facility – and addresses standards for NAME General, section “A”. This example is reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Large Office: Mass Disaster Plan

Accreditation Document Repository,Mass Disaster Plans/Policies Dual Accredited

This policy example is designed to provide guidance on how to respond to a mass fatality incident, and addresses standards for NAME General, section “A” as well as IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. This example is reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Medium Office: Mass Disaster Plan

Accreditation Document Repository,Mass Disaster Plans/Policies IACME Accredited

This policy example is designed to provide guidance on how to respond to a mass fatality incident, and addresses standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. This example is reflective of a medium-sized office that performs autopsies in-house and at other facilities...

Medium Office: Mass Disaster Plan

Accreditation Document Repository,Mass Disaster Plans/Policies IACME Accredited

Small Office: Mass Disaster Plan

Accreditation Document Repository,Mass Disaster Plans/Policies,Multiple Resources NAME Accredited

These documents pertain to responding to mass fatality incidents – including mutual aid – and address standards for NAME General, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a small office with autopsies performed at a hospital facility...

Annual Reports and Other Documents

Large Office: Annual Report

Accreditation Document Repository,Annual Reports and Other Documents NAME Accredited

This annual report example provides a sample of one office’s report, and addresses standards for NAME General, section “A”. This example is reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house...

Medium Office: Annual Report

Accreditation Document Repository,Annual Reports and Other Documents IACME Accredited

This annual report example provides a sample of one office’s report, and addresses standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. This example is reflective of a medium-sized office with autopsies performed at their state medical examiner’s office...

Medium Office: Annual Report

Accreditation Document Repository,Annual Reports and Other Documents IACME Accredited

Small Office: Other Documents

Accreditation Document Repository,Annual Reports and Other Documents,Multiple Resources NAME Accredited

These documents provide an example authorization for release of decedent form, a sample medication inventory form, sample waiver of rights, an example FAQ/office flyer and address standards for NAME Reports and Record Keeping, section “F”. These examples are reflective of a small office with autopsies performed at a hospital facility...

Disclaimer: All documents contained within this repository are shared for general informational purposes only. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the documents contained within this repository do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice or the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The content of these documents have not been reviewed by BJA or Forensics TTA, and are solely intended to provide a representative sample for offices to aid in developing their own documents. All documents submitted were from offices holding accreditation status by either IACME or NAME in 2024. There is no assurance that they are up to date or encompass updates to accreditation standards. Consideration to the variance among offices should be given when utilizing them, they would need to be customized to each individual office to reflect operational differences. Please do NOT reach out to the submitting offices with questions, BJA grantees may reach out to their TTA Coach or the general Forensics TTA help desk for additional assistance (ForensicsTTA@rti.org). Even though many policies may cover multiple categories, they are only included once in the repository, so if you are not finding a specific policy that you are looking for, please consider another area that it may be related to, and check that section.