EFTA00104811 # Bureau of Prisons Psychology Services Post Suicide Watch Report **SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED** | Inmate Name: | EPSTEIN, JEFFREY EDWARD | | :--- | :--- | | Date of Birth: | 01/20/1953 | | Date: | 07/24/2019 09:23 | | Provider: | a | Reg #: 76318-054 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Unit Team: | 5 | | **Watch Start Date:** 07/23/2019 01:40 **Total Time on Watch:** 31 hrs 5 minutes **Watch Conducted By:** Both inmates and staff **Current Mental Status** Level of Consciousness: Alert and Oriented Psychomotor Activity: Normal General Appearance: Normal Behavior: Cooperative *Corrate to Content* *Goal Directed* Thought Content: Normal Current Mental Status: Mr. EPSTEIN was alert and oriented. He was polite, calm, and cooperative in demeanor. He exhibited a neutral affect with appropriate range. Eye contact and hygiene were appropriate. The inmate spoke with normal rate, tone, and volume. His thoughts were organized and coherent, with no loosening of associations or tangential, circumstantial, or irrelevant content. There was no evidence of perceptual disturbance, delusional ideation, or a formal thought disorder. He did not engage in any bizarre or inappropriate behavior. He noted having normal sleeping and eating habits. Mr. EPSTEIN explicitly denied recent and current suicidal ideation, planning, and intent. He was future-oriented and expressed a commitment to life and safety, agreeing to contact staff immediately should he experience suicidal ideation or psychological distress. He also denied thoughts of harming others. Risk Factors Assessed: This writer screened the inmate for a variety of empirically validated factors commonly associated with risk for self harm. The following STATIC risk factors were assessed to be present and increase the inmate's risk for engaging in suicide related behaviors: High Profile Crime, Lack of family connections, Sex offender status The following DYNAMIC risk factors were assessed to be present and increase the inmate's risk for engaging in suicide related behaviors: Current physical pain, Fear for own safety The following PROTECTIVE factors were assessed to be present and may decrease the inmate's risk of suicide: Able to identify reasons to live, Adequate problem solving skills, Denial of suicidal ideation/intention/plans, Future orientation, View of death as negative, Willingness to engage in treatment Risk Factors: Mr. EPSTEIN has a significant scar around his neck, which is now scabbing over. He reported swelling in this area but denied experiencing any related pain. Mr. EPSTEIN continues to claim a lack of memory for the incident resulting in this scar. The story he provided was vague, such that this writer challenged him a couple of times, but he insisted he was being honest about his lapse in memory. The nature of the incident remain unclear. Mr. EPSTEIN is incarcerated for a very high profile crime with media attention. He was recently denied bail. He also reported difficulty managing his time in the SHU. He reported being fearful for his safety if he is to return to the cell with his previous cell mate. Protective Factors: Mr. EPSTEIN adamantly denied current suicidal ideation or intent or a history of suicide attempts. He stated, "I have no interest in killing myself." He explained, although his situation is "not perfect" due to his being incarcerated, he noted he has "lots to do for [his] legal case." He described having a "wonderful life," to include interactions with "interesting people and projects." He said "it would be crazy" to take his life. He furthered, "I would not do that to myself." He denied feelings of hopelessness, although did report being "depressed" and "unhappy" about his current legal situation. He previously denied a history of childhood abuse. He reported he is sleeping adequately now that he is no longer in the SHU. He appeal future-oriented as he endorsed an interest in being housed in general population. Weighing of Risk and Protective Factors: Mr. EPSTEIN adamantly denied suicidality. However, in light of his vague self-report regarding the incident which precipitated his placement on Suicide Watch, combined with his fear for his own safety, reported Generated 07/24/2019 12:09 by Bureau of Prisons - NYM Page 1 of 3 EFTA00104812 | Inmate Name: | EPSTEIN, JEFFREY EDWARD | | | | Reg #: 76318-054 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Date of Birth: | 01/20/1953 | Sex: M | Facility: NYM | Unit Team: 5 | | Date: | 07/24/2019 09:23 | Provider: | a | | difficulty managing his time in the SHU, and the high profile nature of his alleged offense, Mr. EPSTEIN will be stepped down from Suicide Watch to Psychological Observation. ## Changes in Risk Factors Assessed Upon a review of the log book, it was indicated Mr. EPSTEIN has been speaking to the inmate companions about having previously taught mathematics and physics. He has been observed pacing the cell as well as sleeping, eating, and drinking within normal limits. Upon interview today, Mr. EPSTEIN requested he be provided a toothbrush as well as a shower. His requests were made known to the lieutenants and he was provided a shower prior to attending his legal visit. This writer also provided him a toothbrush, toothpaste, and hygiene products. Asked about the alleged incident which transpired yesterday resulting in his placement on Suicide Watch, Mr. EPSTEIN said he is frustrated he has been placed in a "punishment cell for no reason." Specifically, Mr. EPSTEIN was referring to his placement in the SHU. Asked to recall the events surrounding the alleged incident, Mr. EPSTEIN said his cell mate was "playing with a bed sheet" and he claimed he does not recall the events thereafter. He said he recalled eating meat and drinking water and claimed the next event for which he has memory is his hearing himself snore and waking up on a stretcher. Mr. EPSTEIN claimed he does not recall himself or his cell mate tying a string or rope around his neck. He said he has "been trying to remember" and "wracking his mind." Asked if he experienced any interpersonal issues with his cell mate, Mr. EPSTEIN described his cell mate as "agitated" and claimed his cell mate called him a "pedophile" for the first time yesterday. His cell mate was also reportedly reading a newspaper article about Mr. EPSTEIN, which bothered him and it was something he believed to be "strange" for their to be an article about him in his cell. Mr. EPSTEIN recalled throwing away the newspaper photograph of himself by crumpling it and flushing it down the toilet. Asked if his cell mate ever threatened to harm him, he denied this to be the case. Asked why he told the inmate companions yesterday his cellmate tried to kill him, while also claiming no memory of the incident, Mr. EPSTEIN again said he did not recall the incident and further stated, "I don't know if he put it there as a joke." Mr. EPSTEIN explained he had been experiencing difficulty sleeping in his SHU cell due to his inmate peers banging on the cell door and window, but has not been experiencing any other acute issues other than this. ## Reason for Removal from Watch Mr. EPSTEIN stated, "I have no interest in killing myself." He explained although his situation is "not perfect" due to his being incarcerated, he noted he has "lots to do for [his] legal case." He described having a "wonderful life," to include interactions with "interesting people and projects." He said "it would be crazy" to take his life. He furthered, "I would not do that to myself." Mr. EPSTEIN did express a feeling of safety being housed on Psychological Observation rather than in the SHU. He asked if he could remain on this status for a couple of days, he was advised his housing situation will be re-evaluated on a day-to-day basis. He expressed a desire to be housed in general population rather than in the SHU and asked if there were a "safer" unit for him to be housed in comparison to the one where he was initially placed. Mr. EPSTEIN claimed there were many MS-13 gang members on the initial unit. He was advised he will be maintained on Psychological Observation in the near future, but his long-term housing situation will be revisited, as it is not ideal for one to remain in isolation on Psychological Observation for extended periods of time. Mr. EPSTEIN acknowledged this information and thanked this writer for her explanation and time. ## Diagnosis: No Diagnosis, No Dx - Current ## Conclusions The Overall Acute Suicide Risk for this Inmate is: Low Overall Chronic Suicide Risk for this Inmate is: Absent 1. Mr. EPSTEIN will be removed from Suicide Watch and stepped down to Psychological Observation. ## Recommendations 2. While on Psychological Observation, he will be continuously observed by Inmate Companions. 3. While on Psychological Observation, he will be seen daily by Psychology. 4. Supportive and educative interventions were provided. 5. Mr. EPSTEIN was provided novels and a request was made for his legal paperwork to be provided to him on Psychological Generated 07/24/2019 12:09 by Bureau of Prisons - NYM Page 2 of 3 EFTA00104813 Inmate Name: EPSTEIN, JEFFREY EDWARD Date of Birth: 01/20/1955 Sex: M Facility: NYM Unit Team: 6 Date: 07/24/2019 09:23 Provider: Observation. 6. This writer contacted the Pharmacy to indicate Mr. EPSTEIN has not been receiving his medication used to alleviate his constipation. 7. Mr. EPSTEIN attended a legal visit today, after having been provided a shower. 8. Mr. EPSTEIN was educated about both routine and emergency procedures for contacting psychology. 9. The inmate was encouraged to reach out for PRN services should he experience any psychological distress. Completed by [Signature] on 07/24/2019 12:09 **SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED** # Bureau of Prisons Psychology Services | Innate Name: | EPSTEIN, JEFFREY EDWARD | | | | Reg #: | 76318-054 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Date of Birth: | 01/20/1953 | Sex: M | Facility: NYM | | Unit Team: | 5 | | | Date: | 07/25/2019 10:14 | Provider: | ef | | | | | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | ## Focus of Session Inmate Epstein was seen by this writer this morning while on psychological observation in the hospital area of the prison. ## Subjective/Objective Presentation Inmate Epstein was in good spirits today and engaged in reciprocal conversation with this writer this morning. He smiled and remarked, "welcome back" when this writer arrived. He continues to assert he does not remember how he received marks around his neck, remarking "I do not remember anything, maybe you can give me some cues." He stated he just remembers going for a drink of water and the next thing he knew he woke up to the sound of his own snoring. When this writer attempted to get a more detailed account from him, indicating that it would be rare to have such impairments in memory as he does not suffer from an acute cognitive disorder, he smiled and said he understood my position. Inmate Epstein did reveal he is unhappy with his current confinement in Special Housing (SHU) as he considers it "a punishment cell." He said he finds the restrictions up there unfair as he has not done anything wrong. Inmate Epstein stated he feels it is dangerous in the SHU, he cannot sleep well up there due to noise from the other inmates, it smells, and it is difficult for him to work on his legal case up there. He stated he has not received the phone calls he was promised nor has he been able to receive recreation. It was explained to him that he spends the entire day in the attorney conference room and it is likely that he has missed the times when staff members have attempted to give him phone calls and recreation. Inmate Epstein also reported complaints about the attorney conference room, stating they do not take him to the bathroom frequently enough. Inmate Epstein adamantly denied any suicidality at this time, stating "I am too vested in my case to fight it. I have a life and I want to go back to living my life." He denied any acute symptoms at this time. According to his log book, he has been eating, drinking, sleeping, and interacting with the inmate companions. He has also been attending his daily legal visits. ## Intervention(s) Inmate EPSTEIN was provided with brief supportive interventions and psychoeducation regarding additional coping strategies. Inmate EPSTEIN was mostly receptive to these interventions. He requested to be housed in general population rather than the SHU and stated he wanted to remain on psychological observation due to his concerns with being in the SHU. ## Progress/Plan In an abundance of caution, inmate Epstein will remain on psychological observation. He has yet to give an account of how he sustained the marks around his neck, is not revealing much about his mental status, and there are concerns about his adjustment at this time to being housed in the SHU. Inmate Epstein will be seen daily by psychology while on psychological observation. Page 1 of 1