Speaker 1: What's up, everyone, and welcome to another episode of the
Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to pick up
where we left off with the psychological reconstruction of the
circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death. Number five telephone calls. In
a PDS dash B E MR note written by doctor
Miller on July sixteenth, twenty nineteen, she was informed by
an unnamed staff member that a lieutenant facilitated to telephone
calls for mister Epstein. It's unknown when into whom those
calls were placed and no evidence that they took place
on monitor telephones. According to a memorandum from unit manager
Nathaniel Bullock on August tenth, twenty nineteen, mister Epstein terminated
his legal visit early on August ninth, twenty nineteen, in
order to place a telephone call to his family. Mister Bullock,
who was the institutional duty officer that week, escorted mister
Epstein to the Shoe around seven pm that evening, and
he was placed in the shower area on g Tier.
While there, he was provided the telephone to make a
phone call. Since mister Epstein reportedly did not have his
pac or a pin number, which is required to use
inmate telephone system. The unit manager placed the call, dialing
a number that reportedly began with the area code three
four seven. Mister Epstein told mister Bullock he was calling
his mother, who, according to public records, has been deceased
since two thousand and four. It's recommended that all telephone
calls other than legal calls be made on monitored lines
to be available for post call review, or on a
speakerphone so staff can monitor what's being discussed. Institution Response
Number five telephone calls. There's no documentation to substantiate that
Lieutenant facilitated two telephone calls to mister Epstein. However, there
is documented evidence that Unit Manager Proto provided a call
to mister Epstein on July thirtieth, twenty nineteen, at five
fifteen pm to Karina Shuliac friend on a monitor telephone
speaker phone. The call was documented in a log that's
maintained in the Correctional Systems department. Mister Epstein was provided
a call because he had not been able to conduct
voice recording on the inmate telephone. This is standard procedure
by the unit team at mcc New York to occasionally
provide a call to new arrivals when necessary. Number six
Direct observation. Mister Epstein was on suicide watch from July
twenty third, twenty nineteen, until July twenty fourth, twenty nineteen.
While on suicide watch, on July twenty three, twenty nineteen,
mister Epstein attended an attorney visit from approximately twelve forty
pm until seven to fifteen pm. During this time, he
was without direct continuous observation by a dedicated BOP staff
member as required by P. Five three two four dot
zero eight. While on psychological observation, he attended attorney visits
on July twenty fourth, twenty nineteen, for eleven and a
half hours, on July twenty fifth, twenty nineteen, for eleven
point two five hours, on July twenty six, twenty nineteen,
for nine point two five hours, and on July twenty seventh,
twenty nineteen, for eleven point thirty three hours, On July
twenty eight, twenty nineteen, for ten and a half hours,
and on July twenty ninth, twenty nineteen, for eight hours.
On July twenty three, twenty nineteen, psychology observation was terminated.
During these visits. Continuous observation by a dedicated BOP staff
member was not maintained as required by MCC New York
Procedural Memorandum for Psychological Observation Institution Response Number six Direct Observation.
The Psychology Department has eliminated psychology observation at MCC New
York inmates on suicide Watch or only provided legal visits
under special circumstances as deemed by the court. Seven follow up.
Mister Epstein arrived at MCC New York on Saturday, July sixth,
twenty nineteen. While conducting the ten pm institution count that evening,
Albatore's facility's assistant reported she observed mister Epstein in his cell.
In an email she sent to doctor Miller and to
Mary and Lieutenant David Medina later that evening, she described
mister Epstein as distraught, sad, and a little confused. She
said that she then asked mister Epstein if he was okay,
and he reportedly said he was. However, Miss Torres noted
in her email she was not convinced of this, adding
he seems dazed and withdrawn. She went on to say
so just to be on the safe side and prevent
any suicidal thoughts, can someone from psychology come and talk
with them. Despite the fact that Lieutenant Medina opened the email,
there's no evidence that he contacted the on call psychologist
as is required by P. Five three two four dot
zero eight Suicide Prevention Program. Additionally, if Miss Torres was
concerned about suicide risk, P. Five three two four dot
zero eight Suicide Prevention Program requires her to maintain direct
continuous observation of mister Epstein. When doctor Miller opened the email.
The following Monday morning, mister Epstein was evaluated by doctor
Schlessinger at approximately nine thirty am. Mister Epstein was denied
bail on Thursday July eighteenth, twenty nineteen. This was a
significant disappointment for mister Epstein and likely challenged his ability
and willingness to adapt to incarceration. Given the potential impact
of the judge's decision, psychologists should have assessed mister Epstein's
mental status upon his return to the institution. The BOP
developed a century assignment of sy Alert for purposes such
as this. Specifically, sy Alert is used to ensure, if
movement occurs, that all staff consider the special psychological and
management related risk associated with the inmate. Furthermore, p. Five
three two four Dodd zero seven Century psychology alert function
states when a decision to move any SY alert inmate occurs,
any special psychological needs of the inmate are reviewed and
considered by psychology services staff, and any safety and security
concerns are highlighted for non psychology services staff. Psychologists should
use the sy alert assignment more frequently with high profile
cases and with inmates who have a history or charge
of sex offense. Both of these groups of inmates are
susceptible to exaggerated or unrealistic fears about correctional settings and
experienced stress associated during movement and periods of transition eg.
Sell unit changes, movement to and from court, institutional movement,
and release of information through the media. Mister Epstein was
reportedly in court on July thirty one, twenty nineteen. It's
unknown what time he departed or returned to mcc New York,
because this information was not entered in century. Regardless, upon
his return, the United States Marshals Service provided R and
D staff with a prisoner custody Alert notice regarding mister Epstein.
The notice indicated mister Epstein had MTL mental concerns suicidal tendencies.
The us MS requested R and D staff signed the form,
and they then departed with the signed copy. On August first,
twenty nineteen, at eight forty six am, Doctor and Mary
sent Doctor Miller an email reporting that she had just
become aware of the above information. In the absence of
additional information about this notation, this should have been considered
a referral to psychology Services about a potentially suicidal inmate,
and procedures should have been followed as outlined in p.
Five three to two four Dodd zero eight Suicide Prevention Program. Specifically,
when a staff member becomes aware an inmate may be
thinking about suicide during normal working hours, the staff member
must contact psychology Services and maintain the inmate under direct
continuous observation until he's placed on suicide watch or seen
by a psychologist. There is no evidence mister Epstein was
monitored under these conditions from the time he returned from
court until he was seen by doctor Amery for a
suicide risk assessment on August first, twenty nineteen at approximately
one thirty pm. Institution Response seven follow up staff have
been trained that it's required that they make verbal contact
with either a psychology staff or a lieutenant when they
have concerns for an inmate's mental health. If psychology staff
is not in the institution, an inmate is placed on
suicide watch and the on call psychologist and warden are notified.
As part of their signature block. All psychology staff have
added the following. If you're emailing about an inmate that
may be at risk for suicide or self harm, this
is an emergency situation. Please make sure that you contact
verbally the psychology staff and the on call psychologist. Please
ensure to maintain constant visual observation of the inmate until
formal steps can be taken to ensure his or her
safety pending a formal assessment by a psychologist. The Psychology
Department uses sy alert codes more frequently with high profile
cases and with inmates with a history of a charge
of a sex offense. The sy Alert code is applied
immediately on classification and loor identification, and not just when
an inmate is about to leave the institution. If an
inmate is moved in and out of an institution for court, etc.
The inmate is assessed immediately prior to being released to
a unit. R and D staff have reminded of the
US Marshal and Court alert process. Psychology staff are notified
immediately if there are suicidal concerns noted by the court.
If psychology staff is not in the institution, an inmate
that enters the institution with an alert notice is placed
on suicide watch and the on call psychologist and warden
are notified. These inmates receive a suicide risk assessment by
a psychologist before being released to general population. R and
D will review the PP forty four code, and intake
screeners will utilize the PP sixty four to determine if
inmates entering the facility have SI alert assignment if there
is not a psychologist in the building. When a s
inmate is identified, or if it's during non duty hours,
the operations Lieutenant will immediately be notified and will contact
the on call psychologist. The on call psychologist will come
in after hours to screen the inmate in R and
D and determine their are appropriateness for general population as
well as any other pertinent housing considerations. Prior to the
inmates released to general population. Inmates may also be assigned
to SIE alert function by a psychologist while housed at
the institution psychologists will consider not only inmates with substantial
mental health concerns for a SI alert assignment, but will
use SIE alert codes frequently with high profile cases and
with inmates with a history or charge of a sex offense.
The SI alert code is applied immediately and not just
when an inmate is about to leave the institute. The
attached institutional procedural Memorandum has been reviewed by Central Office
Psychology Service and implemented by mcc New York Psychology Service
to outline the follow up procedures when existing SIE alert
inmates return from trips such as court proceedings and hospital trips.
If any movement occurs with an existing SI alert inmate,
psychology must be verbally notified immediately when the inmate returns
back to the institution. This would include movement from court,
institutional movement, or hospital trips. The Psychology Department will also
notify of a SIE alert inmate movement prior to the
inmate leaving. The Psychology Department will be provided with the
court list as well as prisoners Schedule report on a
daily basis. These reports will be reviewed daily by members
of the Psychology Department to assess whether a sile alert
inmate is scheduled to go out to court the following day.
An existing SI alert inmate who has already been initially
screened by the Psychology Department returns from court with a
notice from the judge or a Marshal's office indicating imminent
mental health concerns or concerns related to suicide, the SYE
alert inmate will be seen by the psychologist immediately and
prior to their return to general population. A psychologist will
determine at that time if a SI alert inmate is
ready to return to general population, their psychological stability and
their treatment needs. If the inmate returns after hours and
there's no psychologist in the institution, the SIE alert inmate
will be placed on suicide watch pending a suicide risk
assessment by a psychologist. When an existing SIRE alert inmate
who has already been initially screened by the Psychology Department
returns from court routinely and without a notice from the
judge or Marshal's office, they will be screened by a
member of Psychology Department within twenty four hours to assess
if they're experiencing any significant distress regarding their court proceeding
that may be exasperating their mental health difficulties and or
risk factors. Per guidance from Central Office Psychology Division, the
Psychology Department will conduct a training with R and D
staff to help train them about SIE alert inmates and
to recognize signs of psychological distress and suicide. Suicide prevention
in SI alert Training have recently been conducted by the
Psychology Services Department with lieutenants and during a recent department
head meeting. Further, an email regarding SI alert procedure was
sent to all lieutenants, receiving and discharge psychology and all
health and Services staff. All right, folks, we're going to
wrap up right here, and in the next episode, we're
going to pick up where we left off. All the
information that goes with this episode can be found in
the description box.