Abstract
Death investigation throughout the United States is conducted by medical examiners, coroners, or combined systems, based on the laws of individual states. Larger counties in Texas employ medical examiners, but smaller counties rely on justices of the peace. Texas is unique in the use of justices of the peace in the place of county coroners. These justices have multiple responsibilities, including small claims courts, civil marriages, and inquests and death certification. In Texas counties with medical examiner offices, the justice of the peace relinquishes the responsibilities of death investigation and certification.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 70-73 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Academic Forensic Pathology |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Death investigation
- Forensic pathology
- Justice of the peace
- Medical examiner
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine