Coroners

What Does a Coroners Do?

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Complete death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.
• 2Perform medicolegal examinations and autopsies, conducting preliminary examinations of the body to identify victims, locate signs of trauma, and identify factors that would indicate time of death.
• 3Interview persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death.
• 4Observe and record the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence.
• 5Provide information concerning the circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased.
• 6Remove or supervise removal of bodies from death scenes, using the proper equipment and supplies, and arrange for transportation to morgues.
• 7Inquire into the cause, manner, and circumstances of human deaths and establish the identities of deceased persons.
• 8Observe, record, and preserve any objects or personal property related to deaths, including objects such as medication containers and suicide notes.

Required Skills

• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Writing
• 3D graphics software
• Alcestis
• Autopsy information databases
• Bite analysis software
• Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
• Douglas Associates Forensic Filer
• Email software
• EMC Documentum
• Fingerprint databases
• Genetic database software