Investigations Department

 The Investigations Department is responsible for conducting death scene investigations for unnatural and unexplained deaths in Franklin County as well as taking calls regarding jurisdiction in hospital-reported deaths. Members of this department serve the community and are a part of the process to determine cause and manner of death. In addition to death investigation, the investigators process bodies, and communicate with law enforcement, medical professionals, and families. There are twelve Forensic Investigators including a Suicide Investigation Specialist and an Overdose Investigation Specialist along with a working supervisor. The coroner’s office is staffed with Forensic Investigators 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Forensic Investigators are required to complete a certification process with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI).

The Investigations Department continues to use Overdose Map (ODMAP) and builds upon growing partnerships which provides real-time overdose surveillance data across jurisdictions. This effort supports public safety and health efforts to mobilize an immediate response to an overdose spike.