Q&A
Death notification process and chaplain involvement
2:11:49
·
3 min
First Deputy Commissioner Francis Torres explains the process for notifying next of kin after a death in custody, emphasizing the involvement of chaplains and the preference for in-person notifications.
- The department immediately works to identify and contact the emergency contact person
- Chaplains matching the deceased's religion are deployed for in-person notifications
- Council Member Rivera seeks clarification on whether it's always a chaplain who makes the notification
- Torres confirms that notifications are always made by chaplains, who receive training outside of the DOC
Francis Torres
2:11:49
Thank you very much.
2:11:51
I will start and then turn it over to our Deputy Commissioner of Health Affairs.
2:11:57
I'll focus on the devastating notification after a death in custody.
2:12:04
And I do publicly want to express our condolences to the family members and the loved ones who had the courage this morning to offer testimony.
2:12:17
Upon being notified that a person in custody has passed away, we immediately work closely with the command to pull the next of king notification.
2:12:30
The next of kin is, in essence, the emergency contact person that the person coming upon admission has identified on their form.
2:12:43
It Usually, if completed thoroughly by the person in custody, should have the address and a telephone number.
2:12:53
Once we gather that information, Almost simultaneously while the facility is pulling that information for us, we contact the chaplain's services unit, and we immediately turn around and say to them you need to have a chaplain on standby.
2:13:13
We will confirm the religion as soon as the form has been pulled.
2:13:19
Once we have obtained the information if the person in custody, indeed, provided that information.
2:13:26
We also verify the religion.
2:13:28
If the person has identified the religion, we deployed a staff member chaplain that is that matches that religious or that faith.
2:13:42
If the person in custody did not provide a religion, then we usually rely on a Protestant chaplain.
2:13:50
Certain things happen simultaneously, and that is that we also alert our transportation division to get ready to staff members who are in plainclothes that will provide an escort to the next of king in order for our chaplain to be transported to make that in person notification.
2:14:17
That in person notification is for multiple reasons.
2:14:25
If I have a loved one in custody, I certainly don't want a phone call.
2:14:30
I want somebody
Carlina Rivera
2:14:31
and and we understand that I think that's very, very sensitive.
2:14:34
And just for sake of time, So you arrange to transport the appropriate chaplain according to documentation as soon as possible.
2:14:43
Is that always the case?
2:14:44
Is it sometimes a different staff member?
2:14:46
Do those chaplains receive training inside the DOC, or do you rely on their expertise in training outside of the department of cost of of correction?
Francis Torres
2:14:56
Outside when they were hired.
2:14:58
And, yes, you're correct.
2:15:00
We transport them
Carlina Rivera
2:15:02
Is it always a chaplain?
2:15:03
Is it sometimes someone else?
Francis Torres
2:15:04
No, ma'am.
2:15:05
It's always a chaplain.
Carlina Rivera
2:15:07
Okay.
2:15:07
And you typically You
Zakya Warkeno
2:15:08
make that
Francis Torres
2:15:09
in person notification, it is always a chaplain.
