BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–Berkeley County Chief Deputy Coroner George M. Oliver and Berkeley County Deputy Coroner Kristin Mazzell have pursued and earned higher credentials in the field of medicolegal death investigating and are now Diplomates of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (D-ABMDI).
The certification is approximately an 18 month process that includes documentation and verification of at least 640 hours of investigation hours, demonstrated competencies of 300+ death investigating tasks, and a 240 multiple choice examination covering factual knowledge, technical information, understanding the principles and problem-solving abilities related to the profession.
Additionally, in order to continue with certification, the Diplomate must demonstrate continued competency, reaffirm the Code of Ethics in writing, and provide documentation of 45 hours of approved continuing education every five years.
The purpose of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators is to encourage adherence to high standards of professional practice and ethical conduct when performing medicolegal death investigations, recognize qualified individuals who have voluntarily applied for basic and advanced levels of professional certification, grant and issue certificates to individuals who have demonstrated their mastery of investigational techniques and who have successfully completed rigorous examination of their knowledge and skills in the field of medicolegal death investigation, maintain a listing of individuals granted ABMDI certification, and to re certify individuals every five years according to established professional re certification criteria, including continuing education requirements and work verification.
The ABMDI is accredited by the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB). The goal of FSAB is to establish a mechanism whereby the forensic community can assess, recognize and monitor organizations or professional boards that certify individual forensic scientists or other forensic specialists.
Berkeley County Coroner William Salisbury says that he encourages and supports his employees in their pursuits of personal and professional development opportunities.
