Title 16, COUNTIES

The sheriff shall, from time to time, prepare a list of the names of all the individuals who have applied for appointment as deputy sheriff and meet the qualifications for the position. The list shall be posted in a public place for a period of not less than 10 days. After the 10…

(a) Services, gifts and payments.-- (1) A sheriff, deputy sheriff, detective or other county police officer may not perform, directly or indirectly, any official services or official duties for an individual, association or corporation. A sheriff, deputy sheriff, detective or oth…

A sheriff, deputy sheriff or other county police officer or another official of the county or an individual, association or corporation that violates the provisions of section 13706 (relating to deputy sheriff's qualifications), 13709 (relating to public list of applicants for de…

Nothing contained in section 13706 (relating to deputy sheriff's qualifications) or 13710 (relating to private services, gifts and payments prohibited) shall be construed to prohibit any of the following: (1) The appointment, employment or compensation by a county in the manner e…

If a sheriff is legally removed from office or dies or resigns before the expiration of the term for which the sheriff was commissioned, the chief deputy sheriff shall: (1) execute the office of sheriff and perform all duties required by the office of sheriff; and (2) receive and…

A sheriff shall provide and keep in the office of sheriff a book in which the sheriff shall enter all writs that may be received and the proceedings of all the writs. At the expiration of the term of office, the book shall be deposited in the office of the prothonotary for the in…

An individual elected or appointed to the office of sheriff may not execute any of the duties of office before a commission is duly granted to the sheriff by the Governor and properly recorded, under a penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, at the discretion…

Except as otherwise expressly provided under this chapter, this chapter shall apply to counties of the second class, second class A and third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth class.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Autopsy." The external and internal examination of the body of a deceased individual, including all of the following: (…

The coroner may appoint a deputy to act in the coroner's place and may appoint staff to positions established in accordance with section 14723 (relating to number and compensation of officers, deputies, assistants, clerks and employees and revisions of salary schedules) as the co…

(a) Coroner.--The coroner of a county in which a county morgue is established shall have the following duties: (1) Make general rules and regulations for the morgue's operation and control. (2) Appoint a suitable individual in charge of the morgue. An individual appointed under t…

(a) Unidentified or unclaimed body.--If the body of a deceased individual is unidentified or unclaimed by a proper individual located within the county, the body shall be removed to the county morgue or, in a county of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth class, to…

(a) Removal and burial.--The county commissioners shall, in consultation with the coroner, provide for the removal of a body of a deceased individual to and from the morgue and for the burial of an unclaimed body. (b) Vehicle.--The county commissioners may provide an ambulance or…

(a) Duties.--The coroner shall safely keep all of the following in the coroner's charge: (1) The personal effects and property that appear to have been on or about the individual at the time of death or have been found on a decedent whose body is received at the county morgue or …

In a county of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth class in which a county morgue is not maintained, the coroner may have a body that the coroner may admit to a county morgue removed to a private facility. The county commissioners shall procure by contract, as und…

(a) Requests.--A request for an examination or other professional service by another county or person may be complied with at the discretion of the coroner under guidelines established by the county commissioners. (b) Fees and charges.--A fee and charge for an examination or prof…

(a) Duties.--The coroner having a view of the body shall investigate the facts and circumstances concerning a death that appears to have happened within the county, notwithstanding where the cause of the death may have occurred, for the purpose of determining if an autopsy or inq…

(a) Autopsy.--If, after investigation, the coroner is unable to determine the cause and manner of death, the coroner shall perform or order an autopsy on the body. (b) Inquest.--If the coroner is unable to determine the cause and manner of death following an autopsy, the coroner …

(a) Duties.--A coroner shall perform or order an autopsy to be conducted for the sudden unexplained death of a child who is not more than three years of age. If an autopsy is required, the autopsy shall be conducted in the manner the coroner determines is the least invasive manne…

(a) Recognition.--The coroner shall recognize a death as sudden if all of the following apply: (1) The death occurs without prior medical attendance by an individual who may lawfully execute a certificate of death in this Commonwealth. (2) Within 24 hours of death the decedent: (…

(a) Inquiry.--An investigation conducted by a coroner in this Commonwealth shall include an inquiry to determine whether the death of the deceased individual was a direct result of a seizure or epilepsy. (b) Duties of coroner.--If the findings of the investigation under subsectio…

(a) Moving a body.--Except as provided under subsection (b), if a coroner has jurisdiction to investigate the facts and circumstances of death, the body and the surroundings of the body shall be left untouched until either of the following occurs: (1) The coroner has conducted an…

If a coroner assumes jurisdiction of a body under the provisions of this chapter or any other law, the body may not be released or removed from the coroner's jurisdiction except upon the coroner's directions and consent in accordance with law.

In the exercise of duties under this chapter, the coroner shall consult with and advise the district attorney as may be practicable. The district attorney may act as counsel to the coroner in matters relating to inquests.

If one or more coroners deem it necessary to establish a facility for conducting forensic testing and autopsies, a county may establish and operate the facility.

A coroner shall issue a certificate of cause of death in each case: (1) referred to the coroner by the local registrar of vital statistics under the act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304, No.66), known as the Vital Statistics Law of 1953; or (2) in which the coroner has jurisdiction and …

The coroner may issue a subpoena and attachment, which shall be served and executed by the sheriff, coroner or coroner's deputy, for the following purposes: (1) A death investigation. (2) To obtain the attendance of an individual who may be necessary to examine as a witness at an…

(a) Jury.--The coroner may summon a jury of six individuals and two alternates to be selected from the jury panels of the court of common pleas. (b) Function.--The function of the jury shall be to determine the manner of death and if a criminal act or neglect of a known or unknow…

The coroner may administer an oath and affirmation to an individual brought or appearing before the coroner. An individual who falsely swears or affirms during the examination commits perjury.

(a) Warrant.--An individual may be committed by a coroner to the county jail by warrant directed to the sheriff or a constable of the county if while appearing before the coroner for examination the individual refuses to: (1) take an oath or affirmation; or (2) answer a question …

The following apply: (1) In counties of the second, second A, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth class, the coroner may admit or exclude any of the following: (i) A member of the public from an inquest or a part of an inquest. (ii) An individual interested or suspect…

(a) Removal, death or resignation.--If a coroner is legally removed from office, dies or resigns before the expiration of the term for which the coroner was elected or appointed, the chief deputy coroner shall execute the office of coroner, perform related duties and receive and …

The coroner may order the removal of parts of a decedent's body for donation purposes in accordance with 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 86 (relating to anatomical gifts).

An individual elected or appointed to the office of coroner may not execute any of the duties of the office before a commission has been issued to the coroner by the Governor and properly recorded. An individual who violates this section may be sentenced to imprisonment for a ter…

In counties of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth classes, every coroner, within 30 days after the end of each year, shall deposit all official records and papers for the preceding year in the office of the prothonotary for the inspection of interested members of…

(a) Cost of disposition.--If a legal representative makes a claim to property after disposition of the deceased has occurred at county expense, any property retained from the deceased by the coroner in accordance with section 13915 (relating to unclaimed property and sales) shall…

The coroner shall charge and collect a fee of $500 for an autopsy report, $100 for a toxicology report, $100 for an inquisition or coroner's report, $50 for a cremation or disposition authorization and other fees as may be established for other reports or documents requested by n…

At the municipal election preceding the expiration of the term of office of a prothonotary, clerk of the courts of common pleas, register of wills, clerk of orphans' court or recorder of deeds of any county and every four years thereafter, the electors of the county shall elect a…

(a) Counties of the third and fourth classes.--In counties of the third and fourth classes, one individual shall hold the office of prothonotary, one individual shall hold the office of clerk of courts, one individual shall hold the offices of register of wills and clerk of orpha…

(a) Elections.--In each county containing 40,000 inhabitants, which has been created as a separate and independent judicial district as provided by the Constitution of Pennsylvania, upon acceptance of the provisions of this section under subsection (c) and at the expiration of th…

The recorder of deeds shall appoint one first deputy to act for the death or resignation of the first deputy's principal or when the office becomes vacant from other causes. The register of wills shall appoint a deputy or deputies with powers and duties specified under 20 Pa.C.S.…

The recorder of deeds may appoint a second deputy recorder of deeds. A second deputy recorder of deeds shall possess and discharge all the rights, powers and duties of the principal deputy recorder of deeds during the principal deputy's necessary or temporary absence.

The recorder of deeds may appoint one or more clerks employed in the recorder's office to administer oaths and affirmations to all individuals pertaining to the business of the recorder's office. Oaths and affirmations under this section shall have the same force and effect as if…

(a) Qualifications.--The district attorney must meet all of the following qualifications: (1) Be a resident of the county. (2) Be at least 25 years of age. (3) Be a citizen of the United States. (4) Have been admitted to practice as an attorney before the Supreme Court of Pennsyl…

The district attorney shall sign each bill of indictment and conduct in court each criminal and other prosecution, in the name of the Commonwealth or, if the Commonwealth is a party, that arises in the county for which the district attorney is elected, and perform all the duties …

All necessary expenses incurred by the district attorney or the district attorney's assistants or an officer directed by the district attorney in the investigation of crime and the apprehension and prosecution of persons charged with or suspected of the commission of crime, upon …