General Info

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner, a forensic science center, is operated by the Health Services Department of Maricopa County The center provides medico legal investigations into the deaths that require public inquiry. It offers forensic pathology services to determine authorization of cremation of decedent remains and testifying in criminal and civil cases. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner conducts postmortem examinations on decedents, reviews medical records and investigator reports, and examines tissue samples to identify diseases. The center also reviews toxicology reports for evidence of drug use and abuse to provide witnesses in court. It works with multiple law enforcement agencies, as well as county attorneys, federal prosecutors and public defender s offices. The center provides training of medical students and resident physicians and is a training laboratory for Northern Arizona University undergraduate students majoring in forensic chemistry. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner has received the National Association of Counties Achievement Award for its unidentified persons search tool. The center is located in Phoenix.