What Is a 38.19 Police Code? 38.19 Police Code

The 38.19 police code meaning for the police forces is Failure to Provide Notice and Report of Death of Resident of Institution.

The 38.19 Police Code is used by police forces and emergency personnel to indicate Failure to Provide Notice and Report of Death of Resident of Institution. This code is specifically designed to streamline police communications and eliminate ambiguity when reporting serious incidents that require immediate attention and proper documentation, especially within institutions such as hospitals, care facilities, or correctional institutions.

The Importance and Usage of the 38.19 Police Code

The implementation of codes like 38.19 police code has a profound impact on how law enforcement agencies operate on a daily basis. When officers use a code such as 38.19, it signifies a very specific failure—namely, that required authorities or individuals did not provide proper notice or file a timely report regarding the death of a resident in an institution. This code is critical in ensuring accountability and thorough documentation in environments where the welfare and status of individuals are closely monitored. In practice, the use of the 38.19 police code allows officers to quickly communicate this situation over the radio or in reports, without needing to explain the entire scenario in lengthy detail. By stating “38.19,” all involved personnel instantly know the nature of the infraction and can take appropriate steps.

Why Police Codes Like 38.19 Matter in Law Enforcement Communication

The 38.19 police code and others like it were created to enhance the speed, clarity, and efficiency of law enforcement communications. Instead of risking miscommunication through misspelled words or misunderstood verbal reports, police codes provide a standardized system. This is particularly important in high-stress, fast-moving environments where every second counts, and where clear, concise information can save lives or ensure justice. The use of code 38.19 helps reduce errors and guarantees that all team members are on the same page regarding the situation at hand. Law enforcement professionals rely on codes like 38.19 not only for operational clarity but also to maintain accurate records, uphold accountability, and adhere to institutional regulations.

Failure to Provide Notice and Report of Death of Resident of Institution

To further answer the question, “What is Failure to Provide Notice and Report of Death of Resident of Institution?”—this specific code, 38.19, addresses cases where the death of a resident within an institution (such as a hospital, nursing home, correctional facility, or similar environment) is not properly reported as required by law or policy. Failure to report such an incident can have serious legal and ethical implications, making the 38.19 police code a crucial reference in both investigations and regulatory compliance. The use of the 38.19 Police Code helps to ensure that these sensitive and significant events are properly documented, investigated, and addressed in accordance with legal standards.

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Welcome to the Ultimate Resource for Understanding the 38.19 Police Code

Welcome to our comprehensive Police Codes lookup website — your trusted online destination to explore and learn about the 38.19 Police Code and every other police communication code used across the United States. At All Police Codes, we’ve meticulously curated this platform to serve as a one-stop guide for anyone curious about law enforcement lingo, radio signals, and emergency response protocols. Whether you’re a student, researcher, enthusiast, or part of the emergency services community, this site is designed to bring clarity to the vast network of police codes used nationwide. Among them is the 38.19 Police Code, which stands out due to its legal and procedural significance.

What the 38.19 Police Code Means and Why It Matters

The 38.19 Police Code refers to a specific violation: Failure to Provide Notice and Report of Death of Resident of Institution. This code is typically invoked when there’s a legal duty to inform authorities about the death of an individual residing in an institution, such as a hospital, correctional facility, or care home, and the responsible party fails to report it properly. Police codes like 38.19 are essential because they condense complex legal descriptions into standardized numeric codes that officers and dispatchers can transmit clearly and quickly over radio systems. By using such codes, emergency communication remains streamlined, error-resistant, and highly efficient — especially in high-pressure environments.

Why We Built This Police Code Resource and What It Offers

At All Police Codes, our team has spent years researching, compiling, and updating a vast collection of police codes and radio signals — including the full context and usage behind the 38.19 Police Code. We do this because we are deeply passionate about law enforcement communication and the first responders who serve our communities. All the information we provide on this website is completely free to access. Our goal is to ensure that anyone interested in the operational language of police forces can benefit from our work. To help support the ongoing maintenance and expansion of this platform, we fund our operations through non-intrusive advertising placed throughout the site.

You can even tune in to live police radio traffic using a police scanner to hear codes like 38.19 being used in real time, offering a deeper appreciation of how critical concise radio communication is in emergency response scenarios.

History and Evolution of Police Codes Including 38.19

The system of police codes, including the 38.19 Police Code, has its roots in early 20th-century efforts to improve law enforcement communication. Police codes were formally introduced between 1937 and 1940, led by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO). The organization aimed to develop a standardized communication system to minimize misinterpretation during radio transmissions. In 1974, APCO further refined these codes for widespread use in both urban and rural emergency services across the United States.

Interestingly, the evolution of these codes can be traced back even earlier. In the June 1935 issue of The APCO Bulletin, the organization proposed Morse code brevity codes, which were adapted from the U.S. Navy’s communication symbols. While originally intended for Morse-based transmissions, these procedures laid the groundwork for the voice-based radio codes we know today — such as the 38.19 Police Code.

Common codes like 10-7 (Out of Service) and 10-42 (End of Tour) are now ingrained in police culture and even used ceremonially when officers retire. Codes like 38.19, however, reflect more specialized aspects of legal compliance and institutional accountability, showing how these numeric shortcuts continue to serve diverse and important purposes in modern law enforcement.

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