COURSE DESCRIPTION
This program has been developed by the Municipal Police Institute and The Department of Public Health, in accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40 Section 36A,B and C. This law mandates refresher training in “Suicide Prevention and Harm Reduction” for all recently promoted police officers. This training program outlines the duties and responsibilities of the Officer in Charge pertaining to the well-being of all persons held in police custody and the mandatory devices that must be in place in all lock-up facilities in the Commonwealth.
The program also provides instruction for all prisoner watch personnel to recognize the signs and symptoms of distress and how to provide safe and effective suicide watch over those held in custody. The program addresses the ways in which to make risk assessments and what levels of prisoner observation is required based on these assessments.
In addition, this program addresses the “Duties of the Matron and all Prisoner Watch Personnel” as well as the policy and procedures necessary to safely guard the health and wellbeing of those persons held in custody by law enforcement.