All 7 inmate suicides at Bristol County House of Correction since 2017 involved bunk beds

DARTMOUTH - All seven suicides at the main Bristol County House of Correction in Dartmouth between 2017 and January of this year involved metal bunk beds.

The inmates utilized metal railings or ventilation holes as anchoring points to hang themselves.

That was one of the findings in the 64-page report produced by Lindsay M. Hayes, a nationally recognized expert on suicide prevention in jails and prisons after a three-day on-site review in March.

Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux unveiled the report Thursday along with the prototype of a refitted metal bunk bed that eliminates choking points.

They refitted the bunk bed in house, and will be able to continue that practice and save money, he said.

Addressing the bunk beds was among the 24 recommendations in the report to address the Bristol County correction suicide rate.

What is the suicide rate at the Bristol County House of Correction?

The report stated its current rate is three times higher than the national average.

Heroux said the recommendations, which "are realistic and achievable," will be attained.

While it cannot eliminate the possibilty of inmate suicide, following the recommendations will put the Bristol County lockups on par with other jails, he said.

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office has recorded 10 suicides overall in that same seven-year time period, according to the report.

The BCSO includes the main House of Correction in Dartmouth, the Women's Center, also in Dartmouth, and the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford.

What does the report recommend?

The other recommendations involve improvements in training, intake and mental health screening procedures, housing issues, and suicide watch procedures.

Hayes concluded in his report, "Although there are numerous recommendations contained within this report, as well as the need to revise both the Bristol County Sheriff's Office and Correctional Psychiatric Services' suicide prevention policies to incorporate such recommendations, this writer found that the Bristol County jail system had the foundation of a good suicide prevention program. As such, with full implementation of the 24 recommendations contained within this report, this writer is confident that collaborative efforts of the BCSO and CPS will result in successful efforts to reduce inmate suicides."

When will these changes be instituted?

It will take time to institute all the policy and procedural changes, Heroux said.

What has Sheriff Heroux accomplished in his first 100 days?

Heroux also reviewed his first 100 days in office during the Thursday press conference, including proposals to close the 135-year-old Ash Street Jail.

One proposal was to build the necessary cells at the House of Correction's closed ICE Detention Center for $10 million.

A second was to convert a Dartmouth House of Correction gymnasium at a cost of $6 million to $8 million.

But in the last month, Heroux said, staff have been looking at installing locks to all cells at the main Dartmouth facility. Ash Street inmates have to be held in single-person cells due to gang and other safety concerns.

While the HOC has the needed number of cells, about half don't include locks. To install the locks, toilets will have to be installed, as well, Heroux said. Cells without toilets cannot be locked.

If the locks and toilets are installed the 80 or so Ash Street inmates, not including regional lockups, could be moved over, he said.

They have $1.6 million in in-house canteen proceeds that can be used to do the installations, he said. Ash Street's role as a regional lock up for some local police departments, including New Bedford's, would still have to be addressed.

It would take about two years and wouldn't require going to the Legislature for any money, Heroux said, unlike the other two proposals.

They also wouldn't have to pay for upkeep and utilities at Ash Street, which could then be sold by the state to New Bedford or a private developer, he said.

What are the plans for the vacant ICE detention building

Heroux said the vacant ICE detention building will be used as a training center at a cost of less than $100,000 to convert it. That would replace the existing facility, which costs the Bristol County Sheriff's Office $150,000 a year.Heroux added the last correction officer training academy graduated five people, but that 30 have signed up for the latest class.

More officers will take pressure off current officers and overtime demands, he said, and provide more inmate programming. Closing Ash Street will also add more officers to the main House.

Heroux said he is also making good on campaign promises to cut programs "that have nothing to do with running a jail."

What programs are being eliminated at the prison?

Programs include TRIAD to reduce victimization of seniors; RUOK? that is a telephone-welfare call service for seniors; SLAM tours that he described as a type of non-aversive "scared straight" program that studies indicate doesn't help steer kids clear of crime; and the Homeland Security Division.

The $1.5 million saved will be reallocated as part of his new organizational chart. Its focus will be to divvy up job responsibilities more efficiently and avoid staff being spread too thin. It will also help provide better inmate services both inside and as they transition back to the community.

Heroux added he has to walk back an earlier initiative to hire new officers at 18 or older as opposed to the current 19. He said 19 is required by law but that they are seeking a waiver.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Seven consecutive Bristol County inmate suicides involved bunk beds