Policy Text
Procedure Number: L7
Issued: 08/04
Revised: 02/08
Revised: 02/16
Reviewed: 11/17
SUICIDE PREVENTION
AUTHORITY
Title 15 Regulations:
Section 1322 Child Supervision Staff Orientation and Training
Section 1329 Suicide Prevention Program
Related JDF Procedure:
J6 Mental Health/Crisis Services
OFFICER TRAINING
Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF) officers receive four hours of mandatory Suicide Prevention
Training annually. Prior to assuming responsibility for the supervision of youth, each officer
receives orientation specific to suicide prevention, response to suicide attempts, crisis
intervention, mental health referrals, and mental health services.
Officers are required to complete the Intake Health Screening (form #528N) with each youth at
intake, prior to housing assignment. Youth expressing current/previous suicidal ideations or
history of suicide attempt(s) will be referred to a Mental Health Provider.
The intake officer will use professional judgement whether the referral to Mental Health is
urgent or non-urgent. Communication with the arresting officer, facility officers, family
members, medical, and Mental Health will be facilitated in relation to the youth’s suicide risk. If
an urgent mental health evaluation is needed and no Mental Health Clinicians are on duty,
review the circumstances with the shift supervisor and refer to JDF Procedure L6, Mental
Health/Crisis Services.
Classification and housing decisions will be made based on information provided during intake,
previous known information on the youth, and the evaluation from mental health.
Mental Health Referrals (form #563N) are appropriate at any time, including the following but
not limited to:
A youth requests to speak with a counselor.
An officer or staff feels the youth should speak with a clinician.
It is a youth’s first time in custody.
A youth is expressing outward emotional behavior.
A youth is withdrawn or behaving uncharacteristically.
A traumatic life event occurs affecting the youth.
A youth is expressing suicidal ideations or actions.
A youth engages in self-harming behavior.
SUICIDE WATCH (SW)
SW is a classification used when a youth expresses a desire to commit suicide, has a previous
history of suicidal behavior/attempts, or is believed to be a current danger to self by any officer
or staff member. As soon as an officer develops concern for a youth’s safety, the youth shall
remain under constant direct visual supervision until staffed with the shift supervisor.
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