COURSE TITLE
Suicide: Proactive Prevention Requirements
CATEGORY: Inmate Safety, Security, and Welfare (ISSW)
CREDIT HOUR(S): 1
The National Institute for Jail Operations offers over 100 hours of legal-based corrections training for jail and detention staff in the Detention and Corrections Online Training Academy (DACOTA). This 1 CEU course, “Suicide: Proactive Prevention Requirements” training course covers the important topics of:
- Identifying Implements of Suicide (Issued Items, Jail Facility Fixtures, etc.)
- Removing Implements of Suicide
- Cell Furnishings as Implements of Suicide
- Supervising and Monitoring of Suicide Risks
Did you know that most inmate suicides (46.9%) occur in the general housing area of a detention facility?
This statistic indicates that either jail staff were unaware of suicidal intent of the inmate or were unable to properly assess suicidal ideation. Inmates in general population have access to the most commonly used items used against themselves. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, Deaths in Custody Reporting Program, 2000-2014)
This course discusses seemingly innocuous items can turn deadly, such as:
- Batteries
- An egg
- Rubber gloves
- Toilet paper
- A bar of soap
- The sink in a cell
- And even inmate pants can be used for self-harm.
Did you know that the human brain can only withstand 6 minutes without oxygen before brain damage occurs? Few people will regain cognitive function after 15 minutes.
If your jail has a mezzanine, do you know the distance from the 2nd level to main floor below? A critical threshold for a fall or jump hazard is 20 feet 7 inches.
Deliberate Indifference v. Negligence
The vast majority of litigation filed in the aftermath of jail suicides cite one of these two causes:
- FAILURE TO TRAIN
- FAILURE TO SUPERVISE
Litigation for Negligence often involves failure to train, or failure to supervise staff which also ties into adequately written or enforced policies.
It’s important for corrections staff to know and be able to identify any signs that a pre-trial detainee/inmate might be considering or actively attempting suicide. This DACOTA course dives deeper into this topic and discusses what to look for to proactively prevent in-custody suicides.
DACOTA offers interactive, corrections-specific, legal-based training through a state-of-the-art online learning platform. The DACOTA Catalog currently offers over 80 courses, with new courses being added monthly. Learn more about DACOTA or schedule a demo today.
What are other ways NIJO can help your facility?
- SELF AUDITS – One of the most proactive ways an agency can prevent harmful/deadly events, as well as prisoner-filed litigation is by adopting and implementing meaningful self-audits. Self-audits, when conducted properly, discover potential weaknesses through a verification process that measures and documents policies, procedures and operations to specific guidelines and standards based on what the law requires. NIJO offers the most advanced web-based auditing tools designed specifically for corrections so that organizations can proactively manage their institutions affordably and with increased confidence.
- TRAINING – NIJO is the only legal-based jail training resource in the country. We are dedicated to guiding facilities on how to be legally compliant and protected, not just provide best practices–there is a BIG difference. We offer both live and online training taught by the nation’s best jail experts.
- POLICY DEVELOPMENT – NIJO can help strengthen your current policies so they can withstand legal scrutiny. We offers the most comprehensive collection of legal-based policies sheriffs and jail administrators, with over 400 policies and procedures based on laws and statutes applicable to your jail. Every policy contains rationale and annotation as applicable to support your policy and procedure.
Schedule a FREE Risk Assessment to learn
how NIJO can help you and your agency.
DISCLAIMER:
Training materials provided are for use only within the scope of your jail and may not to be distributed otherwise without written permission by NIJO. The information contained herein is to be used solely for training purposes and shall not be construed as legal advice. Users of these materials should consult legal counsel to determine how the laws of their individual jurisdiction affect the application of these materials and guidelines to their individual circumstances.
