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Policy and Procedure Manual

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Policy and Procedure Manual Policy and Procedure Manual Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner (CCOCME) 1704 Pinto Lane Las Vegas, Nevada The Office of the Clark County Coroner/Medical Examiner was established with jurisdiction coextensive with the boundaries of Clark County, Nevada It shall be the duty of the county coroner to determine the cause of death of any person reported to him as having been killed by violence; has suddenly died under such circumstances as to afford reasonable grounds to suspect or infer that death has been caused or occasioned by the act of another by criminal means; has committed suicide; and to determine the cause of all deaths as to which applicable state law makes it the duty of the coroner to sign certificates of death. As the Southern Nevada community continues to grow, so does the role of the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner. The office has three distinctive division that work well together in an effort to provide support to the other divisions as well as to the public we are called upon to assist. Due to the nature of this most sensitive business, our goal is to provide compassionate service to those that we serve. An obligation rests with each staff member to render honest, efficient, courteous and discrete service on behalf of the office. As an overview of the office, a call is received reporting a death. An investigator is dispatched to the location and conducts an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. If the case falls under our jurisdiction, the decedent is transported to our office where an autopsy or external examination is conducted to determine the cause and manner of death. The investigator generates a written report, which is provided to the medical examiner prior to the autopsy/examination. If an autopsy is performed, an autopsy report is generated. The decedent is then released to a local funeral home. A Death Certificate is generated. 2 Mission Statement To provide professional medicolegal death investigation by: • Determining cause and manner of death • Identifying decedents • Notifying next-of-kin • Protecting decedent’s property Vision Statement To be the leader in providing compassionate & efficient service to the people we serve in accomplishing our mission statement 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS STATUES .....................................................................................................................8 2.12.010 Definitions.................................................................................................9 2.12.020 Office established-Jurisdiction-Appointment-Salaries and expenses........9 2.12.030 Deputies, assistants, and other personnel ..................................................10 2.12.040 Bond..........................................................................................................10 2.12.050 Register-Requisites....................................................................................10 2.12.060 Duties.........................................................................................................11 2.12.070 Removal or disturbance of remains and effects of deceased prohibited ...11 2.12.080 Inquests-Coroner’s duties..........................................................................12 2.12.090 Penalty for failure to attend as juror ..........................................................14 2.12.100 Oath of jurors when jurors attend..............................................................14 2.12.110 Fees of jurors- Expenses of transportation of jury ....................................14 2.12.120 Witnesses- Summoning and examination- Adjournment of inquest .........15 2.12.140 Rendition of verdict-Certifications-Contents ............................................15 2.12.150 Testimony reduced to writing-Filed in the office of the coroner...............15 2.12.160 Action of district attorney after inquest.....................................................15 2.12.180 Money, Property of Deceased-Delivery to the county treasurer ...............16 2.12.190 Duties of the county treasurer pertaining to money and property of deceased ....................................................................................................16 2.12.200 Payment to representatives of deceased ....................................................16 2.12.210 Burial of deceased-When a charge against the county ..............................16 2.12.220 Penalty for failure of coroner to comply ...................................................16 2.12.230 Notification of Death.................................................................................17 2.12.240 Powers and duties of Coroner in examination of bodies and performance of autopsies................................................................................................17 2.12.250 Duties of the Medical Examiner................................................................18 2.12.260 Issuance of Death Certificates...................................................................18 2.12.270 Designation of Morgue or Mortuaries.......................................................18 2.12.280 Notification of deceased relatives-release and disposition of remains......18 2.12.290 Cooperation of County Agencies, Officials and Employees.....................19 2.12.300 Rules and Regulations ............................................................................... 2.12.310 Use of Professional Services .....................................................................19 2.12.320 Contract Agreement for Pathological Services .........................................19 2.12.330 Schedule of Fees for Medical Examiner and Autopsy Services................19 2.12.310 Recording Duties.......................................................................................19 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................20 ORGANIZATION CHART ..................................................................................................21 CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT .................................................................................22 GENERAL INFORMATION ...............................................................................................23 REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION........................................................................23 ANSWERING SERVICE........................................................................................23 SUBPEONAS...........................................................................................................23 DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.............................................................................25 PUBLIC RELEASE OF INFORMATION ...........................................................................26 MEDIA REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION .......................................................................28 EMPLOYEE, OFFICE AND VISITOR BADGES...............................................................29 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.............................................................................................30 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ...............................................................................................31 4 TIME AND ATTENDANCE................................................................................................32 SCHEDULED ABSENCES.....................................................................................32 UNSCHEDULED ABSENCES...............................................................................34 CLARK COUNTY EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE/WELLNESS PROGRAM.........37 LEAVE SLIP FLOW PROCESS .............................................................................37 BREAKS, HOLIDAYS, COMPENSATORY TIME AND OVERTIME ............................38 BREAKS ..................................................................................................................38 HOLIDAYS .............................................................................................................38 COMPENSATORY TIME.......................................................................................39 OVERTIME .............................................................................................................39 SAFETY................................................................................................................................40 BODY FLUID EXPOSURE INCIDENT ................................................................40 WORK RELATED INJURIES ................................................................................41 UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS...............................................................................41 EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS.........................................................................................42 SPECIFIC THREAT PROCEDURES ……………………………………………………. 44 SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES ………………………………………………………………. 44 WEAPON THREAT………………………………………………………………………..44 USE OF COUNTY PROPERTY AND/OR EQUIPMENT..................................................45 USE OF COUNTY VEHICLES ...........................................................................................46 INVENTORY CONTROL....................................................................................................47 DEPUTIZATION OF PROPERTY CUSTODIANS ............................................................48 VARIOUS CASE-RELATED REPORTS ............................................................................49
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