Deputy Coroner

Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Responds to calls regarding a death; in cases of death that do not require a response to the scene, obtains all essential information from reporting person to complete an official Coroner’s report.
• Goes to scenes of death in cases where sudden, unexpected deaths have occurred as a result of natural, accidental or violent circumstances including deaths unattended by a medical physician; documents death scenes by photographing and/or sketching the deceased and the death scene as necessary; and obtains a funeral home the family would like to use and makes contact with the funeral home for the family.
• Consults with family members, witnesses, attorneys, medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, pathologists, toxicologists, pharmacists, anthropologists, dentists, behavioral profilers, fire department personnel, laboratory personnel, and others as necessary to gather information for conducting death investigations.
• Issues subpoenas for the collection of medical records or other evidence as necessary.
• Determines identity of decedent and establishes date and time of death.
• Obtains fingerprints, palm prints and foot prints for decedent identification and/or case investigation; obtains blood samples, urine samples and/or ocular samples for toxicology analysis as necessary; obtains prior medical records, dental records, and x-rays as needed; logs in evidence and/or toxicology samples into both hardcopy and computer files; labels samples and placed in the appropriate bin per protocols; and logs and dates samples to be destroyed.
• Works with autopsy staff to schedule autopsies; creates an autopsy authorization with a typed narrative of the nature of the case and possible cause and manner of death; secures and identifies body in body bag; arranges for transport of the body to the morgue; and notifies the family and law enforcement of the time the body is scheduled for autopsy.
• Assists with autopsies and/or forensic studies to determine cause and manner of death.
• Completes death certificates and a Coroner’s report describing the death.
• Collects, secures and returns the decedent’s personal effects to the legal next-of-kin.
• Reports child and vulnerable adult deaths to the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Special Victims unit, as per the state statute (17-5-540, 17-5-555). Coordinates with appropriate agencies for the child death case review per the state statute (17-5-541.
• Provides information and assistance to family members of the deceased as appropriate.
• Provides court testimony regarding cases as required.
• Issues burial/removal/transit/cremation permits as appropriate.
• Attends training, seminars, professional meetings, etc. as necessary to enhance job knowledge and skills.
• Performs general administrative/clerical work as required, including but not limited to preparing reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, copying and filing documents, sending and receiving faxes, answering the telephone, etc.
• May be on-call 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week as assigned.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

 Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, Computer Forensics or Forensic Psychology

Requirements

Requires High School Diploma or GED and:

1. have at least three years of experience in any of the following: death investigation with a law enforcement agency, coroner, licensed registered nurse, paramedic, medical examiner agency or related field; or
2. have a two year associate degree and two years of experience in any of the following: death investigation with a law enforcement agency, coroner, licensed registered nurse, paramedic, medical examiner agency or related field; or
3. have a four year baccalaureate degree and one year of experience in any of the following: death investigation with a law enforcement agency, coroner, licensed registered nurse, paramedic, medical examiner agency or related field; or
4. be a law enforcement officer, as defined by Section 23 23 10(E)(1), who is certified by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Training Council with a minimum of two years of experience; or
5. Mortuary experience in Funeral Service and Embalming may be suitable for related field requirement, based on level of experience.

Special Qualifications:

• Must possess a valid state driver’s license.
• Must attend and complete online Law Enforcement Class III course at the SC Criminal Justice Academy within 6 months of hire date.
• Must obtain Notary Public certification within one (1) year from date of hire.
• Must complete 16 hours of annual training as a Deputy Coroner, including the Basic Coroners School at the SC Criminal Justice Academy.
• Must be bondable.

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