Sonoma County Grand Jury
• 2019-2020
Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office The Resurrection of a Coroner’s Office
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 4 findings
F1
The County has addressed the timely completion of pathology reports by contracting with Kimi Verilhac, P.C. as the primary provider for forensic pathology services.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The responsibilities and organization of the Coroner’s Office have been restructured, increasing oversight and efficiency.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The future sale of the Chanate property makes it necessary to relocate the Coroner’s Office.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors, working in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Office and the Coroner’s Office Lieutenant, identify a new location for the Coroner’s Office and Morgue facility by December 1, 2020. (F3)
F4
The obsolete dental x-ray machine impedes work flow and endangers staff. COMMENDATIONS The Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury commends the Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office for: • Dealing effectively with the backlog problem. (F2) • Restructuring responsibilities in the Coroner’s Office. (F2) • Settling the pathology contract issues. (F1) • Adding a modern case management system.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Board of Supervisors budget the purchase of a new dental x-ray machine for the Coroner’s Office for delivery by December 1, 2020. (F4)
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 7Since the Grand Jury investigation six years ago, the Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office has made significant improvements. They eliminated the case backlog, implemented a new case management system and retained a full time pathologist. The Grand Jury investigation this year found that the department has made organizational changes and is now operating efficiently and professionally. The biggest challenge the Coroner’s Office faces today is the state of their facility. For 31 years, the Coroner’s Office has worked from an antiquated building that has served the County’s needs. As the timing of the Chanate property sale cannot be predicted, the Board of Supervisors should immediately begin the process of relocating the Coroner’s Office or building a new and modern facility.
Commendations 4
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CM1 Page 7Dealing effectively with the backlog problem. (F2)
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CM2 Page 7Restructuring responsibilities in the Coroner’s Office. (F2)
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CM3 Page 7Settling the pathology contract issues. (F1)
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CM4 Page 7Adding a modern case management system.
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office
Sonoma County Sheriff
Elected County Office