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Officer Admits Insufficient Checks in Inquest
21 Nov
Summary
- Officer received only four days of shadowing for training.
- Inmate had history of self-harm and substance abuse.
- Recorded checks were shorter than three seconds, not thorough.
During an inquest, a prison officer, Ms. Trapp, revealed her training consisted of just four days of shadowing after Sodexo took over the prison in February 2023. She admitted to being unaware of crucial procedures, such as Assessment, Care in Custody, and Teamwork (ACCT), designed for inmates at risk of self-harm or suicide.
The jury heard that the inmate in question had a history of self-harm and substance abuse. He was placed under ACCT, requiring twice-hourly checks, after harming himself on October 7th. The following day, he set fire to his cell and was subsequently seen by a mental health nurse.
Ms. Trapp was responsible for ACCT checks between 7 PM on October 10th and midnight on October 11th. However, her recorded entries contradicted CCTV footage, with checks lasting three seconds or fewer. She stated she would make a mental note, believing the inmate was fine as she saw him watching television.
