Coroner facts for kids

For other uses, see Coroner (disambiguation).

A coroner is an official who investigates deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or unusual. Their main job is to figure out how and why someone died. They also help identify people who have died and whose identity is unknown.

Long ago, in medieval England, coroners were royal officials. They handled money matters for the King and did some legal investigations. The word "coroner" comes from the word "crown," showing their link to the King.

What Does a Coroner Do?

Coroners have important jobs related to investigating deaths.

Investigating Deaths

A coroner helps investigate deaths, especially those from big disasters. They also keep official records of deaths in their area. The coroner's office works to understand how and why someone died.

Coroner vs. Medical Examiner

Coroners, medical examiners, and forensic pathologists are different jobs. They each have special training and responsibilities. The rules for becoming a coroner change a lot from one place to another.

Where Did the Coroner Job Come From?

The job of a coroner started in England during the Middle Ages. Many countries that followed English law later adopted this system.

Early History of Coroners

The coroner's job began around the 11th century, after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. In 1194, a law created the "keeper of the pleas of the Crown." This person's main duty was to protect the King's money interests in legal cases.

Coroners also helped when the local sheriff couldn't. For example, if the sheriff was involved in a case, the coroner would step in. Later, in 1215, the Magna Carta said coroners could not "hold pleas of our Crown." This meant they handled administrative tasks, not judicial ones. Judges traveled the country for court cases.

Finding a Body

In the past, if someone found a body from a sudden or unusual death, they had to "raise the hue and cry." This meant shouting to alert everyone and telling the coroner. Handbooks for coroners became common in the 1700s.

Coroners were also brought to Wales in 1284 after England took control.

Ancient Roots of the Word

The word "coroner" might also come from ancient times. In some old cultures, a "coronator" prepared bodies for burial. They would place a small wreath (a "corona") on the head of the deceased. This was a way to honor them for the afterlife. Ancient Greek doctors also examined bodies, like when a doctor looked at Julius Caesar's body in 44 B.C.

Coroners Around the World

The role of a coroner varies in different countries and regions.

Australia

In Australia, coroners investigate deaths and decide the cause. A coroner is a judge with legal training. They work with local courts. Some states have special state coroners and coronial courts.

Canada

Canada also adopted the coroner system from Britain. Today, the official who investigates unexpected deaths is called a "coroner" or "medical examiner." They do not decide who is guilty of a crime. Instead, they make suggestions to improve public safety and prevent similar deaths.

Each province or territory in Canada has its own coroner or medical examiner service. Some provinces, like Alberta, use a medical examiner system. This means doctors trained in forensic pathology investigate deaths. In other provinces, like Ontario, all coroners must be doctors. In places like British Columbia, coroners might have legal, medical, or investigative backgrounds.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the Coroner's Court looks into the reasons and situations of certain deaths. The Coroner makes decisions after reviewing reports from pathologists.

Ireland

Ireland has a network of coroners across the country. They are independent experts, either qualified doctors or lawyers. Their main job is to investigate sudden, unexplained, or violent deaths. This helps ensure a death certificate can be issued. If a death is due to unnatural causes, an official inquiry called an "inquest" must be held.

New Zealand

New Zealand has a modern coronial system under the Coroners Act 2006. This law created a Chief Coroner to lead the service. It also brought in full-time, legally trained coroners who are judges. The system ensures families are kept informed and considers cultural matters when dealing with deceased bodies.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Justice appoints "Inquirers into Sudden Deaths." They investigate sudden, unexpected, or suspicious deaths. Some large cities have a City Coroners' Court with a Coroner.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, a coroner is an independent judge. They are appointed by local governments. The Ministry of Justice handles the laws about coroners, but not their daily operations.

There are separate coroner services for England and Wales, and for Northern Ireland. Scotland has a different system and does not use coroners.

When Does a Coroner Investigate?

Most deaths are not investigated by a coroner. If a doctor has seen the person recently, they can issue a death certificate. However, a coroner will investigate if:

The person died without a doctor seeing them.
The doctor is unsure of the cause of death.
The death seems violent or unnatural.
The cause of death is unknown.
The death was due to poisoning or an industrial injury.
The death happened in police custody or prison.

Anyone who knows about a dead body in a coroner's area must report it. Not doing so is against the law.

How Coroners Investigate

Coroners have a team of "coroner's officers" who help with investigations. These officers might have backgrounds in law enforcement or nursing. An investigation can be a simple review or involve a post-mortem examination (an examination of the body). Sometimes, an inquest is needed.

An inquest is a court hearing. It must be held if someone dies while in the care of legal authorities, like in prison. In England, inquests usually don't have a jury unless the coroner wants one. But if someone dies under government control, a jury must be present. This helps check for any misuse of power.

The coroner's court is a real court. The coroner can call witnesses to give evidence. Lying in court is a serious crime called perjury.

Coroners also handle cases involving "treasure." This comes from their old duty to protect the Crown's property. Today, special "coroners for treasure" handle these cases.

Who Can Be a Coroner?

To become a coroner in England and Wales, you must be a qualified lawyer. This means being a solicitor, barrister, or a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. You need at least five years of experience. This legal background is important because coroners decide how, when, and where someone died. Before 2013, doctors could be coroners, but now it's mainly for legal professionals.

What is an Inquest?

An inquest is a legal process where the coroner tries to find out who the deceased person was and how, when, and where they died. If a death is sudden, violent, or unnatural, the coroner decides whether to do a post-mortem and an inquest.

Inquest Conclusions

The coroner's job is to find facts, not to blame anyone for a crime. Their findings can be helpful for police investigations or insurance claims.

Some common conclusions an inquest might reach include:

Lawful killing: This includes deaths in self-defense.
Accidental death / Misadventure: These mean the death was an accident.
Neglect: This can be part of another conclusion. It means someone needed care (like food or medical help) and had an opportunity to get it, but didn't.
Open conclusion: This is used when the cause of death cannot be clearly identified from the evidence.

Supervision in England and Wales

The coroner service in England and Wales is overseen by the Chief Coroner. This judge gives advice and training to coroners to ensure they all follow similar practices.

England and Wales are divided into coroner districts. Local authorities appoint a senior coroner for each district. They also appoint area coroners and assistant coroners to help. The local authorities pay for the coroner service.

There are 98 coroners in England and Wales, covering many local areas.

Northern Ireland

Coroner services in Northern Ireland are similar to England and Wales. They also handle treasure cases. Northern Ireland has three coroners who cover the whole area.

Scotland

Scotland no longer has coroners. Deaths that need a legal examination are reported to a "procurator fiscal." These cases are then handled by "fatal accident inquiries" led by a sheriff (a type of judge).

United States

In the United States, the system for investigating deaths varies a lot. In 2004, most death investigation offices were coroners' offices.

Coroner vs. Medical Examiner in the U.S.

The rules for becoming a coroner or medical examiner are different in each state and county. In some places, very little training is needed for a coroner. In others, a medical examiner must be a forensic pathologist (a doctor specializing in death investigations). Some coroners are elected, while others are appointed.

The terms "coroner" and "medical examiner" can mean different things depending on the location. Some places use a "medical examiner" system, which often requires more medical training.

Coroner Duties in the U.S.

Coroners always determine the cause, time, and manner of death. They use investigative skills, looking at the circumstances, the scene, and medical records. Many deaths are referred to a medical examiner if a person's own doctor didn't certify the death. Only a small number of deaths need an autopsy (a detailed medical examination).

In some states, coroners have extra powers:

In Louisiana, coroners help decide if living people have mental illnesses.
In Georgia and Colorado, coroners can arrest the county sheriff. They can even act as the sheriff if there isn't one.
In Kentucky, coroners and their deputies have the same powers as peace officers, including the power to arrest.
In Indiana, the coroner is the only law enforcement officer who can arrest the county sheriff and take control of the county jail.
In New York City, the coroner's office was removed in 1915 because medical knowledge wasn't required, leading to problems.
In California, many counties have combined the sheriff's office and the coroner's office. So, the sheriff also acts as the coroner.

Famous Coroners

Thomas Noguchi (born 1927), a well-known former Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner for Los Angeles.
Charles Norris, a famous medical examiner.

Coroners in Movies and Books

Coroners often appear in TV shows and movies, especially police dramas.

Movies

In The Wizard of Oz, the Coroner of Munchkinland confirms the death of the Wicked Witch of the East.

Books

M. R. Hall writes crime novels about a coroner named Jenny Cooper.
Bernard Knight, a former forensic pathologist, writes the "Crowner John Mysteries." These books are about a coroner in 12th-century England. "Crowner" is an old word for coroner.

Television

Dr. Camille Saroyan is a federal coroner in the TV series Bones.
The British TV show The Coroner features a coroner as its main character.
Jordan Cavanaugh is a crime-solving forensic pathologist in Crossing Jordan.
Coroners are important characters in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series and its spin-offs.
Da Vinci's Inquest has a coroner as its main character.
Dr. Max Bergman is a coroner in the TV series Hawaii Five-0.
Kujo Kiriya from the Japanese TV series Kamen Rider Ex-Aid is a coroner.
Woody is a coroner in the American show Psych.
The TV series Quincy, M.E. features a medical examiner who works under a county coroner.
Melinda Warner is a coroner who helps detectives in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.