Lauren L. Lance

Conducts investigations: Gathers and develops material facts, supporting information, and evidence related to the violations of state and/or federal law, specifically regarding child deaths, child abuse, and/or child neglect. Interview or interrogate, as appropriate, suspects, victims and witnesses to crimes or relevant matters; examine records and collect physical and documentary evidence. Make arrests, searches and seizures, conduct surveillance of criminal suspects, and organize and manage case load. Prepares accurate, thorough, complete, and grammatically correct reports of investigations, reports of interviews, statements, affidavits, and/or other legal documents. Presents investigative findings to the court through testimony, as required. Develops professional relationships with local law enforcement agencies, coroners, and other local and state agencies to build relationships that will foster a positive work environment and support the overall mission of SLED and the Child Death Investigation Task Forces (CDITF). Assists with training on child death investigations and CDITF. Provides assistance with other investigations when requested.

Gather and develop material facts and obtain supporting information relating to violations or possible violations of state or federal law. Interview or interrogate, as appropriate, suspects, victims and witnesses to crimes or relevant matters; examine records, collect physical and documentary evidence and establish contacts with law enforcement personnel and the public. Make arrests, raids, searches and seizures; serve subpoenas and court orders; conduct surveillance of criminal suspects; and organize and manage case load. Initiate contact with persons in a position to provide information and/or operational assistance in a matter under investigation and be responsible for controlling the assigned activities of persons who have agreed to act as an informant or confidential source. Participate in measures to prevent and/or control civil disorder and acts of violence as they may arise from labor disputes, riots or insurrection, protests or civil dissent and large gatherings of people. Participate in the evacuation of persons from areas threatened by actual or impending disaster. Participate in stakeouts for fugitives or high risk targets of anticipated crimes and in tracking, locating and apprehending fleeing suspects and rescuing hostages. Prepare written statements/affidavits from suspects, victims and witnesses to crimes or relevant matters. Provide oral communications concerning cases and matters for briefing, and advise other agents, supervisors, prosecutors and other officials. Draft, write and/or dictate various reports of investigation findings and prepare status reports for investigations. Provide written or oral testimony in state or federal court as to investigative findings.

Function as a member of multi-disciplined team, consisting of attorneys, investigators, and administrative support, in investigating alleged Medicaid fraud and patient abuse. Knowledge of laws, regulations and procedures that govern the SC Medicaid program. Provide data expertise from simple to very complex logic and ad-hoc requests. Participate and offer strategy in investigative team discussions. Extract billing data from SCDHHS database and prepare for specific analyses. Utilize data analysis and other resources to identify and communicate trends, patterns, or schemes. Examine financial records and Medicaid billing records to trace the source of fraud. Make supported assessment of fraud damages and prepare spreadsheets to identify discrepancies. Present data highlights, with insights, to both internal and external stakeholders. Assist external State and Federal agencies with data analysis. Assist with investigations and analyses involving alleged theft of patient funds in health care facilities. Assist Unit Director with financial reporting and budget documents, as well as general unit performance statistics and reporting. Review and analyze bank records as necessary. Prepare exhibits for use in trial. Provide courtroom testimony.

Responsible for the training of approximately 150 sex offender registry points of contacts within 50 local agencies. Train each trainee on laws and regulations for entering into statewide and national sex offender registry databases. Responsible for preparing and executing investigations and audits of 46 county agencies and 4 state agencies within the state of South Carolina. Prepare reports for agencies after investigations and audits by analyzing level of compliance based on NCIC, SORNA, Adam Walsh Act and South Carolina statutes and regulations. Review sexual offender's case reports, criminal histories, court documentation and all other useful documentation to determine offenders' registration requirements. Responsible for creating training curriculums for training classes based on agency needs and personnel. Collaborate weekly with SLED's General Counsel to process request from agencies regarding offenders residing outside of the state, moving into South Carolina, and that individuals registration requirements once residency is established in South Carolina. Review and analyze over 100 background checks per month for persons requesting a check for adoption purposes. Led 'Operation Driven' in the state of South Carolina in a partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Motor Vehicles to investigate and locate absconded sex offenders.

Assist with the production, testing, and implementation and the Sex Offender Registry Tool (SORT), issued by the United States Department of Justice. Respond to all issues pertaining to the general public via phone and email that concern South Carolina Sex Offender Registry. Analyze all incoming information from out of state law enforcement agencies regarding sex offender moving to the state of South Carolina. Responsible for communicating with 50 state agencies within the state to ensure SORNA compliance. Work with the point of contact within each agency to ensure their department is compliant. Assist with the training and development of six (6) temporary employees within the sex offender registry unit.

Maintain calendars and schedules for a number of attorneys. Maintain a comprehensive and organized billing system, and schedule, coordinate, and confirm court dates and appointments. Produce legal documents, including contracts and real estate closing statements. Research statutes, decisions, legal articles and codes. Worked as a team with attorneys, administrative assistants and fellow legal assistants. Acted as first point of contact for all clients. Meet with clients to update them on progress of cases. Researched state statutes, decisions, legal articles, codes and documents. Contacted key witnesses to testify at court hearings. Filed documents with the courts on behalf of the attorney.