Coroner's Office
The Coroner’s Office is a bureau of the Solano County Sheriff. It has the duty to inquire into all deaths occurring in the County where the deceased has not been seen or has not been under the care of a licensed physician for 20 days prior to death. We review approximately 1,500 deaths and conduct between 800 and 900 death investigations annually.
Outcomes for Review and Investigation of a Death
The Coroner's Office determines the circumstances, manner and cause of death. This may be accomplished by the pathologist through the review of medical records, conferring with medical staff, conducting medical and forensic examinations, and reviewing toxicology results.
Circumstance
What was the happening at the time the person died? What were the circumstances surrounding the death?
Manner
Was the death Natural, an Accident, Suicide, Homicide, or Pending Investigation? This is also known as the classification of the death and is noted on the death certificate.
Cause
What is the medical reason for the death? This cause of death will be used on the death certificate.
The Coroner Staff
The bureau is currently staffed by one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, four Deputy-Coroners, two contracted Forensic Pathologists, one Forensic Technician, and one Office Assistant. Deputy Coroners are Solano County Sheriff Deputies on a five-year rotation in the Coroner’s Office. The Coroner's Office has a number of Pathologists, also known as Medical Examiners, on contract to perform the autopsies.
For Relatives and Friends of Deceased Person
Community Awareness and Participation
The Coroner's Office also takes part in a variety of interagency problem-solving groups that work toward reducing certain types of deaths. The committees with which the Coroner's Office is involved include:
- the Interagency Child Death Review Team (ICDT),
- the Domestic Violence Death Review Team (DVDRT), and
- the SIDS Advisory Board.
The Coroner's Office also works closely with Solano County Health and Social Services by providing statistical data on suicides and accidental drug overdose cases in an effort to reduce these tragic deaths.
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