JAIL SUICIDE & DEATH ATTORNEY
Attorney Jim Tanner says that Jail Suicide is a predictable tragedy. That death happens as a result from jailers’ deliberate indifference to inmates’ and prisoners’ serious medical needs. Attorney Tanner is experienced and ready to obtain justice for families. Attorney Tanner says the evidence is clear Florida jails and prisons need immediate reforms so that jailers must comply with their constitutional duties, and other families do not have to endure such loss.
Death in Custody Act
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Jail Suicide is one of Florida the leading cause of death in jails. Once a person is incarcerated, the state takes away his power to care for himself. A prisoner, and his or her family, are powerless to provide necessary medical and psychiatric care. Our jails and prisons, disgracefully, often fail to provide for the basic needs of these members of our community. Yet our jails and prisons are filled with people with serious medical and psychiatric needs.
Sheriffs and private medical providers in command of Florida jails and prisons have a constitutional duty to provide for the serious medical needs of prisoners, to avoid tragedies such as jail suicide and jail death. Courts have explained many times that this duty is mandatory. Lack of funds is no excuse. “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”
— Mahatma Gandhi Key Focus should on Evaluating:
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Jail Suicide Expert TestimonyJail inmate suicide cases require expert testimony. One vital expert to start with is a psychologist who specializes in jail and prison management and administration.
Intake Screening Process: In addition to the key points below the psychologist must review the jail or prison Intake Screening Process to identify actively suicidal inmates. Staff members must understand essential to their duties is to protect suicidal inmates from self-harm. The intake nurse must document and any incoming inmate who "appears desponded or depressed or voice suicidal ideation". These individuals should never be placed in the general housing population. Any such incoming inmate must have an immediate assessment by a trained mental health professional. Refuse Actively Suicidal Inmates: The psychologist should make certain that the jail or prison refuses to accept any actively suicidal inmates and instead transport them to a psychiatric hospital and train jail security and custody staff to identify suicidal and "decompensating" inmates. The psychologist should look for staff committed errors at each stage of the Inmate's incarceration, beginning with his admission and booking and continuing to the official investigation of the Inmate's death. Written Suicide Prevention Policy: In all cases the psychologist should examine the jail or prison's failure to follow standard written suicide prevention policy which require nurses to complete "suicide assessments" on a suicidal inmate four times during a normal twelve-hour shift, or eight times per day. Deputies Welfare Checklists: For similar reasons, the direct observation deputies are supposed to complete "welfare checklists" on suicidal inmates at least four times per hour, or ninety-six times per day. |
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Jim Tanner-Tampa Bay’s Nationally Recognized Civil Rights And Criminal Defense Attorney with over 34 years Litigation and Trial Experience in Florida with Pro Hac Vice Appearances in State and Federal Courts in California, Texas, Georgia, and Alabama.
When police violate your Constitutional rights by engaging in brutality, shootings or other forms of excessive force, you have the right to seek compensation under federal civil rights laws and state laws. Incidents of excessive force and deadly force used by Tampa Bay Area Police Department officers and police officers in the Greater Central Florida area are astonishingly high.
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