Final answer:
The United States first adopted a coroner system in the early 19th century as part of criminal justice system reforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States first adopted a coroner system in the early 19th century as part of criminal justice system reforms. Prior to this, crimes were classified as capital offenses, and public hangings were common.
The coroner system was established to investigate and determine cause of death in cases that were suspicious or required further examination.