Information about the Office of the Coroner and the duties performed by this department.
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DOUGLAS COUNTY CORONER
200 South Prairie Tuscola, IL 61953
Phone: (217) 253-4808 Fax: (217) 253-5235
Coroner
Joe Victor
Secretary
Chana L. Ray
Deputy Coroner’s
Joe Irace Butch McCollam
Steve Cook Steve Gingerich
Todd Ray Brian Moody
Shane Gould Bob Faust
Joe Carter Bill Rogers
Olen Kibler Jim Sanstrom
Jim Crane Jason Goad
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In the 12th century England, the power of the Sheriff
was a growing entity within the King’s land.
To monitor the Sheriff for evidence of dishonesty, the King created the
role of coroner. For each county, four
men were selected by the court for the role of “coroner,” named so because they
were meant to serve the “crown.” These
men brought important concerns to the attention of the King and investigated
any failure to inform the King of these important matters. The coroners were deemed the only persons
within the county with the power to arrest the Sheriff himself.
By the 16th century, the coroner had become an
elected official. While he still
maintained the power to ensure the honesty of public officials, the most
prominent role of the coroner had become what it is in the United States today: investigating violent and suspicious deaths.
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Responsibilities of the Coroner
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Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Respond or dispatch Deputy
Coroner to death scene
- Collect toxicological
samples and submit for analysis
- Makes death notification
to next-of-kin
- Coordinate and facilitate
organ donation
- Determine necessity for
autopsy
- Facilitate autopsy process
- Coordinate transport of
deceased from death scene
- Conduct death
investigations when necessary
- Schedule and conduct
inquests
- Summon jury from Jury
Commission for Inquests
- Issue Temporary Death
Certificates
- Issue Permanent Death
Certificates
- Facilitate burial of
indigent
- Issue Cremation Permits
- Maintain records of all
deaths report
- Maintain permanent records
of all inquested cases
- Maintain vital statistics
related to all cases reported
- Take charge of personal
property of a deceased person until it can be released
- Disaster Deputy Coroners
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Be
prepared for any disaster situation
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