ABSTRACT
Most death investigators, including consultant forensic odontologists, are familiar with their own jurisdiction but may not be aware of the variables that exist throughout the world, including the United States. In general, systems tend to fall into three broad categories. Most common throughout much of the non-English-speaking world is a system where a magistrate or prosecutor supervises the death investigation. When an autopsy is needed, it may be provided by governmental or university sources. The English-speaking nations tend to follow the coroner system, in which the coroner is appointed as a quasi-judicial agent who supervises death investigations and may conduct inquests of the dead. When the colonies broke away from Britain, the coroner system was brought to the United States, usually as a county elective office. In some states, a justice of the peace office was combined with coroner functions. Medical qualifications were not required.
