Kern County Sheriff-Coroner

In Kern County, the Sheriff is elected to serve as the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator with each role having distinct authorities and functions.

The Coroner is mandated by law to investigate and determine the cause and manner of death for people who pass away in Kern County pursuant to California Government Code Section 27491 and Health and Safety Code Section 102850, including all violent, sudden or unusual deaths. The Coroner’s Section is committed to providing the highest quality investigative and forensic services, conducted with the utmost professionalism, integrity, and compassion.

The primary function of Deputy Coroner investigators and forensic pathologists is to determine the cause and manner of death by conducting thorough medicolegal death investigations through specialized examination of the deceased and the associated evidence. This responsibility is carried out with respect for the deceased and consideration for the families involved.
Medicolegal death investigations are conducted countywide on all homicides, suicides, accidents, suspicious and unexplained deaths. The Coroner’s statutory duty is to investigate for the purpose of determing the identity of the deceased, the medical cause of death, and the manner of death, surrounding all deaths which fall within the Coroner’s jurisdiction. Other Coroner duties include notifying the next of kin, safeguarding the decedent’s personal property, collecting evidence related to the cause and manner of death, and completion of mandatory records and documents.

Coroner personnel are active members of the child and elder death multi-disciplinary review committees comprised of numerous agencies within Kern County that routinely and systematically examine all circumstances surrounding the deaths of the given age group. The Coroner’s Section is also active in the communities we serve, including participation on the domestic violence multi-disciplinary review committees, identifying consumer products causing fatal injury, and providing vital information for legal and law enforcement personnel. We also maintain cooperative relationships with non-profit organ and tissue procurement agencies to facilitate decedent’s wishes and to help save lives.
  • Why is the Coroner’s Office involved?

    The Coroner is required by state law to investigate all deaths that fall under Coroner jurisdiction. Coroner jurisdiction ranges from deceased individuals who had no regular doctor to individuals who sustained some type of traumatic injury, such as falls, industrial deaths, traffic accidents, suicides, homicides, etc. It also includes deaths where the attending Medical Doctor is unable to state a cause of death or cases where the deceased has not been seen by a doctor for 20 days prior to death.


    The Coroner’s Office has a responsibility to positively identify the deceased; determine the place, date and time, and cause and classification of death. The Coroner’s investigation is not limited to the examination of the deceased, but may include interviews with family members and other witnesses, as well as the collection of physical evidence, and the safeguarding of personal property found at the location where the deceased was located.

  • Where are the deceased taken?

    When necessary, the deceased is transported to the Kern County Coroner’s Office for autopsy or safekeeping, and later released to the family’s authorized funeral home or cremation service.

  • Will I be able see my family member or friend at the Coroner’s Office?

    No, the Coroner’s Office does not allow public visitations. The deceased will be released to a funeral home for viewing.

  • What should I do if a deceased family member is at the Coroner’s Office?

    Contact the funeral home of your choice. They are prepared to assist you in making the decisions necessary during this difficult time. They will work closely with the Coroner’s Office to arrange the release of your loved one from our facility. They will also assist you in deciding how many certified copies of the death certificate you may need and will order them for you when they file their paperwork with the county.

  • Are autopsies performed on all deceased individuals?

    No. Roughly, one-third of all deaths investigated by the Coroner’s Office do not involve an autopsy examination. Autopsies are performed only on those cases where it is required by law or where it is necessary to determine the cause of death.

  • Am I required to pay for a family member’s autopsy?

    No.

  • When can I schedule the funeral service?

    The Coroner’s Office will complete the examination as soon as possible. For specific details, please contact the Coroner’s Office at (661) 868-0100.

  • Will be able to find out the cause of death?

    Yes, when the results become available. It is recommended that one day after the autopsy is performed before calling. (is there anyone that we wouldn’t release information to?)


    Occasionally, the cause of death requires further studies such as microscopic and toxicological testing. In those cases, the cause of death will be listed as “pending” until the results are returned and the doctor makes the final determination, usually in about 90 days.

  • How do I get copies of the Death Certificate?

    Death certificates are initially ordered for the family by the funeral director handling the final arrangements. Copies may also be obtained from Vital Records located at the Kern County Public Health Department, 1800 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93305.


    Death certificates are not completed until the deceased is transferred to the mortuary handling the arrangements.

  • How do I contact the deputy coroner handling my family member’s or friend’s case?

    You may contact the deputy coroner during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays, or you can reach the Coroner Investigations Unit at any time by calling (661) 868-0100. If the deputy coroner assigned to the case is not on duty, another deputy coroner will either assist you or ensure that you receive a follow-up call from the assigned investigator.

  • How do I obtain property taken by the Coroner’s Office?

    The Coroner’s Office may release property directly to the legal next-of-kin, or to any other person furnishing written authorization from the legal next-of-kin. Property release at the Coroner’s Office will be released Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays. Generally, property is usually released with the deceased to the funeral home that is providing arrangements.

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