If Someone Dies in Custody at High Desert Detention Center: What the San Bernardino County Coroner Does and What Families Can Expect
If you've learned that your loved one died while in custody at High Desert Detention Center, much of what happens next goes through the San Bernardino County Coroner. Here's what the Coroner investigates, who to call, what you can and can't do in person, and why final answers often take months.
The Coroner Division in San Bernardino County investigates certain deaths and determines the official cause and manner of death. When someone dies in custody, the Coroner's office handles the investigation, reports, and next steps as the case moves forward.
For questions about a death connected to High Desert Detention Center, contact the San Bernardino County Coroner's office. Reach Captain Joe Janowicz at 175 South Lena Road, San Bernardino, CA 92415. Phone: (909) 387-2978. Fax: (909) 387-2989. Trying to understand what happens next - whether your loved one is at the Coroner, what the process looks like, or where to send paperwork? The Coroner's office is usually the most direct starting point.
Hours and Releases
- ✓ Coroner lobby hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- ✓ Mortuary release hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (same as lobby hours)
- ✓ No mortuary releases on holidays
The San Bernardino County Coroner does not allow visitation and has no viewing facility. You cannot go there to see your loved one. For a viewing or to make arrangements, contact a mortuary or funeral home of your choice. They'll arrange transport from the Coroner and walk you through decisions your family needs to make. Need death certificate copies? Request those through the mortuary or funeral home - the Coroner does not issue death certificates.
Note: If you already know which mortuary or funeral home you want to use, contacting them early can help prevent delays in arranging transport and next steps.
Waiting is one of the hardest parts. Even when some information comes early, the Coroner often can't finalize the cause of death right away. Cases frequently depend on lab work - toxicology (testing for substances) and histology (microscopic tissue examination). San Bernardino County says this process takes an average of six months to one year. The timeline depends on how complex the investigation is and whether additional testing is needed before the doctor can complete the autopsy report.
- ✓ You may get some information before the case is fully finalized, but the final determination can wait on toxicology and histology results.
- ✓ Expect that the Coroner’s process may take months; the published average is six months to one year.
- ✓ The timeline can be longer when the investigation is complex or additional testing is needed.
For urgent situations after business hours, call the Coroner's main number: (909) 387-2978. After hours, a Sheriff's dispatcher answers - ask to be connected to a Coroner Investigator for urgent matters, including a death notification. Non-urgent questions? Call during regular hours. You'll get routed to the right person faster and avoid phone-tag.
- Call (909) 387-2978 - after hours, you’ll reach a Sheriff’s dispatcher.
- Say it’s urgent and explain why - for example, that you’re calling about the death of your loved one.
- Ask to speak to a Coroner Investigator - the dispatcher can connect you for urgent after-hours matters.
- Write down names and next steps - if you’re given instructions or a timeframe for follow-up, note it so you don’t have to repeat details later.
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