Isabella Carter
The coroner, an elected official in 62 Alabama counties, investigates deaths, determines the manner and cause of death, and arranges for the body to undergo an autopsy if foul play is suspected. While the coroner does not need to be a medical doctor, they must complete specialized training in death investigation and undergo continuing education each year. The coroner of each county may delegate any of the powers of the office to one or more deputies, who have the same duties and must also complete the required training. With a history dating back to 1819, the coroner system in Alabama has evolved over time, with some counties transitioning from an elected to an appointed coroner system and others abolishing the office of coroner in favor of a medical examiner system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Office of Coroner | An elected constitutional office in Morgan County, Alabama |
| Election | Elected every four years by popular vote |
| Training | Must complete specialized training in death investigation and undergo continuing education each year |
| Investigation | Investigates all traumatic deaths such as murder, suicide, accidental, motor vehicle, and drowning |
| Autopsy | Arranges for the body to undergo an autopsy at an Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences lab |
| Qualifications | Must be at least 25 years old, a state resident for one day, a U.S. citizen for one day, and a registered voter |
| Term | No limit on the number of four-year terms a coroner can hold |
| Medical Examiner | In some counties, the office of coroner has been abolished and replaced by the office of medical examiner |
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What You'll Learn
The coroner as an elected official
The coroner is an elected official in 62 of Alabama's 67 counties. The coroner's role is to investigate deaths, determine the manner and cause of death, and, if foul play is suspected, arrange for the body to undergo an autopsy at an Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) lab.
The coroner is elected every four years by popular vote. There is no limit to the number of terms a coroner can serve. To be eligible for the position, a person must be at least 25 years old, a resident of the state and county for at least one day, a US citizen for at least one day, and a registered voter. They must also have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and must not have been convicted of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude.
Once elected, the coroner must complete specialized training in death investigation and undergo continuing education each year. In Alabama, this includes 12 hours of training per year, with newly elected coroners completing a training course within 180 days of taking office. This training can be completed during an annual conference or through several day-long seminars throughout the year.
The coroner's specific duties include investigating all traumatic deaths, such as murder, suicide, accidents, motor vehicle incidents, and drownings, which are required by law to be reported. They also investigate deaths of individuals who were not under a doctor's care at the time of death. The coroner executes and files certificates of death and reviews and certifies individuals who desire to be cremated. If the coroner is unable to determine the cause of death, they may summon a physician or surgeon to perform an external post-mortem examination and report their findings. In some cases, the coroner may order an autopsy or internal examination if there is a reasonable cause to believe the death occurred by unlawful means.
The role of the coroner is primarily administrative, and they are often the eyes and ears of the medical examiner, describing specific circumstances and submitting a brief narrative to the ADFS. The coroner's office may also delegate powers to one or more deputies, who have the same duties and act in the name of the coroner.
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Qualifications and training
The coroner, an elected official in 62 Alabama counties, investigates deaths, determines the manner and cause of death, and, if foul play is suspected, arranges for the body to undergo an autopsy at an Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences lab. Coroners do not have to be medical doctors or have any medical training before being elected to the position. However, they must complete specialised training in death investigation and undergo continuing education each year.
To be eligible to run for the position of coroner, a person must meet the following basic, state-issued qualifications: be at least 25 years old, be a state resident for one day, be a US citizen for one day, and be a registered voter.
In 2006, a bill was passed, and the Alabama Coroner's Training Commission was formed. According to the law, every coroner and deputy coroner must complete 12 hours of approved training per year. Newly elected coroners must complete a training course within 180 days of taking office. This training can be completed during an annual conference or over several day-long seminars throughout the year. There is an exception for coroners who are registered nurses or EMTs: those people automatically receive three credit hours of training per year. Additionally, a coroner must not have any ties to a funeral home.
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Determining cause and manner of death
In Alabama, the coroner is an elected official in 62 counties who investigates deaths and determines the cause and manner of death. The coroner's office conducts a medicolegal investigation to determine how someone died. While the police are tasked with figuring out what transpired, the coroner determines the manner of death, which can be ruled as natural, suicide, homicide, accidental, or undetermined.
When a body is found, the police are called to the scene. The coroner or deputy coroner then arrives and observes the scene, taking pictures and examining the body. If investigators suspect foul play or there are suspicious circumstances, the coroner arranges for the body to be taken to an Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) office. The coroner is the "eyes and ears" of the medical examiner, describing the specific circumstances of the death. They submit a brief narrative to the ADFS, including time and location information, and any relevant investigator insights.
In Alabama, coroners are required to complete specialized training in death investigation and undergo continuing education each year. Newly elected coroners must complete a training course within 180 days of taking office. Additionally, they must complete 12 hours of approved training each year they serve.
If the coroner is unable to determine the cause of death, they may summon a physician or surgeon to perform an external postmortem examination. If the cause of death still cannot be determined and the coroner has reasonable cause to believe unlawful means were involved, they may order an autopsy or internal examination.
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Investigating deaths
In Alabama, the coroner is an elected official in 62 counties who investigates deaths, determines the manner and cause of death, and, if foul play is suspected, arranges for the body to undergo an autopsy at an Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) lab. The coroner is the "eyes and ears" of the medical examiner, as they go to the scene and describe the specific circumstances to the medical examiner.
The coroner of each county may delegate any of the powers of the office to one or more deputies, who then have the same duties as the coroner. Any act of a deputy must be performed in the name of the coroner and signed by the deputy.
In Morgan County, the coroner's office is a constitutional office. The coroner is elected every four years by popular vote and must complete specialized training in death investigation and undergo continuing education each year, along with police officers. The coroner investigates all traumatic deaths, such as murder, suicide, accidents, motor vehicle incidents, and drowning, which are required by law to be reported to the coroner. They also investigate the death of any person who may have died of natural causes but was not under a doctor's care, which must also be reported to the coroner's office.
In Jefferson County, the office of County Coroner was abolished in 1931 and again in 1977. The county now operates under a medical examiner system, with the Coroner/Medical Examiner being an appointed position by the Jefferson County Commission and required to be a board-certified forensic pathologist.
To become a coroner in Alabama, a person must meet the following qualifications:
- Be at least 25 years old
- Be a resident of the county for at least one year prior to qualifying for election and remain a resident during their term of office
- Be a state resident for one day
- Be a U.S. citizen for one day
- Be a registered voter
- Have obtained a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent
- Have not been convicted of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude
- Complete the required training, including 12 hours of approved training within six months of assuming office and 12 hours of training each year they serve as coroner
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Autopsies and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences
The coroner is an elected official in 62 Alabama counties responsible for investigating deaths, determining the manner and cause of death, and, if foul play is suspected, arranging for the body to undergo an autopsy at an Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) lab. The coroner's role is to be the "eyes and ears" of the medical examiner, describing specific circumstances and submitting a brief narrative to the ADFS, including time and location information.
The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences is one of the premier forensic science agencies in the country and the only internationally accredited provider of forensic science laboratory services in Alabama. The ADFS has three labs located in Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery, serving the northern, southern, and central sections of the state, respectively.
The ADFS adheres to four core values: service to the criminal and civil justice system and the citizens of Alabama, integrity, respect for their employees, and quality in all their endeavours. They employ a team of talented and dedicated forensic science professionals who utilize the most advanced tools, such as STRmix™, to interpret crime scene evidence and solve crimes.
In Alabama, coroners are required to complete 12 hours of training per year, and newly elected coroners must complete a training course within 180 days of taking office. This training can be done through an annual conference or day-long seminars throughout the year. While coroners are not required to be medical doctors, they play a crucial role in investigating suspicious deaths and determining the need for autopsies, working collaboratively with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to serve the citizens of the state.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the coroner is a constitutional office in Alabama. The coroner is an elected official in 62 Alabama counties.
The Alabama Secretary of State’s office lists the basic, state-issued qualifications a person running for the position of coroner: be at least 25 years old, be a state resident for at least one day, be a U.S. citizen for one day, and be a registered voter. Additionally, they must have a high school diploma or its equivalent and have not been convicted of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude.
The coroner investigates deaths, determines the manner and cause of death, and, if foul play is suspected, arranges for the body to undergo an autopsy at an Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences lab.
Coroners in Alabama are elected every four years by popular vote and there is no limit on the number of terms a coroner can hold.
Yes, coroners in Alabama must complete 12 hours of training per year. Newly elected coroners must also complete a training course within 180 days of taking office.
