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Table 2 Carceral system policies on disposition of remains for individuals who are incarcerated

From: Death in Prison: increasing transparency on next of kin notification and disposition of remains

Jurisdiction

Disposition of Remains (Y/N)

NOK Right to Claim (Y/NR)

NOK Coordinator

Time to Claim Remains

(days)

Policy on Unclaimed Remains (Y/N)

If Unclaimed

Federal BOP

Y

NR

Case Management Coordinator

NR

N

NR

ICE

Y

Y

NR

7

Y

ICE/ERO

Alabama

N

N

N

N

N

N

Alaska

Y

Y

ME

NR

Y

NR

Arizona

Y

Y

Warden

NR

Y

Contract mortuary

Arkansas

Y

NR

NR

NR

N

NR

California

Y

Y

NR

10

Y

DOC

Colorado

Y

Y

Facility health services administrator

180

Y

Faith and Citizens Programs office

Connecticut

Y

Y

Chaplain, unit administrator or Director

NR

Y

Designated funeral director

Delaware

N

N

N

N

N

N

Florida

Y

Y

NR

“medically acceptable period”

Y

Anatomical Board of UF

Georgia

Y

NR

Warden

NR

N

NR

Hawaii

Y

NR

NR

NR

N

NR

Idaho

Y

Y

Facility head

180

Y

DOC

Illinois

Y

NR

NR

NR

N

NR

Indiana

N

N

N

N

N

N

Iowa

Y

Y

NR

NR

N

NR

Kansas

Y

Y

Warden/Superintendent

4

Y

Secretary of corrections

Kentucky

N

N

N

N

N

N

Louisiana

N

N

N

N

N

N

Maine

Y

Y

Unit Manager

NR

Y

Chief Administrative Officer

Maryland

N

N

N

N

N

N

Massachusetts

Y

Y

Superintendent or ME

NR

Y

DOC

Michigan

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

DOC

Minnesota

Y

Y

Warden’s office

NR

Y

DOC

Mississippi

N

N

N

N

N

N

Missouri

N

N

N

N

N

N

Montana

N

N

N

N

N

N

Nebraska

N

N

N

N

N

N

Nevada

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

DOC

New Hampshire

N

N

N

N

N

N

New Jersey

Y

Y

Social Work Supervisor

NR

Y

ME, funeral home

New Mexico

N

N

N

N

N

N

New York

Y

Y

Superintendent and Chaplain

2

Y

DOC

North Carolina

Y

Y

Facility Head

10

Y

Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

North Dakota

Y

Y

Warden or Chaplain

NR

N

NR

Ohio

Y

Y

Managing officer

NR

Y

DOC

Oklahoma

Y

Y

NR

30

Y

Host facility; JBCC Cemetery

Oregon

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

DOC

Pennsylvania

Y

Y

Chaplain

5

Y

Humanity Gifts Registry or DOC

Puerto Rico

N

N

N

N

N

N

Rhode Island

Y

Y

Office of Rehabilitative Services

30

Y

DOC

South Carolina

Y

Y

Chaplain

NR

N

NR

South Dakota

Y

Y

NR

2

Y

DOC

Tennessee

N

N

N

N

N

N

Texas

Y

Y

Chaplain

NR

Y

Huntsville Unit Warden (TDCJ cemetery)

Utah

Y

Y

Warden

NR

Y

ME

Vermont

Y

Y

Superintendent

NR

Y

DOC

Virginia

N

N

N

N

N

N

Washington

Y

Y

Coroner/ME or DOC employee

NR

Y

Coroner/ME

Washington, D.C.

Y

Y

Dept. of Human Services, Burial Assistance Unit

NR

N

NR

West Virginia

N

N

N

N

N

N

Wisconsin

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

DOC

Wyoming

N

N

N

N

N

N

  1. Abbreviations: Federal BOP (Bureau of Prisons), ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations), ME (medical examiner); OCME (Office of the Chief Medical Examiner), DOC (Department of Corrections), NR (not reported), UF (University of Florida), JBCC (Jackie Brannon Correctional Center), TDCJ (Texas Department of Criminal Justice)