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iii) suicide prevention
57.
Suicide prevention is another matter falling within the purview of a prison's health
care service. It should ensure that there is an adequate awareness of this subject throughout the
establishment, and that appropriate procedures are in place.
58.
Medical screening on arrival, and the reception process as a whole, has an important
role to play in this context; performed properly, it could identify at least certain of those at risk
and relieve some of the anxiety experienced by all newly-arrived prisoners.
Further, prison staff, whatever their particular job, should be made aware of (which
implies being trained in recognising) indications of suicidal risk. In this connection it should be
noted that the periods immediately before and after trial and, in some cases, the pre-release
period, involve an increased risk of suicide.
59.
A person identified as a suicide risk should, for as long as necessary, be kept under a
special observation scheme. Further, such persons should not have easy access to means of
killing themselves (cell window bars, broken glass, belts or ties, etc).
Steps should also be taken to ensure a proper flow of information - both within a given
establishment and, as appropriate, between establishments (and more specifically between their
respective health care services) - about persons who have been identified as potentially at risk.
iv) prevention of violence
60.
Prison health care services can contribute to the prevention of violence against
detained persons, through the systematic recording of injuries and, if appropriate, the provision
of general information to the relevant authorities. Information could also be forwarded on
specific cases, though as a rule such action should only be undertaken with the consent of the
prisoners concerned.
61.
Any signs of violence observed when a prisoner is medically screened on his
admission to the establishment should be fully recorded, together with any relevant statements
by the prisoner and the doctor's conclusions. Further, this information should be made available
to the prisoner.
The same approach should be followed whenever a prisoner is medically examined
following a violent episode within the prison (see also paragraph 53 of the CPT's 2nd General
report: CPT/Inf (92) 3) or on his readmission to prison after having been temporarily returned to
police custody for the purposes of an investigation.
62.
The health care service could compile periodic statistics concerning injuries observed,
for the attention of prison management, the Ministry of Justice, etc.
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