Sacramento County is among 12 counties in California that has a separate Coroner's Office or Medical Examiner/District Attorney Coroner, while the other counties combine this function with the Sheriff's​ Department. Each county within the state is mandated to perform the functions of Coroner as defined in the California Government Code Section 27491, the Health and Safety Code Section 102850, the Penal Code and various other codes and regulations.

An independent Coroner's office helps to ensure death investigations are conducted objectively and reduces any public perception that the investigative process could be influenced by other segments of the criminal justice system.

This separation of Coroner duties is authorized in Penal Code §830.35, which specifies the coroner and deputy coroners are sworn peace officers. This designation, in addition to other California codes, defines the authority, duties, functions, and responsibilities of the Coroner's Office.

Role of the Coroner’s Office

​It is the duty of the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office to ensure, on behalf of the community, that sudden and unexpected death, or those deaths that occur under violent or suspicious circumstances are thoroughly investigated. This role is undertaken by investigative and medical staff to find answers to the questions which are important to the deceased's family, involved law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, and the California Department of Health Services to name a few. The Coroner will examine the circumstances surrounding all “reportable” deaths and:

• determine the identity of the deceased
• determine the time, place, cause and manner of death
• comment on matters, including public health and safety, connected with the death.

Mutual Aid

The California Office of Emergency Services (OES) has divided California’s 58 counties into seven Mutual Aid Regions. Under a mutual aid agreement, the Sacramento County Coroner is the elected coordinator for Region 4 which is comprised of 11 jurisdictions. The Coroner is responsible to coordinate emergency resources and assistance in the event of a large scale regional disaster or incident that involves fatalities. Such assistance may take the form of equipment, supplies, personnel, recovering and identifying the dead and notifying next of kin.​

Message from the Coroner

On behalf of the Coroner's Office, I extend our condolences for the loss of your loved one. I hope our website will provide helpful information regarding decedent examination, certification of death, obtaining reports and other pertinent information.

The Sacramento County Coroner's Office promptly investigates deaths that fall under our jurisdiction as dictated under California Government Code 27491. The primary function of our Deputy Coroners and Forensic Pathologists is to render the cause and manner of death through a thorough examination of the deceased, the death scene and other significant evidence. The Coroner's responsibility includes positive identification of deceased individuals, notification to the legal next of kin and protection of personal property found on or about the body. We strive to conduct our investigations in a timely, efficient and most importantly, compassionate manner.

The Coroner's Office participates in child, elderly and domestic violence review committees that systematically examine the circumstances surrounding deaths in a given demographic or given age group. Our Youthful Drunk Driver Visitation Program is designed to educate our adolescents about the hazards of drinking and other irresponsible behaviors. We are dedicated to working collaboratively with county stakeholders, governmental agencies, and other entities to educate our community and reduce preventable deaths.

We are committed to serving the citizens of Sacramento County and decedent's families by performing our duties with the utmost professionalism and respect.

Thank you,

Rosa A. Vega, MS, D-ABMDI​

Coroner