Charleston County Coroner’s Office Receives Federal Grant

Press Release

The Charleston County Coroner’s Office has been awarded $53,820 in grant funds from the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant which is administered by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs. Funds will be used to hire a Forensic Autopsy Technician who will assist with the examination and documentation of forensic findings during forensic autopsies completed at the Charleston County Coroner’s Office.

In 2021, the Charleston County Coroner’s Office completed 579 forensic autopsies. Of those, 475 were conducted at the Coroner’s Office, while the remaining 104 were completed at a local hospital.  Those numbers are anticipated to rise in 2022.  An updated count is available on the Coroner’s website. 

“Charleston County has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic and our overdose numbers continue to rise as well as the number of homicides, suicides, and pedestrian/motor vehicle accidents.  We are honored to have been awarded funds that will provide for a Forensic Autopsy Technician who will assist as we care for those who have died and lost their voice while providing needed information to surviving families,” said Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal. 

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