Q&A
Council Member Sandy Nurse questions DOC on family notification procedures for deaths in custody
1:36:13
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162 sec
Council Member Sandy Nurse questions First Deputy Commissioner Francis Torres about the Department of Correction's procedures for notifying families about deaths and serious incidents in custody. The discussion focuses on the use of chaplaincy services for in-person notifications and the capacity of the department to handle these notifications.
- The DOC has 18 chaplains (part-time and full-time) available for notifications
- In-person notifications are the primary goal, with phone notifications used when families are out of state
- The DOC aims to match the chaplain's religious background with that of the incarcerated person when making notifications
Sandy Nurse
1:36:13
Thank you so much.
1:36:14
Is anyone else planning on testifying?
1:36:17
Alright.
1:36:17
That was very, very thorough.
1:36:19
Okay.
1:36:20
I'm gonna mostly open it up to the sponsors of the bills to ask their questions, but I did have one question for you, deputy commissioner.
1:36:33
In terms of kind of a reporting of deaths and serious incidents in custody.
1:36:42
You mentioned you deploy your chaplaincy services for in person notification.
1:36:48
I had a question about the number of deployable chaplains, I imagine, are the ones doing it.
1:36:53
The number of deployable people that you have on staff at any given time, and is an in person point of contact necessary given that capacity?
1:37:05
Are there times when you do not do in person but communicate otherwise?
Francis Torres
1:37:12
Thank you so much for that question, chair nurse.
1:37:15
Currently, the chaplain see services unit consists of 18 chaplains, part time and full time.
1:37:24
Their tours are arranged in a way that we have chaplains seat coverage, 7 days a week, during an emergency, and a death notification as we review the form completed by the person in custody open missions, we take a look at specific factors.
1:37:47
Number 1, the emergency contact for that person in custody and their religion.
1:37:54
It is always our goal to match the person's religious background to that of the chaplain that will be assigned to make the in person notification.
Sandy Nurse
1:38:09
And the second part of my question is, is it always an in person touch or is there other methods that you're using?
Francis Torres
1:38:16
Our primary goal is to make that in person notification.
1:38:21
There have been instances in the past that due to the family members being out of state.
1:38:29
We've had to resort to making a telephone notification, which is always very difficult for us to do because we want the chaplain to be there to just not simply make the notification but also to provide support and any other additional services that they may need throughout that time.
Sandy Nurse
1:38:50
Okay.
1:38:50
Thank you for that clarification.
1:38:52
I'm going to turn it over to account member wrestler.
