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Office of Chief Medical Examiner
Established in 1918 to replace the Office of the Coroner, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner conducts independent forensic investigations into unexplained, violent, and suspicious deaths across the five boroughs. With about 860 employees, OCME investigates roughly 40,000 deaths a year and operates the largest public DNA crime laboratory in the world, making it the largest medical examiner's office in the country.
What's working
- How long does it take to complete toxicology cases?: 40 days — decreasing despite rising submissions, thanks to added lab staff and equipment
- How many sets of remains from the September 11, 2001 attacks have been identified?: 14,939
- How long does it take to certify death certificates after initial receipt of decedents' remains?: 14 hr 51 min — beats target by 57 hr 9 min
- and 7 more below
What's getting worse
- How long does it take to complete autopsy reports?: 109 days — decreasing overall, though a recent staffing shortage has slowed turnaround
- How long does it take to complete DNA homicide cases from evidence submission to report?: 98 days — increasing after a lab contamination incident and a new records system rollout
- How long does it take to complete DNA sexual assault cases from evidence submission to report?: 95 days — increasing after a lab contamination incident and a new records system rollout
- and 1 more below
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
How long does it take to complete autopsy reports?
109 days — decreasing overall, though a recent staffing shortage has slowed turnaroundMisses target by 19 days
How long does it take to complete autopsy reports?
109 days — decreasing overall, though a recent staffing shortage has slowed turnaroundMisses target by 19 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 140 days | 90 days |
| FY23 | 110 days | 90 days |
| FY24 | 118 days | 90 days |
| FY25 | 92 days | 90 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 109 days | 90 days |
OCME's own reporting attributes the FY22-FY25 improvement in autopsy turnaround (140 to 92 days) to investments in staffing, lab equipment, and new postmortem CT scanners, plus a shift toward using external examinations and toxicology testing rather than full autopsies for some overdose deaths. The subsequent increase after FY25 is attributed to a loss of about one-third of Medical Examiner staff through retirements and recruitment by other jurisdictions amid a nationwide forensic-pathologist shortage, along with the temporary consolidation of autopsy operations from three facilities to two.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
OCME was created on January 1, 1918 under a 1915 New York State law that abolished the office of Coroner of New York City, a position that did not require any medical training. Dr. Charles Norris became the city's first Chief Medical Examiner and built the office into a pioneer of forensic medicine and toxicology in America. Today OCME investigates and certifies deaths that are sudden, violent, unexplained, or otherwise fall within its legal jurisdiction, producing the official record used by families, courts, and insurers.
Wikipedia - Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, Wikipedia - Charles Norris (medical examiner)
How long does it take to complete toxicology cases?
40 days — decreasing despite rising submissions, thanks to added lab staff and equipmentBeats target by 50 days
How long does it take to complete toxicology cases?
40 days — decreasing despite rising submissions, thanks to added lab staff and equipmentBeats target by 50 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 111 days | 60 days |
| FY23 | 73 days | 90 days |
| FY24 | 77 days | 90 days |
| FY25 | 41 days | 90 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 40 days | 90 days |
OCME's Forensic Toxicology Laboratory cut its median case turnaround from 111 days in FY22 to 41 in FY25 despite a rise in toxicology submissions driven by the opioid crisis. The agency attributes the improvement to hiring additional forensic toxicologists, new lab equipment, an expanded service contract, and targeted investment of opioid-settlement funds, along with workflow and efficiency upgrades.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
OCME's forensic laboratories, including the nation's only public molecular genetics laboratory, process the DNA and other physical evidence that police investigators and courts rely on to solve crimes and clear the wrongly suspected. In 1998 its Department of Forensic Biology became the first lab in the country to use Y-chromosome STR testing in casework, and a dedicated 2001-2003 project eliminated the city's backlog of untested sexual assault kits; the city has not had a backlog since. The lab also compares profiles against the FBI's national CODIS database to generate new leads in cold cases.
How long does it take to complete DNA homicide cases from evidence submission to report?
98 days — increasing after a lab contamination incident and a new records system rolloutMisses target by 8 days
How long does it take to complete DNA homicide cases from evidence submission to report?
98 days — increasing after a lab contamination incident and a new records system rolloutMisses target by 8 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 69 days | 45 days |
| FY23 | 69 days | 90 days |
| FY24 | 47 days | 90 days |
| FY25 | 79 days | 90 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 98 days | 90 days |
OCME's Forensic Biology (DNA) Laboratory saw turnaround times worsen starting in FY25 after identifying a case-to-case contamination incident, which it classified as a "significant event" and investigated through a formal Root Cause Analysis completed in November 2024. The agency reports the resulting quality-control holds, combined with a new laboratory information management system installed in July 2025 that required staff retraining, pushed DNA homicide case turnaround from 47 days in FY24 up to 79 in FY25 and further in FY26, even as the lab continued to meet its target for these cases.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
OCME's forensic laboratories, including the nation's only public molecular genetics laboratory, process the DNA and other physical evidence that police investigators and courts rely on to solve crimes and clear the wrongly suspected. In 1998 its Department of Forensic Biology became the first lab in the country to use Y-chromosome STR testing in casework, and a dedicated 2001-2003 project eliminated the city's backlog of untested sexual assault kits; the city has not had a backlog since. The lab also compares profiles against the FBI's national CODIS database to generate new leads in cold cases.
How long does it take to complete DNA sexual assault cases from evidence submission to report?
95 days — increasing after a lab contamination incident and a new records system rolloutMisses target by 5 days
How long does it take to complete DNA sexual assault cases from evidence submission to report?
95 days — increasing after a lab contamination incident and a new records system rolloutMisses target by 5 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 50 days | 45 days |
| FY23 | 51 days | 90 days |
| FY24 | 40 days | 90 days |
| FY25 | 61 days | 90 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 95 days | 90 days |
OCME reports that a case-to-case contamination incident identified in its DNA laboratory in August 2024 triggered a formal Root Cause Analysis and quality-control holds on affected case types, which slowed processing across the lab, including sexual-assault DNA cases. The agency also cites a new laboratory information management system, installed in July 2025, that required extensive staff retraining as a further factor in the longer turnaround times seen in FY25 and FY26; OCME states these cases continued to meet the 90-day internal target during this period.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
OCME's forensic laboratories, including the nation's only public molecular genetics laboratory, process the DNA and other physical evidence that police investigators and courts rely on to solve crimes and clear the wrongly suspected. In 1998 its Department of Forensic Biology became the first lab in the country to use Y-chromosome STR testing in casework, and a dedicated 2001-2003 project eliminated the city's backlog of untested sexual assault kits; the city has not had a backlog since. The lab also compares profiles against the FBI's national CODIS database to generate new leads in cold cases.
How long does it take to certify death certificates after initial receipt of decedents' remains?
14 hr 51 minBeats target by 57 hr 9 min
How long does it take to certify death certificates after initial receipt of decedents' remains?
14 hr 51 minBeats target by 57 hr 9 min
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 15 hr 1 min | 72 hr |
| FY23 | 15 hr 6 min | 72 hr |
| FY24 | 15 hr 31 min | 72 hr |
| FY25 | 15 hr 7 min | 72 hr |
| FY26 (YTD) | 14 hr 51 min | 72 hr |
14 hr 51 min in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (57 hr 9 min below the 72 hr target), though it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
OCME was created on January 1, 1918 under a 1915 New York State law that abolished the office of Coroner of New York City, a position that did not require any medical training. Dr. Charles Norris became the city's first Chief Medical Examiner and built the office into a pioneer of forensic medicine and toxicology in America. Today OCME investigates and certifies deaths that are sudden, violent, unexplained, or otherwise fall within its legal jurisdiction, producing the official record used by families, courts, and insurers.
Wikipedia - Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, Wikipedia - Charles Norris (medical examiner)
What percent of DNA property crime cases that are completed on-time for trial?
100%Right at target
What percent of DNA property crime cases that are completed on-time for trial?
100%Right at target
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 100% | 100% |
| FY23 | 100% | 100% |
| FY24 | 100% | 100% |
| FY25 | 100% | 100% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 100% |
100% in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (right at the target), and it has stayed essentially flat over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
OCME's forensic laboratories, including the nation's only public molecular genetics laboratory, process the DNA and other physical evidence that police investigators and courts rely on to solve crimes and clear the wrongly suspected. In 1998 its Department of Forensic Biology became the first lab in the country to use Y-chromosome STR testing in casework, and a dedicated 2001-2003 project eliminated the city's backlog of untested sexual assault kits; the city has not had a backlog since. The lab also compares profiles against the FBI's national CODIS database to generate new leads in cold cases.
Without a numeric target
How many sets of remains from the September 11, 2001 attacks have been identified?
14,939
How many sets of remains from the September 11, 2001 attacks have been identified?
14,939
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 14,771 |
| FY23 | 14,867 |
| FY24 | 14,914 |
| FY25 | 14,933 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 14,939 |
14,939 in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
OCME maintains a dedicated division of specially trained experts who respond to mass-fatality events and disasters, work that goes beyond a single medical examiner's office because major emergencies can produce hundreds or thousands of victims at once. The agency's ongoing effort to identify remains from the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack, which killed 2,753 people, is considered the largest and most complex forensic investigation ever undertaken in the United States; as of recent years roughly 40 percent of victims remained unidentified, and OCME continues to make new identifications as DNA sequencing technology improves.
NYC.gov - OCME Announces Two New Identifications of World Trade Center Victims, NIJ - Lessons Learned From 9/11: DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents
How much cremation requests rejected after investigation and turned over to Medical Examiner jurisdiction is there?
173 requests
How much cremation requests rejected after investigation and turned over to Medical Examiner jurisdiction is there?
173 requests
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 175 requests |
| FY23 | 170 requests |
| FY24 | 201 requests |
| FY25 | 214 requests |
| FY26 (YTD) | 173 requests |
| FY26 (projected) | ~231 requests |
173 requests in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
OCME was created on January 1, 1918 under a 1915 New York State law that abolished the office of Coroner of New York City, a position that did not require any medical training. Dr. Charles Norris became the city's first Chief Medical Examiner and built the office into a pioneer of forensic medicine and toxicology in America. Today OCME investigates and certifies deaths that are sudden, violent, unexplained, or otherwise fall within its legal jurisdiction, producing the official record used by families, courts, and insurers.
Wikipedia - Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, Wikipedia - Charles Norris (medical examiner)
On average, how long does it take the Medical Examiner's Office to release a decedent's remains after receiving them?
9 hr 34 min
On average, how long does it take the Medical Examiner's Office to release a decedent's remains after receiving them?
9 hr 34 min
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 7 hr 52 min |
| FY23 | 9 hr 45 min |
| FY24 | 9 hr 59 min |
| FY25 | 9 hr 28 min |
| FY26 (YTD) | 9 hr 34 min |
9 hr 34 min in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
As the City's official mortuary, OCME takes legal custody of all remains that fall under its jurisdiction, including unidentified or unclaimed bodies from across the five boroughs. Bodies can be held in the morgue for weeks while the agency works to identify them and locate next of kin; those that ultimately go unclaimed are transferred to the Department of Correction for free burial in mass graves on Hart Island, a practice the City has used as its public cemetery for well over a century.
OCME - Mortuary Services, NYC Council Data Team - Hart Island
How many fatalities has the Medical Examiner's Office handled following a mass fatality event?
0 event
How many fatalities has the Medical Examiner's Office handled following a mass fatality event?
0 event
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 30 event |
| FY23 | 0 event |
| FY24 | 0 event |
| FY25 | 0 event |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
0 event in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
OCME maintains a dedicated division of specially trained experts who respond to mass-fatality events and disasters, work that goes beyond a single medical examiner's office because major emergencies can produce hundreds or thousands of victims at once. The agency's ongoing effort to identify remains from the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack, which killed 2,753 people, is considered the largest and most complex forensic investigation ever undertaken in the United States; as of recent years roughly 40 percent of victims remained unidentified, and OCME continues to make new identifications as DNA sequencing technology improves.
NYC.gov - OCME Announces Two New Identifications of World Trade Center Victims, NIJ - Lessons Learned From 9/11: DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents
How many cases where Medical Examiner takes jurisdiction and certifies death at an OCME facility are there?
6,082 cases
How many cases where Medical Examiner takes jurisdiction and certifies death at an OCME facility are there?
6,082 cases
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 8,211 cases |
| FY23 | 8,879 cases |
| FY24 | 9,004 cases |
| FY25 | 8,111 cases |
| FY26 (YTD) | 6,082 cases |
| FY26 (projected) | ~8,109 cases |
6,082 cases in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
OCME was created on January 1, 1918 under a 1915 New York State law that abolished the office of Coroner of New York City, a position that did not require any medical training. Dr. Charles Norris became the city's first Chief Medical Examiner and built the office into a pioneer of forensic medicine and toxicology in America. Today OCME investigates and certifies deaths that are sudden, violent, unexplained, or otherwise fall within its legal jurisdiction, producing the official record used by families, courts, and insurers.
Wikipedia - Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, Wikipedia - Charles Norris (medical examiner)
How many cases where Medical Examiner investigates, takes jurisdiction and certifies death at scene or a health care facility are there?
2,695 cases
How many cases where Medical Examiner investigates, takes jurisdiction and certifies death at scene or a health care facility are there?
2,695 cases
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | 3,383 cases |
| FY24 | 3,298 cases |
| FY25 | 3,523 cases |
| FY26 (YTD) | 2,695 cases |
| FY26 (projected) | ~3,593 cases |
2,695 cases in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 2 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
OCME was created on January 1, 1918 under a 1915 New York State law that abolished the office of Coroner of New York City, a position that did not require any medical training. Dr. Charles Norris became the city's first Chief Medical Examiner and built the office into a pioneer of forensic medicine and toxicology in America. Today OCME investigates and certifies deaths that are sudden, violent, unexplained, or otherwise fall within its legal jurisdiction, producing the official record used by families, courts, and insurers.
Wikipedia - Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, Wikipedia - Charles Norris (medical examiner)
How many Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group clients were reached?
1,874 clients
How many Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group clients were reached?
1,874 clients
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | Not available |
| FY24 | 1,364 clients |
| FY25 | 1,874 clients |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
1,874 clients in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 1 year of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Beyond investigating individual deaths, OCME operates Family Services Centers in each borough to support relatives through sudden and traumatic loss with dignity and compassion. The agency has also moved into fatality prevention: its Genetic Intervention Family Testing Services (GIFTS) program screens surviving family members of people who died from inherited conditions at no cost, aiming to catch dangerous genetic conditions in relatives before they prove fatal.
OCME - For Families and Friends, OCME - Office of Chief Medical Examiner Takes Trailblazing Step to Prevent Sudden and Unexpected Deaths
How many Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group clients provided services are there?
1,435 clients
How many Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group clients provided services are there?
1,435 clients
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | Not available |
| FY24 | 995 clients |
| FY25 | 1,435 clients |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
1,435 clients in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 1 year of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Beyond investigating individual deaths, OCME operates Family Services Centers in each borough to support relatives through sudden and traumatic loss with dignity and compassion. The agency has also moved into fatality prevention: its Genetic Intervention Family Testing Services (GIFTS) program screens surviving family members of people who died from inherited conditions at no cost, aiming to catch dangerous genetic conditions in relatives before they prove fatal.
OCME - For Families and Friends, OCME - Office of Chief Medical Examiner Takes Trailblazing Step to Prevent Sudden and Unexpected Deaths