Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 46. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 4. INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES

Part 1. Investigation of Death -- Autopsy

Inquiry Report

46-4-123. Inquiry report. (1) The coroner shall make a full report of the facts discovered in all human deaths requiring an inquiry under the provisions of 46-4-122.

(2) The inquiry report must be:

(a) made using the Montana coroner death management system, if implemented and operational by the local agency;

(b) initiated within 24 hours after the death investigation; and

(c) completed as promptly as reasonable and commensurate with the availability of investigation information, excluding confidential criminal justice information and any other investigative material not necessary to determine cause or manner of death until the case is closed or charges are filed.

(3) For a death ruled to be a suicide, the report must include the results of any toxicology testing done as a part of the inquiry. The coroner of a county that has not implemented the Montana coroner death management system shall report the information required under this subsection to the department of public health and human services in the manner prescribed by the department.

(4) The coroner and the medical examiner must each have access to the system. The coroner shall make a copy of the system inquiry report available to the county attorney.

History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 660, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 268, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 123, L. 2021; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 405, L. 2023.