FAQs | Orange County California - Sheriff's Department (2024)

FAQs
Forms
Homeless Death Review Committee Report
Unidentified Dead
- Jane Does
- John Does
California Coroner Training Center
- Coroner Course List
Mortuary Release
Statistics - Quarterly and Annual Reports
Links - Coroner

FAQs
Forms
Homeless Death Review Committee Report
Unidentified Dead
- Jane Does
- John Does
California Coroner Training Center
- Coroner Course List
Mortuary Release
Statistics - Quarterly and Annual Reports
Links - Coroner

The Coroner is required to investigate certain deaths pursuant to state law. In general, this includes all unnatural and unexpected deaths, or those where the attending medical doctor is unable to state a cause of death. For an exhaustive list of all deaths under the jurisdiction of the coroner, refer to California Government Code 27491.

The Coroner’s responsibility is to positively identify a decedent, determine the cause and manner of death, notify the decedent’s next-of-kin, and safeguard personal property. The Coroner may also investigate the death scene, perform an examination of the decedent, conduct interviews of family members or witnesses, and collect physical evidence.

If necessary, a decedent may be transported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department – Coroner Division located at 1071 W. Santa Ana Blvd, Santa Ana, CA 92703. The most common reasons for a decedent to go to the Coroner is for autopsy examination or to establish positive identification through scientific means.

The purpose of the autopsy is to determine the cause of death, and the level of examination required to achieve this will vary from case to case. A decedent may undergo an external examination, complete autopsy, or partial autopsy, and this decision is made at the discretion of the Coroner largely depending on the circ*mstances of death and any pre-existing medical history. The Deputy Coroner can tell you the level of examination required for your loved one.

A forensic autopsy is a postmortem, surgical examination of the body conducted by a licensed medical doctor known as a forensic pathologist. The forensic pathologist has education and training specific to the effects of diseases in the human body and recognizing the appearance and effects of injuries or toxins. The forensic pathologist will closely examine each major organ in the body and sometimes collect specimens to be utilized for additional laboratory testing. The forensic pathologist will prepare an autopsy report to document his/her findings.

The Coroner’s facility does not allow public visitation or viewing. Viewing can take place at the family’s selected mortuary.

After losing a loved one, the next-of-kin should contact the mortuary or cremation service of their choice. They are prepared to assist you in making decisions regarding your loved one’s burial or cremation, and any potential funeral services. Be sure to provide them with the Coroner case number assigned to your loved one’s case; this will prompt them to work with the Coroner to arrange for release of your loved one from our facility.

Personal belongings collected by the Coroner is released to the legal next-of-kin; sometimes, this is done immediately at the location of death and other times property is held in a secure locker at the Coroner Facility until next-of-kin can be located. Property held at the Coroner Facility is released by appointment only Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm excluding holidays. Please call (714) 647-7400 to make an appointment.