Office: 200 S. Ninth, Room 203 Springfield, IL 62701 Phone: (217) 753-6610 Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST Monday - Friday (217) 525-7575 Nights and Weekends The County Coroner is notified when a death warrants investigation. The Coroner works in conjunction with the police or sheriff to investigate all county and city deaths of a violent nature, by undue means, or where a crime may have been committed (accident, homicide, or suicide). The Coroner may hold an inquest to determine how the person died and other facts concerning the death. As soon as the Coroner completes an investigation of the cause and manner of death, the death record is filed with the local registrar (municipal or county clerk), who certifies it. The Coroner can then release the personal property to the designated persons. It is also the duty of the Coroner to issue cremation permits on all bodies to be cremated who died in Springfield or Sangamon County. The County Coroner is also a conservator of the peace, having the same powers as the sheriff. The Coroner serves as sheriff when the Office of Sheriff is vacant, or when the sheriff is interested, partial, or prejudiced in a case. The Coroner's Office is a law enforcement office and the coroner is a law enforcement official.