Coroner Duties
To Investigate Certain Types of Deaths:
Ø Homicide
Ø Suicide
Ø Accidental
Ø Criminal Abortions (including those self-induced)
Ø Unforeseen Sudden Occurrence (not seen by physician 36 hours preceding death)
Ø Custody Deaths (while in custody of law enforcement)
Ø Penal Deaths (lethal injection / legal execution)
Ø Child Deaths (under age of 18)
Ø Unusual or Suspicious Manner Deaths
Ø Occur
in Non-licensed Health Care Facilities (hospice type)
Ø
Occur in Licensed Health Care Facilities (nursing home
/ residential care)
Other Duties:
Ø Operate Efficient Coroner's Office
Ø Prepare a Budget for Income and Expenditures
Ø To be Conservator of Peace (throughout his or her county)
Ø To Execute Process When Sheriff Disqualified (when sheriff is a party / involved)
Ø To Perform Duties of Sheriff When Office is Vacant (by death or otherwise)
Ø To Hold Coroner's Inquest / Coroner's Jury
Ø To Issue Warrant to Summon Coroner's Jury (coroner inquest)
Ø Coroner to Administer Oath to Jurors
Ø Coroner to Issue Subpoenas (witnesses)
Ø Order Postmortem Examination (autopsy)
Ø Certify Cause and Manner of Death (death certificate)
Ø Order Blood Sample Test for Alcohol & Drug Content (all motor vehicle fatalities)
Ø Report Toxicology results in writing to Missouri State Highway Patrol
Ø Procure
Organ Donations (procurement of cadaver organ and tissue donation)