Seeking enthusiastic volunteers to form this committee.

Phase 1

Committee to define the Office of Coroner and the role and methods for the Coroner Committee post elections, as relates to Local Area Assemblies and the National Assembly.

As an example, the Coroner role will be something like this:

Purpose/Role: To investigate deaths that occur under suspicious or unnatural circumstances within the county in order to determine cause of death and identify any criminal culpability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct death investigations and autopsies as needed to determine cause and manner of death. This may involve examining bodies, collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and requesting autopsy reports from medical examiners.
• Hold inquests and summon coroner's juries to review evidence and testimony in order to render a verdict on cause of death.
• Issue warrants for arrest if the inquest determines criminal culpability in a death.
• Take custody of any money, property or evidence found on deceased individuals and submit to the county treasurer.
• Complete death certificates and other required documentation and reports.
• Serve as sheriff in the event of a vacancy in that position until a new sheriff is elected or appointed.

Requirements:

• Elected official, serving a term of 3 years
• May be a physician but is often a layperson
• Must be able to conduct death investigations and make determinations on cause/manner of death
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to interview witnesses and work with law enforcement
• Ability to analyse forensic evidence and medical reports
• Knowledge of laws and procedures related to death investigations

Phase 2:

Post election, the Coroner Committee will actively support the Office of Coroner in investigations, reports, record keeping and more (to be defined in phase 1).