South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 7 - Autopsies And Inquest On The Dead
Section 17-7-190. Coroner may punish for contempt.

Whenever any person shall wilfully disturb or impede the proceedings of a jury of inquest while inquiring into the cause of any death or shall offer any contempt to the person or authority of the coroner while so engaged the coroner may commit such person to the common jail of the county for a time not exceeding twenty-four hours.
Any person who shall have been at any time duly summoned to attend and serve upon a coroner's jury who shall neglect or refuse to so attend and serve without proper excuse shall be liable to be punished for contempt and the coroner may punish such contempt by fine not exceeding twenty dollars or imprisonment not more than twenty-four hours, or both, at his discretion.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 17-109; 1952 Code Section 17-109; 1942 Code Section 1095; 1932 Code Section 1095; Cr. P. '22 Section 182; Cr. C. '12 Section 1025; Cr. C. '02 Section 727; G. S. 711; R. S. 606; 1839 (11) 78; 1874 (15) 529.

Structure South Carolina Code of Laws

South Carolina Code of Laws

Title 17 - Criminal Procedures

Chapter 7 - Autopsies And Inquest On The Dead

Section 17-7-10. Coroners or solicitors shall order autopsies; autopsy to be ordered upon death of persons in penal institutions.

Section 17-7-15. Return of body after autopsy or medical examination.

Section 17-7-20. Requirement of preliminary examination before formal inquest; issuance of burial permit, conclusion of inquiry or formal inquest.

Section 17-7-25. Autopsy on unidentified body; preservation of DNA samples.

Section 17-7-30. Findings on preliminary examination and filing of evidence.

Section 17-7-40. Fees for preliminary examination.

Section 17-7-70. Jurisdiction of coroners to take inquests.

Section 17-7-80. Duties of coroner concerning motor vehicle, swimming, or boating accident deaths.

Section 17-7-90. Persons subject to jury duty are liable to serve on an inquest.

Section 17-7-100. Mode of summoning a jury.

Section 17-7-110. Procedures to be followed by person directed to summon jury; compensation.

Section 17-7-120. Form of warrant to summon jury.

Section 17-7-130. Execution and return of warrant; officer or juror subject to penalty for failure to perform.

Section 17-7-140. Number of jurors and oath.

Section 17-7-150. Coroner shall charge jury.

Section 17-7-160. Inquiry in case of suicide.

Section 17-7-170. Coroner's power to issue warrants and to summon and examine witnesses.

Section 17-7-175. Coroner's power to issue subpoena duces tecum.

Section 17-7-180. Disregard of summons or refusal to testify.

Section 17-7-190. Coroner may punish for contempt.

Section 17-7-200. Coroner's power to adjourn the jury and bind jurors.

Section 17-7-210. Supplying places of absent jurors.

Section 17-7-220. Oath of witnesses.

Section 17-7-230. Coroner shall take testimony in writing and bind over or commit witnesses.

Section 17-7-240. Duty to render verdict; form.

Section 17-7-250. Form of conclusion of inquisition where deceased was wilfully killed.

Section 17-7-260. Form of conclusion of inquisition where death was not wilful but by the hands of another.

Section 17-7-270. Form of conclusion of inquisition in case of death by self-murder.

Section 17-7-280. Form of conclusion of inquisition in case of death by means unknown.

Section 17-7-290. Form of conclusion of inquisition in case of death by mischance.

Section 17-7-300. Form of attestation clause; signature to inquisition.

Section 17-7-310. Return of inquisition and evidence to clerk.

Section 17-7-320. Endorsement on return of inquisition and evidence.

Section 17-7-330. Coroner's Book of Inquisitions.

Section 17-7-340. Compensation and mileage allowed coroner's jurors.

Section 17-7-510. Penalty for burying body without notice or inquiry.

Section 17-7-520. Order to take up buried body on suspicion of violent death; examination.

Section 17-7-530. Record of body long dead and buried or improperly kept.

Section 17-7-610. Warrant in case of wilful killing.

Section 17-7-620. Form of warrant in case of wilful killing.

Section 17-7-630. Commitment of person named in warrant in case of wilful killing.

Section 17-7-640. Sheriff and jailers are required to keep persons committed.

Section 17-7-650. Binding over person who killed another by mischance and witnesses.

Section 17-7-660. Report by county coroner to Governor in certain homicide cases.

Section 17-7-670. Report by coroners and magistrates to Public Service Commission in case of railroad accident.