The Chester County Coroner’s Office currently has a shortage of space and staff, but that’s had little impact so far on the progress of criminal investigations, writes Vinny Vella for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“We have not had any problems at a crime scene because the coroner is delayed in getting there,” said District Attorney Thomas Hogan. “In any case, the coroner plays a limited role in our crime scenes.”

According to Dr. Christina VandePol, Coroner of Chester County, the office has not been granted accreditation from the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. The accreditation is not required, but is seen as a validation of best practices in an industry.

Among the reasons given are deficiencies in its morgue and autopsy facilities, as well as the high number of autopsies performed by each forensic pathologist.

Only five counties in Pennsylvania have been accredited by the agency: Lehigh, Lancaster, Adams, Washington, and Cambria.

Read more about the Chester County Coroner’s Office in the Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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