Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 265-X-12 — Coroner and Medical Examiner Access and Responsibilities

265 Alabama Justice Information Center

Ala. Admin. Code r. 265-X-12.01 Purpose

1. The purpose of this Rule is to provide the terms of access to and the use of state and federal criminal justice information under the authority of the Commission or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for coroners and medical examiners.

History

• Author: Maury Mitchell
• Authority: Code of Ala., §41-9-594.
• New Rule: Published March 31, 2026; effective May 15, 2026.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 265-X-12.02 Definitions

1. A coroner is an elected or appointed county public official who examines the causes of a person’s death and meets the qualifications to hold the Office of Coroner as defined in of Ala Code § 11-5-33 and is current and in good standing with the Alabama Coroner’s Training Commission as defined in Ala. Code, § 11-5-31. For the purposes of this Rule, the definition of Coroner does not include Deputy Coroners.
2. A medical examiner is a medical doctor or other trained staff under the authority of the State Director of Forensic Sciences or within the Jefferson County Coroner-Medical Examiner Office or other statutorily established medical examiner office that is authorized to perform an autopsy or death investigation or other related-duties allowed by state law.
3. Originating Agency Identifier or ORI is a unique identifier issued by the FBI to criminal justice agencies that is used to recognize an agency that is qualified to access criminal justice information. The type of ORI issued determines an agency’s level of access to criminal justice data.

History

• Author: Maury Mitchell
• Authority: Code of Ala., §41-9-594.
• New Rule: Published March 31, 2026; effective May 15, 2026.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 265-X-12.03 Coroner and Medical Examiner Access to CJIS

1. A medical examiner under the authority of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences shall use the department’s ORI to access and use federal and state criminal justice information systems.
2. A coroner or medical examiner not under the authority of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences may request an ORI through the ALEA CJIS Division. A coroner or medical examiner ORI is designated with a “K”.
3. After the issuance of a “K” ORI and upon the completion of the training requirements proscribed in Ala. Code, § 11-5-31(e), a coroner or medical examiner may access the FBI’s federal Missing Person and Unidentified Person files and the ALEA CJIS LETS information system for the purpose of performing its official duties. The Commission may limit access to certain information within LETS that may be used for performing such duties. As allowed according to the federal rule, information may also be entered into the Missing Person File and the Unidentified Person File. For subsequent years of access, a coroner or medical examiner must continue the training each year.
4. A coroner or medical examiner may not disseminate any information accessed under the authority of this rule to any person not otherwise authorized access by the Commission.
5. All persons granted authority to access CJIS information according to this rule must use a unique user account issued by ALEA CJIS.
6. An agency or entity subject to this rule shall sign an Agency Access Agreement prior to any access or usage of CJIS information.
7. Access to and usage of CJIS information by a coroner or medical examiner is subject to state and federal law and may be audited by the ALEA CJIS Division.

History

• Author: Maury Mitchell
• Authority: Code of Ala., §41-9-594.
• New Rule: Published March 31, 2026; effective May 15, 2026.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 265-X-12.04 Death Certifications

1. A coroner or medical examiner may submit biometric information on unidentified bodies or other identified corpses to ALEA CJIS for inclusion in the state Automated Biometric Identification System.
2. ALEA will compare the submitted biometrics against the state’s Biometric Identity Repository. If a match is verified against a record in the repository, whether civil or criminal, the record will be updated with a death disposition. If there is no match, the prints and other biometrics shall be added to an “unknown” repository.

History

• Author: Maury Mitchell
• Authority: Code pf Ala., §41-9-594
• New Rule: Published March 31, 2026; effective May 15, 2026.