How it works

FAQ

Cook County Medical Examiner: 2111 W. Harrison Street, Chicago IL 60612. Phone: 312-666-0500. Cook County is the only Illinois county with a Medical Examiner rather than an elected Coroner. Scene release for all death investigations in Chicago and Cook County suburbs goes through this office. CSCleanup Chicago coordinates release directly.

Cook County Medical Examiner — Scene Release Guide for Chicago Biohazard Cleanup

Cook County Medical Examiner — the essential contact

  • Office: 2111 W. Harrison Street, Chicago IL 60612
  • Phone: 312-666-0500
  • Available 24 hours for death investigation notification
  • Jurisdiction: All of Cook County — Chicago city and all Cook County suburbs
  • Scene release: required before any biohazard cleanup can legally begin at a death scene
  • Collar counties have separate elected Coroners — see Section 05 below

Cook County is the only county in Illinois with a Medical Examiner rather than an elected Coroner. Every unattended, suspicious, traumatic, or violent death in Chicago and the surrounding Cook County suburbs falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Medical Examiner. This matters to anyone who needs biohazard or crime scene cleanup in Chicago: the Medical Examiner’s scene release is required before cleanup can legally begin — in addition to law enforcement clearance.


CSCleanup Chicago coordinates ME release on every death-related cleanup call:

(888) 629-1222

2111 W. Harrison St Chicago | 312-666-0500 | Cook County Only | Scene Release Required Before Cleanup | CSCleanup Chicago Coordinates Directly

Why Cook County Has a Medical Examiner and the Rest of Illinois Has Coroners

Illinois is one of the states that allows counties to choose between a coroner system and a medical examiner system. Cook County adopted the Medical Examiner system in 1976, replacing the elected Coroner with an appointed forensic pathologist. Every other county in Illinois — including DuPage, Kane, Will, Kendall, Lake, and McHenry — retains the elected Coroner system.

Cook County Medical Examiner

  • Appointed position — not elected
  • Required to be a licensed forensic pathologist — an MD with specialized training in death investigation
  • Conducts mandatory autopsy on ALL homicides in Cook County — no exceptions
  • Investigates all sudden, unattended, suspicious, and traumatic deaths
  • Issues death certificates for all deaths under jurisdiction
  • Scene release for death investigations is issued by this office
  • Cannot be voted out — serves at the discretion of the county board

Elected Coroner — collar counties

  • Elected by county voters — no medical degree required in most Illinois counties
  • May or may not be a physician
  • Works with forensic pathologists for autopsies
  • Investigates deaths in their county only
  • DuPage, Kane, Will, Kendall, Lake IL, and McHenry each have their own elected Coroner
  • Scene release in collar county situations goes through the relevant county Coroner — not Cook County ME

For families and property managers dealing with a death anywhere in Chicago or Cook County: the Cook County Medical Examiner is your agency. For deaths in a collar county suburb, the relevant county Coroner handles the investigation. CSCleanup Chicago knows which agency has jurisdiction for every call and coordinates directly.

Which Deaths Fall Under Cook County Medical Examiner Jurisdiction

The Cook County Medical Examiner has jurisdiction over a specific category of deaths — not all deaths in Cook County go through the office. Understanding which deaths trigger Medical Examiner jurisdiction matters because it directly affects when biohazard cleanup can begin.

Deaths requiring ME investigation

  • All homicides — mandatory autopsy on every case
  • All suicides and suspected suicides
  • Accidental deaths — motor vehicle, falls, workplace, drowning
  • Unattended deaths — any death where no physician was present and can certify the cause
  • Sudden unexpected deaths — persons in apparent good health who die without known cause
  • Deaths in custody — jails, prisons, police situations
  • Deaths during medical procedures or under anesthesia in certain circumstances
  • Deaths where the body will be cremated and there is any uncertainty about the cause

How scene release works — step by step

  1. 911 is called — law enforcement responds first
  2. Law enforcement establishes whether the death is suspicious or requires investigation
  3. Cook County Medical Examiner’s office is notified of all reportable deaths
  4. Medical Examiner investigator responds to the scene to assess the death
  5. Remains are transported to the Medical Examiner’s office at 2111 W. Harrison Street
  6. Investigation is completed — autopsy conducted if required
  7. Scene is released by the Medical Examiner’s office — this is when cleanup can begin

Note: Law enforcement scene release and Medical Examiner scene release are separate. Both must occur before biohazard cleanup can begin.

Coroner Contacts for DuPage, Kane, Will, Kendall, Lake IL, and McHenry Counties

For CSCleanup Chicago calls outside Chicago city limits and Cook County suburbs, the relevant collar county Coroner handles death investigations. The correct Coroner must be confirmed and scene release obtained before cleanup begins. CSCleanup Chicago manages this for every call.

Agency Address Phone Notes
DuPage County Coroner 421 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton IL 60187 630-407-1900 Scene release for all DuPage County death scenes
Kane County Coroner 719 Batavia Ave, Geneva IL 60134 630-232-3535 Scene release for Aurora, Elgin, St. Charles, Batavia, Geneva
Will County Coroner 16540 S. Larkin Ave, Joliet IL 60436 815-727-8455 Scene release for Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Plainfield
Kendall County Coroner 111 W. Fox St, Yorkville IL 60560 630-553-4100 Scene release for Yorkville, Oswego, Montgomery
Lake County IL Coroner 25 S. MLK Jr Ave, Waukegan IL 60085 847-377-3480 Scene release for Waukegan, Gurnee, Libertyville
McHenry County Coroner 2200 N. Seminary Ave, Woodstock IL 60098 815-338-5900 Scene release for Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Woodstock

Every CSCleanup Chicago call that involves a death — in the city or in any collar county — receives direct agency coordination from our team. The family or property manager does not manage those calls during a crisis.

Scene Released — What Comes Next and Who Is Responsible

When the Cook County Medical Examiner or a collar county Coroner releases the scene, the death investigation is complete from the government’s perspective. Responsibility for cleaning the space shifts entirely to the property owner or family. No law enforcement agency, ambulance service, or government body is responsible for cleaning a death scene after release — that responsibility belongs to whoever controls the property.

This is the moment CSCleanup Chicago is waiting for. We dispatch immediately upon scene release — 35 minutes or less in most Chicago and suburb locations, or at the exact time you schedule with us. Our team coordinates access directly with building management or the responsible family member and begins the professional biohazard cleaning process. The space is not safe to enter without proper protective equipment until remediation is complete.

Crime scene cleanup — full service page

Unattended death cleanup — full service page

Illinois Crime Victims Compensation — up to $45,000

Frequently Asked Questions — Cook County Medical Examiner

What is the Cook County Medical Examiner and why is it different from a coroner?

The Cook County Medical Examiner is a licensed forensic pathologist appointed to investigate deaths in Cook County. Cook County is the only Illinois county with a Medical Examiner rather than an elected Coroner. The Medical Examiner conducts mandatory autopsies on all homicides. Location: 2111 W. Harrison Street, Chicago IL 60612. Phone: 312-666-0500.

How does the Cook County Medical Examiner scene release affect crime scene cleanup timing in Chicago?

Crime scene cleanup in Chicago cannot begin until the Cook County Medical Examiner releases the scene — in addition to law enforcement clearance. For death-related scenes, the ME’s release is the final authorization. CSCleanup Chicago contacts the Medical Examiner directly to confirm release status and dispatches immediately upon clearance.

Which deaths does the Cook County Medical Examiner investigate in Chicago?

The Cook County Medical Examiner investigates all unattended deaths, homicides (mandatory autopsy), suicides, accidental deaths, sudden unexpected deaths, deaths in custody, and deaths where the cause is unknown. Any ambiguous death in Chicago should be reported to the Medical Examiner at 312-666-0500.

What is the difference between the Cook County Medical Examiner and coroners in the collar counties?

Cook County uses a Medical Examiner — an appointed forensic pathologist — at 2111 W. Harrison Street, 312-666-0500. DuPage, Kane, Will, Kendall, Lake IL, and McHenry counties each use an elected Coroner. CSCleanup Chicago coordinates with the correct agency for every call.

How long does the Cook County Medical Examiner hold a scene before cleanup can begin?

The Cook County Medical Examiner does not specify a fixed hold time — release depends on completing the investigation. For straightforward cases, release may occur within hours. For homicides and complex investigations, hold time may be 24-72 hours or longer. CSCleanup Chicago tracks release status directly and dispatches immediately upon clearance.

CSCleanup Chicago — Cook County Medical Examiner Coordination — Included on Every Death-Related Cleanup

35 minutes or less — or schedule an exact arrival. Real employees. IICRC certified. Documentation from hour one.

(888) 629-1222

Available 24/7 | Chicago IL | All 6 Collar Counties | (888) 629-1222

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