Durham sheriff responds to DHHS report on jail suicide
DURHAM, North Carolina (WTVD) -- The Durham County Sheriff's Office responded Monday to two violations it received from the Department of Health and Human Services.
RELATED: READ THE RESPONSE HERE (.pdf)
The first violation is because the jail failed to monitor inmates in person twice per hour.
The investigation by DHHS determined a detention officer only checked on Uniece Fennell once during scheduled observations.
RELATED: Teen charged in Durham murder found dead inside jail cell
Fennel, a 17-year-old inmate, was found hanging in her jail cell on March 23 in an apparent suicide. She had been in jail for eight months on a murder charge.
The Sheriff's Office said its detention officers have been reminded of their responsibility to conduct proper observations of inmates and document them appropriately.
The office says officers admitted that they were busy and forgot.
New electronic logs are being implemented to document and/or explain missed observations of inmates.
To correct this problem further detention officers have been counseled.
Staff were also given a memo to read explaining the proper observation procedures.
Staff were required to sign off showing their understanding of the protocol.
Detention officers and supervisors directly involved in the Fennell death investigation received corrective action.
DHHS also determined the jail failed to monitor inmates at least four times an hour, specifically those who displayed at-risk, abusive or suicidal behavior.
The sheriff's office responded to the violation saying neither detention officer made a supervisor or medical staff personnel aware of the tip they received from a fellow inmate regarding Fennell's threat to kill herself.
A new field-training exercise has been implemented on suicide response. And trainees must take a written exam
In addition, policies and procedures are being updated.
Notifications of suicidal inmates will go through a chain of command to include floor sergeants, mental health staff and a watch commander.
The new policies will be approved by mental health staff by October 3.
The response from the sheriff's office will be sent to the Department of Health and Human Services for its review and approval.
