Section 146.135 – Authority to order inquest.
(1) The district attorney for the county where the death occurs may order an inquest to obtain a jury finding of the cause and manner of death in any case requiring investigation. (2) For the purpose of conducting an inquest, the district attorney shall have the powers of a judicial officer as described by ORS […]
Section 146.145 – Jury of inquest.
(1) The district attorney shall order the inquest to be held at a specified time and place and as provided in ORS 10.810 and 10.820 shall summon a jury of inquest to inquire into the cause and manner of death. (2) Upon receipt of a copy of the order of inquest, the sheriff shall select, […]
Section 146.155 – Inquest proceedings.
(1) The six members of the jury of inquest shall be sworn by the district attorney to: (a) Inquire into who the deceased person was, when and where the deceased person came to death, the cause of death and the manner of death. (b) Give a true verdict thereof according to the evidence produced during […]
Section 146.165 – Verdict; findings; testimony and verdict of inquest as admissible evidence in subsequent proceedings.
(1) The jury shall give its verdict in writing, signed by its members, setting forth its findings from the evidence produced: (a) Who the deceased person was; (b) When and where the deceased person came to death; (c) The cause of death; and (d) The manner of death. (2) The verdict of a jury of […]
Section 146.090 – Deaths requiring investigation.
(1) The medical examiner shall investigate and certify the cause and manner of all human deaths: (a) Apparently homicidal, suicidal or occurring under suspicious or unknown circumstances; (b) Resulting from the unlawful use of controlled substances or the use or abuse of chemicals or toxic agents; (c) Occurring while incarcerated in any jail, correction facility […]
Section 146.095 – Investigation; certification; report; training.
(1) The district medical examiner and the district attorney for the county where death occurs, as provided by ORS 146.100 (2), shall be responsible for the investigation of all deaths requiring investigation. (2) The medical examiner shall certify the manner and the cause of all deaths which the medical examiner is required to investigate. The […]
Section 146.100 – Where death considered to have occurred; notification of death required.
(1) Death investigations shall be under the direction of the district medical examiner and the district attorney for the county where the death occurs. (2) For purposes of ORS 146.003 to 146.189, if the county where death occurs is unknown, the death shall be deemed to have occurred in the county where the body is […]
Section 146.103 – Removal of body, effects or weapons prohibited without consent.
(1) In a death requiring an investigation, no person shall move a human body or body suspected of being human, or remove any of the effects of the deceased or instruments or weapons related to the death without the permission of a medical examiner, medical-legal death investigator or the district attorney. (2) No person shall […]
Section 146.107 – Authority to enter and secure certain premises; court order.
(1) A medical examiner, medical-legal death investigator or district attorney may enter any room, dwelling, building or other place in which the medical examiner, medical-legal death investigator or district attorney has reasonable cause to believe that a body or evidence of the circumstances of death requiring investigation may be found. (2) If refused entry, the […]
Section 146.109 – Notification of next of kin.
(1) Upon identifying the body, the medical examiner shall immediately attempt to locate the next of kin or responsible friends to obtain the designation of a funeral home to which the deceased is to be taken. (2) If unable to promptly obtain a designation of funeral home from the next of kin or responsible friends, […]