Legal Definitions - coroner

A coroner is a government official who investigates the cause of death of anyone who dies from unnatural causes. The specific duties of a coroner may vary depending on the jurisdiction and may be defined by law.

Pennsylvania: In Pennsylvania, the role of a coroner is to investigate sudden, violent, and unnatural deaths to determine if they were caused by an act and to bring the responsible person to trial. The coroner has the power to appoint deputies, make rules and regulations for morgues, order autopsies, and conduct judicial inquiries into the manner of death.

Kansas: In Kansas, a coroner is a public officer whose primary duty is to determine the cause of death of a person who died from unnatural causes. The coroner can request an inquest to investigate the cause of death.

These examples illustrate how coroners have the responsibility to investigate deaths that are not from natural causes. They have the power to conduct autopsies, appoint deputies, and conduct judicial inquiries to determine the cause of death. Their work is important in bringing justice to those who died from unnatural causes.