Immediate actions and securing the scene
Every effort must be made to maintain life prior to confirmation by a registered nurse, doctor or attending ambulance staff that a prisoner is dead unless there are obvious signs that the prisoner has been dead for some time and that attempts to resuscitate would be futile.
The incident area must be secured pending police investigation to prevent any interference with any material (forensic evidence), and unauthorised access to the incident scene.
Notifying the senior officer and others
At the time the incident comes to the attention of a prison staff member, the most senior officer on site must be notified.
In addition, the Police (as soon as it is apparent that the prisoner is dead), Coroner, a Visiting Justice, Ombudsman, Inspector of Corrections, Prison Chaplain and prison cultural adviser must be advised of any prisoner’s death and the Prison Manager must be notified.
If the death occurs in a prison work situation, CIE must notify the local Department of Labour (OSH) office as soon as possible by phone / fax.
Confirmation of Life Extinct
Life extinct will be confirmed by the coroner's designated doctors.
Cultural, religious and spiritual needs
Staff must ensure that they conduct their duties in accordance with the known cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs and needs of the deceased, his / her family and whānau, other prisoners and staff.
Note:
- Once access to the scene has been granted, the area / cell must be appropriately "blessed" before it is re-used.
- Refer also to PS booklet “Death In Custody”.
Support and counselling for staff and prisoners
Prisons must have systems in place to ensure counselling and ongoing support for staff and prisoners involved in incidents of prisoner death.
Personal property
The deceased's personal property must be identified, secured and stored.
The next of kin to receive the property must be contacted to collect the property from the prison, and to sign a receipt. Where the next of kin resides outside the prison district arrangements must be made for the property to be transferred to the nearest prison for handover.
If the next of kin does not wish to take possession of the property, or the property has not been collected within three months of the initial contact date and repeated reminders have been ignored, the property must be disposed of in accordance with the unclaimed property procedure.
Death outside of a prison building
When a prisoner dies outside a prison building but on prison property, the prison guardroom must be notified immediately.
The incident area must be secured pending police investigation to prevent any interference with any material (forensic evidence), and unauthorised access to the incident scene.
Prisons must follow agreed notification schedule as per death of a prisoner in prison.
Death on non-prison property with staff members present
When a prisoner dies outside of prison property whilst under staff escort, the prison guardroom must be notified immediately.
The incident area must be secured pending police investigation to prevent any interference with any material (forensic evidence), and unauthorised access to the incident scene.
Prisons must follow agreed notification schedule as per death of a prisoner in prison.
