EFTA00138861¶
Fwd: Media inquiry - due 3 pm - USA Today - re: monitoring video of suicide-risk IMs in segregated housing¶
From¶
To¶
Date¶
2019/10/22 12:46¶
Subject:¶
| Fwd: Media inquiry - due 3 pm- USA Today - re: monitoring video of suicide-risk IMs in segregated housing |
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Attachments:¶
10/22/2019 12:35 PM >><>¶
The reporter now says his deadline is 3 pm, so I’ll need to take this to IPPA leadership as soon as you return and review this.¶
Here are two follow-up questions I have for you, following our call, to help finalize my draft answer below:¶
(1) I can not recall whether the 6 or 8 inmates watched together in an MRC’s specialized mental health unit (which you referenced) are inmates on suicide watch? In other words, is my underlined phrase accurate to include in the first sentence of the draft answer below?¶
(2) If my first sentence in the answer is correct, then it leads me to wonder: are inmates on suicide watch being taped on a camera or instead only being watched by a staffer (and thus not on camera)? We might want to make that clear in our answer.¶
I think it may help to give this reporter some of the extra paragraphs on all that we do to prevent suicides since it shows we take this issue seriously and the language in the second and third paragraphs of the answer below was already vetted by IPPA leadership (after I originally consulted in August for input).¶
Reporter:¶
Johnson - USA Today¶
Question:¶
In wake of the Epstein death, I understand that institutions across the bureau are designating specific officers to regularly monitor surveillance video in segregated housing units and other locations where inmates are at some risk for suicide. Is there someone who may be able to elaborate on this effort?¶
Proposed Response:¶
In some of our Medical Referral Centers’ specialized mental health units, there are staff who may observe inmates on camera who are not on suicide watch but who may have a heightened risk for suicide. However, this is not a new practice. Separately, we can also share that our $DNY+00016052$¶
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Suicide. However, this is not a new practice. Separately, we can also share that our institutions executive staff review video of staff performing their duties, but this is not primarily aimed at watching inmates with a suicide risk.¶
As background, inmates who are most at risk for suicide are placed on suicide watch, which is typically a short-term and highly restrictive intervention measure. Every Bureau of Prisons institution has one or more rooms designated specifically for housing an inmate on suicide watch. These areas are set aside as special cells, typically in the BOP’s Health Services division, which allow staff to maintain a safe environment for the inmate without compromising the ability to observe and protect the inmate. This environment includes easy access to the room, privacy, unobstructed vision of the inmate at all times, and limited availability of objects, materials, or architectural features that would allow for easy self-injury. Inmates on suicide watch are evaluated daily by a psychologist and are constantly observed by either staff or inmate companions. Once an inmate is placed on suicide watch, the watch may only be terminated by a BOP psychologist following a face-to-face evaluation with the inmate.¶
As background, the BOP has an extensive Suicide Prevention Program that begins upon an inmate’s arrival at each BOP facility. The Suicide Prevention Program at each BOP facility is administered by a Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator, who must be a doctoral-level psychologist, ensures compliance with suicide intervention and prevention policies, which include training, identification, referral, assessment, and intervention. During the initial intake screening by medical staff, inmates complete a psychological questionnaire. Psychology Services staff are immediately notified if suicidal ideation is apparent from an inmate’s responses. For more information, see BOP Program Statement 5324.08 “Suicide Prevention Program”¶
and BOP Program¶
Statement 5310.17 “Psychology Services Manual” here https://www.bop.gov/policy/progstat/5310_017.pdf.¶
Internal Notes:¶
explained to me by phone today the info in the first paragraph of the answer above, whereas the language in the second and third paragraphs above are copied from an answer IPPA leadership finalized that I sent to the WA Post in August (that answer is copied below).¶
explained that executive staff at institutions may be more likely to review rounds of tape of staff to be sure they’re performing their duties recently. This is what I was referencing in the third sentence of the first paragraph. We may NOT want to include that in our answer (I’ll ask CPD), but I included it for now just in case we want to use it.¶
said SHU does not have cameras watching inmates for suicide risk, but there are cameras in SHU units focused on the range generally (not on a particular cell); it is not standard practice to have a camera in a SHU cell. Bottom line - the reporter is probably not referencing cameras in SHU. says we don’t do mental health observation in SHU unless there was a waiver and specific policy in place.¶
Answer sent to WA Post on 8/21/2019 (finalized by IPPA leadership after consulting¶
The safety of staff, inmates, and the public is the highest priority for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The BOP has an extensive Suicide Prevention Program that begins upon an inmate’s arrival at each BOP facility, including pretrial facilities such as MCC New York. See BOP Program Statement 5324.08 “Suicide Prevention Program” here https:// and BOP Program¶
Statement 5310.17 “Psychology Services Manual” here¶
staff, inmates complete a psychological questionnaire. Psychology Services staff are immediately¶
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notified if suicidal ideation is apparent from the responses. Further, any BOP staff member may place an inmate on suicide watch.¶
The Suicide Prevention Program at each BOP facility is administered by a Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator, who must be a doctoral-level psychologist, ensures compliance with suicide intervention and prevention policies, which include training, identification, referral, assessment, and intervention. In BOP facilities, suicide watch is typically a short-term and highly restrictive intervention measure. Every institution has one or more rooms designated specifically for housing an inmate on suicide watch. These areas are set aside as special cells, typically in the BOP’s Health Services division, which allow staff to maintain a safe environment for the inmate without compromising the ability to observe and protect the inmate. This environment includes easy access to the room, privacy, unobstructed vision of the inmate at all times, and limited availability of objects, materials, or architectural features that would allow for easy self-injury. Inmates on suicide watch are evaluated daily by psychologist and are constantly observed by either staff or inmate companions. Once an inmate is placed on suicide watch, the watch may only be terminated by a BOP psychologist following a face-to-face evaluation with the inmate.¶
With regard to staffing levels, 15,012 correctional officers are currently working at the BOP and 1,654 correctional officer positions are vacant as of August 3, 2019. The BOP continues to work on hiring and retaining staff nationally. As you are aware, the Epstein case is currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General. The BOP is also conducting an After Action Review and a Suicide Reconstruction Review. The BOP will assess any additional measures which should be taken after those processes are completed.¶
The factors that lead an inmate from suicidal ideation to suicidal behavior are complex. Those factors include an individual’s access to means (e.g., pills or razors), opportunity (e.g., privacy to implement a plan), motivation, and subjective feelings of defeat or humiliation.¶
Public Information Office¶
Federal Bureau of Prisons¶
10/22/2019 11:39 AM >>>¶
The USA Today’s top reporter (who’s written front page stories on the BOP) is asking if BOP is “designating specific officers to regularly monitor surveillance video in segregated housing units and other locations where inmates are at some risk for suicide.”¶
IPPA’s Deputy AD is curious if CPD & (primarily I’m guessing) have recommendations on what I should tell in an email response today?¶
We are thinking it may be best if you want to write your own statement with whatever is best to say about this subject, but we could ask this reporter below for more specific questions if you think that is needed.¶
Public Information Office¶
Federal Bureau of Prisons¶
(202) 252 4464¶
SDNY_00016954¶
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4044-CCC (2022)¶
In wake of the Epstein death, I understand that institutions across the bureau are designating specific officers to regularly monitor surveillance video in segregated housing units and other locations where inmates are at some risk for suicide.¶
Is there someone who may be able to elaborate on this effort?¶
SDNY_00016955 Page 13893¶