{"id":8059,"date":"2017-07-06T17:50:07","date_gmt":"2017-07-06T17:50:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/sheriff\/divisions\/coroner\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T16:21:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T23:21:48","slug":"coroner","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/sheriff\/divisions\/coroner\/","title":{"rendered":"Coroner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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  1. Home<\/a> ›<\/span><\/li>Page<\/span><\/ol><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n
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    Coroner<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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    \"Captain<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Joe Janowicz, Captain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Address:
    <\/strong>175 South Lena Road
    San Bernardino, CA 92415<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Phone:<\/strong>
    (909) 387-2978<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fax:
    <\/strong>(909) 387-2989<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    CORONER LOBBY HOURS: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    MORTUARY RELEASE HOURS ARE THE SAME AS LOBBY HOURS. THERE ARE NO RELEASES ON HOLIDAYS.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

    HOLIDAY HOURS:<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Coroner Lobby will be closed on the following observed HOLIDAYS IN 2026:<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    JANUARY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    New Year’s Day: Thursday, 01\/01\/26<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Martin Luther King Day: Monday, 01\/19\/26<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    FEBRUARY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    President’s Day: Monday, 02\/16\/2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

    MAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Memorial Day: Monday,<\/strong> 05\/25\/2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Unclaimed Persons<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Public Administrator<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Coroner<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Coroner Press Releases<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Death<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Death Register Search<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Additional<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Additional Information<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

    Unidentified and Missing Persons Facebook Page<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Coroner Division <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The responsibilities of the Coroner Division are many and complex. By various state laws including CA Government Code 27491, Health and Safety Codes and Penal Codes, it is the duty of the Coroner Division to inquire and determine the circumstances, manner and cause of death (COD) for cases that fall within the Coroner’s jurisdiction.  These deaths include homicide, suicide, and accidental deaths.  These also include natural deaths were there is no physician to sign the death certificate or the physician is legally prohibited from doing so.  Additionally, other certain causes of death are also mandated to be investigated such as deaths that may cause a public health risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The death investigation may require medical record review, interviews with family members or witnesses, and postmortem examinations (an autopsy).  Forensic Pathologists (FP) are doctors specifically trained in forensic pathology.  The pathologist who performs the autopsy can collect evidence, body fluids and tissues for toxicology testing and microscopic study.  These fluids and tissues are sent to a lab for further testing and upon completion of the tests, our doctors analyze all results of the autopsy, the toxicology and the slides to determine the final cause of death. The COD is used to complete the decedent’s death certificate.  Evidence collected during autopsies and at the scene may be used for criminal prosecution as well as determining the COD.  The pathologists are frequently called to court to testify to the results of the autopsy. The Coroner Division is always monitoring for deaths that may pose a threat to public health from communicable disease or through product liability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Coroner Division’s responsibilities also include the identification of the decedent’s body. The identification process may utilize fingerprints, dental records, body x-rays or DNA testing.  Locating the decedent’s ID cards such as a driver’s license helps with obtaining a thumbprint. The Deputy Coroner Investigator (DCI) must also notify the deceased’s individual’s family or next of kin (NOK). Notifying the NOK of the death and securing the decedent’s personal property are additional responsibilities of the Coroner Investigator. In deaths where the decedent died at the scene, DCIs are responsible for the coordination of the removal and transportation of the decedent’s body.  DCIs will obtain information from the family, friends, and public safety personnel regarding the terminal episode or the last few hours, days that a person was alive. The Coroner Division works with numerous medical and law enforcement agencies to understand how people die and to try and bring answers to the loved ones of the deceased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    PENDING<\/em> Death Certificates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After performing an autopsy, the forensic pathologist can issue the word “PENDING” as the cause of death and “PENDING INVESTIGATION” as the manner of death. This is often because the doctor is waiting for the toxicology results (or blood results) to return from the lab. Blood and tissue specimens collected during autopsy are sent to a laboratory to be tested for specific drugs and\/or alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After the doctor receives the lab results, the doctor reviews the entire case and completes the autopsy report. The doctor will then amend or change the death certificate from pending to the final cause of death to reflect the official cause and manner of death. This process can take an average of six months to one year. This timeframe will depend on the complexity of the investigation including toxicology results, histology reports and any additional testing that may be necessary (for example neuropathology) to determine the final cause of death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Death Certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Copies of a death certificates (DC) are often needed for insurance claims, pension benefits, to transfer titles and to complete other business. Some institutions will consider the “pending” document sufficient to complete certain transactions, such as closing accounts. However, some agencies (such as insurance companies) may not accept a death certificate with a “pending” cause of death and will require the official final COD. A DEATH CERTIFICATE MUST BE REQUESTED AND OBTAINED AT THE MORTUARY\/FUNERAL HOME. THE CORONER DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ISSUE A DEATH CERTIFICATE.<\/em> YOU MAY ALSO OBTAIN AN OLDER DEATH CERTIFICATE THROUGH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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