Bad News Kills
Headlines about detainees attempting suicide after receiving bad news in court continue to pop up in the media. Unfortunately, that information may not be communicated to the jail’s custody and health care teams. When returning from court, detainees (and transport officers) should be asked what happened in court, screened for suicide risk, and thoroughly searched for contraband.
Ask What Happened in Court
Court visits may lead to a number of potential trigger events. A defendant may be sentenced to a harder time than they were expecting, lose custody of their children, or have their wedding ring thrown at them in the court room. Attorney discussions, trials, parole officer meetings, and sentencing are considered trigger events which may cause a loss of hope, fear, or a downward spiral of mental status for a detainee. Trigger events affect people in different ways. For example, one person might feel okay about a sentence of 10 years in prison, while another person might feel like 6 months in jail is the end of their world. The custody team should be on high alert following court visits, asking the transport officer what happened in court, as well as asking the detainee what happened in court. Their perceptions of what happened may be different!
Complete the ASQ
The Ask Suicide Questions (ASQ) screening form has been customized for the correctional setting through a partnership by the National Institute of Mental Health and Freedom Behavioral Health, Inc. The form only contains 5 questions, can be completed quickly, and includes guidance on appropriate next steps. After court, complete the ASQ.
Search for Contraband
When detainees leave the security of the correctional facility, they may have access to items such as staples, paper clips, or other supplies which may be smuggled into jail with the intent of self-harm. After court, thoroughly search detainees for contraband.
For more information contact us at training@sparktraining.us.
All materials have been prepared for general information purposes only. The information presented should be treated as guidelines, not rules. The information presented is not intended to establish a standard of medical care and is not a substitute for common sense. The information presented is not legal advice, is not to be acted on as such, may not be current, and is subject to change without notice. Each situation should be addressed on a case-by-case basis. WHEN IN DOUBT, SEND THEM OUT. ®