EFTA00111908.pdf
Extracted Text (OCR)
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DIGITALLY RECORDED
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SWORN STATEMENT
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OF
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OIG CASE #:
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2019-010614
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
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OCTOBER 27, 2021
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RESOLUTE DOCUMENTATION SERVICES
28632 Roadside Drive, Suite 285
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Phone: (818) 431-5800
EFTA00111908
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APPEARANCES:
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OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
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BY:
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BY:
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WITNESS:
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OTHER APPEARANCES:
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NONE
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EFTA00111909
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MR.
: My name is
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I'm a Special
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Agent with the U.S. Department of
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Justice, Office of the Inspector General, New
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York Field Office, and these are my
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credentials.
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MS.
: Okay.
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MR.
: This interview with the
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Federal Bureau of Prisons psychologist, Dr.
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Did I get that right?
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MS.
: Yes.
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MR.
: Is being conducted as part of
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an official U.S. Department of Justice, Office
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of the Inspector General investigation.
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Today's date is October 27, 2021. And the time
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is 9:20 a.m. This interview is being conducted
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at the OIGr New York Field Officer located or.
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the 29th floor of One Battery Park Plaza, New
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York, New York. Also present is:
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MR.
: DOJ/OIG Senior Special
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Agent
. And these are my
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credentials. Oops. Here you go.
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MR.
: This interview will be
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recorded by me, Special Agent
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Could everyone please identify themselves for
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the record, and spell your last name? To
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start, again, I am DOJ/OIG Special Agent
MR.
Special Agent
: My name is DOJ/OIG Senior
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MR.
: Dr.
please introduce
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yourself.
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MS.
: Yeah. So, my name is Dr.
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. I am the chief psychologist at
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MCC New York.
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MR.
: Thank you.
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MR.
: And your last name. Can
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you just spell that --
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MS.
: Yes.
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MR.
: -- for the record?
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MS.
: I'm sorry about that.
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MR.
: Thank you.
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MR.
: This is an official DOJ/OIG
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investigation into the death of inmate Jeffrey
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Epstein. And you are being asked to
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voluntarily provide answers to our questions.
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Will you agree to a voluntary interview with
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the DOJ/OIG?
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MS.
: Yes.
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MR.
: Thank you. I'm going to
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provide you with the OIG form 11I-226/2. It
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states the following, "United States Department
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of Justice, Office of the Inspector General.
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Warnings and Assurances to Employee Requested
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to Provided Information on a Voluntary Basis.
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You are being asked to provide information as
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part of an investigation being conducted by the
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Office of the Inspector General. This
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investigation is being conducted pursuant to
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the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended.
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This investigation pertains to job
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performance failure, and security failure.
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This is a voluntary interview. Accordingly,
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you do not have to answer any questions. No
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disciplinary action will be taken against you
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if you choose not to answer any questions. Any
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statement you furnish may be used as evidence
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in any future criminal proceedings, or agency
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disciplinary proceeding, or both." The waiver
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states, "I understand the warnings and
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assurance stated above, and I am willing to
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make a statement and answer questions.
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No promises or threats have been made to
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me, and no pressure or coercion of any kind has
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been used against me." Please review it. And
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if you agree, can you please sign where it
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says, "Employee Signature"? Also, print your
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name right below that.
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MR.
: Please.
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MS.
: Mm-hmm.
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MR.
: Thank you. Thank you. I am
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signing on the signature of the Office of
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Inspector General, Special Agent.
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MR.
: Okay. And I will --
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MR.
: Agent -.
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MR.
: -- sign as the witness,
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and place the date, and time, and place on
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there. On the form.
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MR.
: Thank you. Before starting
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the interview, I would like to place you under
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oath.
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MS.
: Yes.
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MR.
: Dr.
can you please
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raise your right hand? Do you swear to tell
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the truth and nothing but the truth during this
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interview?
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MS.
: Yes.
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MR.
: Thank you. Please let me
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know if you did not understand any questions,
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and I will try to repeat it, or try to rephrase
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it for you. What is your current home address?
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MS. _:
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MR.
: Okay. And what is your date
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of birth?
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MS. -:
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MR.
: Actually, you showed us your
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ID. Can you show that one more time? I just
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want to --
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MS.
: Yes.
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MR.
: -- Dr.
has provided me
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with the U.S. Department of Justice law
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enforcement officer ID, and it has her picture
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on it, and her signature. Thank you. What is
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your current cell phone number?
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MS. -:
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MR.
: Thank you. Do you recall
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being interviewed by the FBI and the DIG in
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August 2019, regarding inmate Jeffrey Epstein?
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MS.
: Yes, I do.
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MR.
: What I have here is called
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the FBI 302. It's their report of the
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investigation. It's a summary of your
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statements that you made in the interview with
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them. I'm going to go -. I'm going to read it
out to you. Please let me know if there is any
discrepancies, or you feel that anything is
inaccurate, and we will correct it.
MS.
: Okay.
MR.
: On the record. Anything else
before we start?
MR.
: Nope.
MR.
: Okay. "Dr.
date of birth:-,
was interviewed at 1
Saint Andrews Plaza, New York, New York, 10007.
U.S. Attorney's Office. Southern District of
New York. Present at the interview was the
Office of Inspector General,- Special Agent
; Assistant U.S. Attorney
(Phonetic Sp. *00:04:54),
and FBI Special Agent
After being advised of the identity of the
interviewing agents, and the nature of the
interview, Dr.
provided the following
statement. Dr.
is the chief
psychologist at the Metropolitan Correctional
Center (MCC). Her background includes a
bachelor's degree in criminology, a master's in
mental health counseling, a master's in
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clinical counseling, and a doctorate." What is
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the doctorate in?
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MS.
: Oh. The second master's is
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in clinical psychology, not counseling
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psychology. And the doctorate is in clinical
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psychology.
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MR.
: Okay. Thank you for
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clarifying that. "Dr.
was the staff
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psychologist at East Jersey State Prison for
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two years. *00:05:33) And she completed a one-
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year post-doctoral fellowship and internship
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working at an in and out - in/outpatient mental
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health treatment center. And she did that
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externship at Federal Detention Center in
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Miami, working with the battered woman's
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program." Is that accurate? Go ahead.
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MS.
: Okay. My post-doc was at a
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private forensic practice, forensic psychology
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practice. The Institution for Behavioral
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Sciences in the Law. That was my post-doctoral
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internship. My internship was at the
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University of Miami. Jackson Memorial Medical
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Center. That's where I did inpatient and
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outpatient rotations, with a minor in
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forensics. And my externship, when I was in
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doctoral program, was at the Federal Detention
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Center in Miami.
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MR.
: Okay.
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MS.
: Okay.
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MR.
: Thank you.
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MS.
: Sure.
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MR.
"Dr.
worked as a staff
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psychologist at the Metropolitan Detention
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Center, MDC Brooklyn, from 2003 to 2006."
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MS.
: Mm-hmm.
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MR.
"And as a forensic
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psychologist from 2006 to 2008."
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MS.
: Correct.
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MR.
"Dr.
has been the
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chief psychologist at MCC for the last 11
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years."
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MS.
: Well, now, more. Probably
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close to 13.
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MR.
: 13.
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MS.
: More than 13, probably.
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MR.
: So, that is still your role
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at the MCC?
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MS.
Uh-huh. Yes. And now that
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it's closed. You know --
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MR.
: Okay.
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MS.
-- I'm no longer the chief
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psychologist there. But up until a day ago,
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yes.
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MR.
: Okay. And so, what is the
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new role with the -?
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MS.
:
Well, I am awaiting a
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position, likely in central office.
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MR.
: Okay. And what, do you know
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what your role would be? What your title would
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be?
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MS.
: A mental health treatment
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coordinator. But it's going through the
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paperwork right now. So, it hasn't, you know,
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I haven't received official notification
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MR.
: Okay.
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MS.
: -- as of yet.
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MR.
: Then -.
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MR.
:
Will you be able to stay
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in New York?
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MS.
:
Yes.
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MR.
: Okay. Great.
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MS.
: But I am doing my TDY work
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right now, at Fort Dix. In New Jersey.
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MR.
: Okay.
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MS.
: So, I am just seeing a lot of
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patients over there now.
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MR.
: Anything else on that?
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MR.
: Hmm-mm.
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MR.
: "Dr.
oversees three
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forensic psychologists." This is talking about
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the time period when you were interviewed.
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MS.
: Yes.
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MR.
: I guess, before we do, I
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don't think it said. When did you first start
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working with the BOP? When was your enter on
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duty?
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MS.
: In 2003.
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MR.
: Okay. Great. Thank you.
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MR.
: "Dr.
oversees three
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forensic psychologists, one staff psychologist,
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a drug abuse coordinator, and a drug treatment
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specialist. Her duties include ensuring all
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patients are seen, and the appropriate
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documentation is completed. She consults on
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individual cases, as needed. She ensures the
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forensic reports are out on time. She reviews
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all the reports she signs off on. At this
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time, Dr.
is seeing patients, is seeing
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more patients than she normally does, due to
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staffing. Her typical hours are 7:00 a.m. to
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3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday."
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MS.
: Okay.
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MR.
"Dr.
provided
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information on the intake process as it relates
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to psychological services at MCC. All inmates
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complete the psychological services intake
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questionnaire" - that's PSIQ - "themselves. It
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asks for the inmates mental health history, as
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well as any symptoms they are feeling at the
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time. Based off the PSIQ, inmates are rated a
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care code reading."
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MS.
: Okay. First, we interview
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them. What we do is, we review the PSIQs once
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they are filled out. If significant items are
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marked, we will interview the inmate. After we
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complete the intake screening, we will classify
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them with a care code. And that will determine
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how frequently the inmate will be seen.
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MR.
: Okay. I think it goes into
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the codes itself.
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MS.
: Oh, okay. All right.
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MR.
: "Code one means there are no
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concerns about the inmate's mental health
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status. They have no needs and will not be
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followed up with, unless requested to, by
EFTA00111920
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either the inmate themselves, or staff."
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MS.
: Okay.
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MR.
"Code two means there is some
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history of mental health issues, but the inmate
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has them under control. Psychological services
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will follow up with these individuals monthly."
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MS.
: Yes.
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MR.
"Code three are more severe
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cases, and they are seen every week by
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psychological services, to ensure the inmate is
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stable. If the inmate isn't stable in general
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population, they will be moved to observation.
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If they continue to deteriorate, they will go
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to the hospital."
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MS.
: We will try to send them to a
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BOP medical center. Or we will try to
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stabilize them in the facility. We have a
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psychiatrist who is actually, he is a central
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office psychiatrist, but he was actually
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located at MCC New York. So, if they started
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to decompensate the interview, and they were
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that acute, we would have the psychiatrist see
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them, and potentially medicate them, and try to
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stabilize them at our facility. If we cannot
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do so, then we will try to do an emergency,
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what is called a 770, and have them designated
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to one of our medical centers for
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stabilization. We don't have a contract with
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the hospital here in New York.
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MR.
: I don't know if you - what's
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- what decompensating means?
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MS.
: Oh, that means that their
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symptoms become more acute, their mental health
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functioning is deteriorating to the point where
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they display evidence of either severe mood
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symptoms, like acute mania, or psychosis, where
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they are actively hallucinating, or have
13
delusions. Or maybe they just stopped taking
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care of ADLs, as well.
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MR.
: Okay.
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MS.
: And that would cause harm to
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them. Because of their illness.
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MR.
: Thank you.
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MS.
: Okay.
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MR.
: Do you have any questions on
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that? Okay. "Code four inmates are seen every
22
day by psychological services, and are under
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constant psychological observation."
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MS.
: Mm-hmm.
25
MR.
"Dr.
pointed out that
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a code one can be on suicide watch. Often
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times, those cases involve manipulation
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techniques used by inmates to get what they
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want from staff. For example, if an inmate is
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not getting along with the guard, or they want
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a new cellmate, they will claim to be suicidal
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to get out of their housing area. If an inmate
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does this two or three times, they will be
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bumped to a code two, so that a psychologist
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will meet with them monthly. Suicide watch
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means an inmate is eminently suicidal. If an
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inmate is placed on suicide watch, they are
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under constant watch by staff. They have a
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special mattress, blanket, and smock to wear.
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And their cell lights are on 24/7."
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MS.
: Correct.
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MR.
"Suicide observation is
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lower classification."
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MS.
: Psychological observation.
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MR.
: Correction. "Psychological
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observation is a lower classification. It is
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not at all Bureau of Prisons facilities.
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Everything is the same with suicide observation
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inmates - psychological observation inmates,
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except that they are allowed to have their
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clothing, and some materials, such as books.
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Suicide watch can be detrimental if a person is
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left on it for too long. So, observation is
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used to see how an inmate is doing before
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releasing them back to general population."
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MS.
: Correct. So, psychological
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observation, they are observed constantly, with
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regard to what they have, they can obtain.
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They can have those things that you listed.
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But we have to determine, and sometimes it
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might be one thing at a time. Like, we might
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give them their underwear, and see how they do
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with that. And then, we will, you know, give
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them a book. But it's not like once you get
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stopped down, you get all of those items.
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MR.
: Okay.
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MS.
: Okay. It's determined by a
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psychologist, and it is notated on their
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logbook, what they can and cannot have.
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MR.
: Okay. "Any psychologist a:
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jail can take an inmate off suicide watch, but
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they do consult with Dr.
on occasion.
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Many times, the executive staff at the jail
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meet, and inmate psychological status and
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services are discussed."
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MS.
: Yes.
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MR.
: Can you explain to us a
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little bit more about the meeting? What
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exactly is discussed?
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MS.
: Yes. So, we have, like,
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Mondays, we have an opening meeting, and
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Fridays, we have a close out meeting. And
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Tuesdays, the days may have changed from then
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to now. I think it used to be Thursdays, used
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to be a SHU meeting. And so, certain members,
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all the members of the executive staff are
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there. And then, certain department heads
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attend these meetings. And during the
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meetings, they will ask me, you know, is there
15
anything for psychology.
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And then, I will discuss the inmates that
17
are on suicide watch. And what my plans is for
18
those inmates. Or if we were discussing the
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Special Housing Unit, I'll discuss inmates that
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I feel need to be observed closely. Should
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have cellmates. Or may suffer from mental
22
health problems that I feel we just need to
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keep an eye on, or make sure they are in more
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visible, highly visible cells. Any mental
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health concern I have in the SHU, I would
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mention at the SHU meeting.
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MR.
: Okay. Anything else?
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MR.
: Yeah. I mean, do they
4
have input into psychology? Like, does the
5
executive staff, do they get to provide
6
recommendations, or ask, you know, can this
7
person be taken off, or this person taken off,
8
or this person taken on, or is it -?
9
MS.
: Well, we make the decisions
10
as far as, we're the only ones that make the
11
decisions whether someone goes on watch, or off
12
watch.
13
MR.
: Right.
14
MS.
: They may, you know, not agree
15
or whatever, but that's our decision because
16
that is our profession.
17
MR.
: Right.
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MS.
: But with regard to the
19
logistics in the prison, and how, where the
20
inmates are housed, and things like that. We
21
will make suggestions to executive staff.
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MR.
: Okay.
23
MS.
: A lot of times - and most of
24
the time - they do listen to psychology. There
25
may be times they disagree for maybe
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correctional reasons that, you know, they may
have their own ways of viewing where they
housed someone. Maybe therey will be an inmate
up there, or too many that they are separated
from, or maybe they are a gang member. I mean,
there may be other reasons why they can't
follow our recommendations.
And so, there might be exceptions to that
rule. So, now, pretty much what we do is, if,
like, let's say we have to house somebody alone
in SHU. We have to - we put whether we
recommend or not recommend. Now, we do that.
And I never recommend an inmate be single
celled. Ever. So, if they decide, that's on
them. And usually, it's because an inmate may
be too violent, or may be (Indizccrniblo
*00:15:59)sept out from all other inmates in
the facility because they are so, in all these
gangs, and they are cooperating.
And there is just too many bloods, let's
say, and there are blood, and they may have to
be by themselves, or they may have assaulted
other inmates, or officers, and they just can't
be celled with somebody. For whatever reason.
Or the U.S. Attorney's Office has said this
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person needs to be by themselves. We're afraid
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for their life, at that facility. So, I'm
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never going to recommend somebody be by
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themselves because it's never a good idea. But
5
there might be extenuating circumstances where
6
someone needs to be housed alone, and in that
7
case, you know, we would recommend an increase
8
rounds, or, you know, keeping an eye on that
9
inmate.
10
MR.
: Now, as far as I
11
understand, what you are talking about with is
12
when they come off of psychological observation
13
or suicide watch, but when they actually go in
14
and come off of both suicide watch and
15
psychological observation, do they get to
16
provide an input into that, or is that solely a
17
psychology issue?
18
MS.
: Whether they come off?
19
MR.
: Go in or come off.
20
MS.
: No. Just a psychology.
21
MR.
: Okay. So, they don't
22
have any input into that?
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MS.
: No.
24
MR.
: Okay.
25
MS.
: I mean, they may make some
EFTA00111928
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statements, but if we don't agreeL
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MR.
: Yeah, that's your
3
MS.
: -- those decisions are up to
4
us.
5
MR.
: Okay.
6
MS.
: Yes.
7
MR.
: Thank you.
8
MR.
: Just a question, as a follow
9
up. You said that sometimes you might make
10
recommendations on housing an inmate by
11
themselves, based on a threat or whatever it
12
is. So, my understanding, based on that
13
statement, is that means every inmate is housed
14
with a cellmate, unless specifically
15
recommended by psychology, that they be housed
16
by themselves?
17
MS.
: Never by psychology.
18
MR.
: Yeah.
19
MS.
: Psychology
20
MR.
: That's (Indiscernible
21
*00:17:38).
22
MS.
: -- is always going to
23
recommend.
24
MR.
: Recommend.
25
MR.
: Yeah.
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MS.
: A cellmate. But there might
2
be custodial issues.
3
MR.
: Okay.
4
MS.
: Which preclude them from
5
being housed with another inmate.
6
MR.
: So, any inmates that has a
7
history of possibly havinge suicide watch, or
8
any, or psychological observation, psychology
9
recommends that they be - recommends that they
10
be housed with a cellmate.
11
MS.
: Yes.
12
MR.
: Now, psychology --
13
MR.
: Okay.
14
MR.
: -- always they be housed
15
with a cellmate.
16
MS.
: Right.
17
MR.
: It's the custody may say
18
that they don't want them with a single cell.
19
MR.
: Got it.
20
MR.
: Correct?
21
MS.
: Correct.
22
MR.
: Thank you. "Meetings are
23
held on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
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Generally present at those meetings are Dr.
25
, the warden, two associate wardens, the
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captain, supervisory attorney, duty officer,
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and the executive assistant. Department head
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meetings are held on Wednesdays. Dr. I.
4
(Phonetic Sp. *00:18:27)?"
5
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
6
MR.
"Completed the PSIQ for
7
Jeffrey Epstein on July 8, 2019. Epstein did
8
not mark anything on his PSIQ. And had it not
9
been Epstein, he would have been sent to
10
general population, and rated a care code one.
11
Dr.
consulted with Dr.
12
about Epstein's risk factors, aside from his
13
psychological health, including high-profile
14
case and sex offense charges." Who is Dr.
15
16
MS.
: He was the suicide prevention
17
coordinator in central office. Now, he has
18
been moved up to a higher position, but he is
19
in central office, and he called me right away,
20
when Epstein came, because of his risk factors.
21
We call those static risk factors. Those are
22
risk factors for suicidality that can't be
23
changed. So, in other words, if you come in
24
and you are a sex offender, and you are high-
25
profile, like Jeffrey Epstein was, that is
EFTA00111931
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1
going to take place throughout his
2
incarceration.
3
It is not like he would just come in
4
depressed; we could give him medication; he
5
could get better. Those factors would always
6
be there. So, you know, he was concerned.
7
Also, when he came to the facility, that we
8
should keep, you know, a close eye on him.
9
And, you know, he was reviewing our notes and
10
everything, from afar. So, he did call us when
11
he was placed on watch and everything, and he
12
oversaw.
13
MR.
: Okay.
14
MR.
: So, he has access to your
15
notes? Does that go into some kind of a
16
database?
17
MS.
: Yes. The psychology data
18
system.
19
MR.
: Okay.
20
MS.
: I don't know if he reviewed
21
the notes, but he called -. I'm trying to
22
remember. I remember him calling me and just
23
being in touch with me. You know, is
24
everything okay? And, you know, making sure we
25
assessed certain things.
EFTA00111932
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1
MR.
: Okay. So, all throughout
2
Epstein's stay, he was kind of reviewing your
3
notes, and --
4
MS.
: Uh-huh.
5
MR.
: -- his status.
6
MS.
: Or calling me and checking
7
in.
8
MR.
: And who would have access
9
to that database, in those notes?
10
MS.
: All the psychologists in the
11
department. Central office personnel would
12
have access to it. Other psychologists at
13
other institutions can access the notes
14
because, let's say he was transferred to
15
another facility, and they wanted to see his
16
notes from the BOP. They would have access.
17
MR.
: Okay. And when you say
18
central office, you're talking about just
19
psychology central office, or do you mean
20
everyone that is -?
21
MS.
: Yeah.
22
MR.
: So, only --
23
MS.
: Psychology.
24
MR.
: -- only psychology --
25
MS.
: As far as --
EFTA00111933
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MR.
: -- personnel.
2
MS.
-- I know. Yes.
3
MR.
: Okay. So, no one outside
4
of psychology?
5
MS.
: Not that I know of.
6
MR.
: Okay.
7
MS.
: Because I don't work up
8
there. But I wouldn't think so.
9
MR.
: Great.
10
MS.
: Okay.
11
MR.
: You might have stated
12
already. I might have missed it.
13
MS.
: Okay.
14
MR.
: Did Dr.
make any
15
recommendations to you? Regarding Mr. Epstein.
16
MS.
: No. Just to keep a close eye
17
on, when I put him on watch. He just called
18
and just, he asked me various questions on how
19
he was doing, and everything like that. So, he
20
just wanted to make us aware that, you know, he
21
was very high-profile. I mean, obviously, we
22
knew that. But, you know, also to keep an eye
23
on him, and to keep us alert to his risk
24
factors.
25
MR.
: Okay. "When Epstein returned
EFTA00111934
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28
1
from court that day, Dr.
ordered he be
2
placed on watch status, to allow psychology to
3
make a complete - to complete a thorough
4
suicide risk assessment." Is that correct?
5
MS.
: Right.
6
MR.
: Okay.
7
MR.
: And that was on
8
MS.
: And that was precautionary.
9
MR.
: -- okay.
10
MS.
: Because of his risk factors.
11
I wanted him assessed. So, I remember he was
12
placed on watch, and he was waiting for me to
13
come in and do his interview. And, you know, _
14
came into the watch area, and he was, like, are
15
you Dr.
? And he's, like, get me out of
16
here. You know? Because he didn't endorse
17
anything. He didn't say he was suicidal. He
18
had just come from court, and he was just
19
waiting to come off of watch because, you know,
20
watch is very depriving, like we said, you
21
can't have anything there.
22
Like, not even clothes. It's just
You
23
know, so, for him to be put in that situation.
24
He was really unhappy about it. And then, you
25
know, I explained, it was for his safety, and
EFTA00111935
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1
precautionary, and I just wanted to make sure
2
he was, he would be celled appropriately, and
3
that he was okay. So, it wasn't that he had
4
endorsed anything, or said he was suicidal. It
5
was strictly precautionary.
6
MR.
: And that was --
7
MS.
: When he first came in.
8
MR.
: -- yeah. That was July
9
8th, 2019?
10
MS.
: Yes.
11
MR.
: Just --
12
MS.
: Yes.
13
MR.
: -- for the record. Okay.
14
MR.
"Dr.
completed the
15
suicide risk assessment the next day. Epstein
16
was angry he was placed on observation, but he
17
continued to report no history of -", suicide-
18
aly?
19
MS.
: Suicidality.
Yeah. Yeah.
20
MR.
Suicidality. "No substance
21
abuse. No major medical concerns. And no
22
overt risk factors. Epstein was polite, but
23
annoyed with Dr.
a n
24
MS.
: True.
25
MR.
: "Epstein was kept in
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
OFFICIAL USE
observation, pending a suitable housing
placement, given his risk factors of being an
alleged sex offender. High-profile, and having
one living brother relative. She quoted
Epstein as saying, `Being alive is fun.' Dr.
believed it was a genuine statement."
Is that accurate?
MS.
: A what?
MR.
: A genuine --
MR.
: Genuine.
MR.
: -- genuine statement.
MS.
: Yeah.
MR.
: Okay. "Dr.
the interviewing agents with a copy of the
provided
suicide risk assessment, which was placed into
this case as reference three. On July 10th,
2019, Dr.
met with Epstein in
observation. Epstein was still in observation,
due to housing concerns. He continued to be
psychologically stable at that time. Epstein
was aware, even if he got bail, he would be at
MCC for several more weeks." That statement,
"Epstein was aware even if he got bail." Was
your understanding that he was going to get
bail?
EFTA00111937
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1
MS.
: If I recall, I remember he
2
was hopeful. Now, I don't have my notes in
3
front of me, so I don't want to swear to what
4
was in each note --
5
MR.
: Yeah.
6
MS.
: -- because when I don't have
7
them in front of me, but from my recollection,
8
yes, he was hopeful that, you know, he would be
9
able to get out of jail.
10
MR.
: Okay. So, based on
11
MS.
: At that time.
12
MR.
: -- your conversations with
13
him, he was expecting - hopeful - to get bail -
14
15
MS.
: Yes.
16
MR.
-- from being -. Okay.
17
"Epstein made several demands and voiced many
18
complaints to Dr.
, which she passed onto
19
executive staff." What kind of demands?
20
MS.
: I remember a lot of, like,
21
even his laxative, like, he wanted Colace
22
(Phonetic Sp. *00:24:50), and he didn't like
23
the laxative he was getting. And, you know, he
24
just made a lot of demands. I would have to
25
refer to my notes, but it was just --
EFTA00111938
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1
MR.
: Okay.
2
MS.
: -- you know, individual, his
3
individual needs. Things that he wanted.
4
MR.
: What about --
5
MS.
: You know?
6
MR.
complaints? It mentions
7
that he voiced many complaints, also.
8
MS.
: Maybe that he was on watch.
9
I mean, I remember he didn't want to be on
10
there to begin with. Things about the jail, in
11
and of itself, I guess he wanted, I remember
12
him wanting to go to the Cadre unit (Phonetic
13
Sp. *00:25:23), because at that time, we had
14
Paul Manafort (Phonetic Sp. *00:25:25) there.
15
MR.
: Okay.
16
MS.
: And he wanted to be - he knew
17
those people were in the prison - so, he wanted
18
to go be placed on a Cadre unit, which are
19
inmates that have already been sentenced, and
20
are serving small amounts of time.
21
MR.
: Okay.
22
MS.
: At which we couldn't put him
23
in, because he was pre-trial. But he wanted to
24
be with, like, other inmates he knew that were
25
there, that were more high-profile.
EFTA00111939
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1
MR.
: Okay.
2
MS.
: I remember him complaining
3
about that.
4
MR.
: Anything else on that?
5
MR.
:
We have all of your notes
6
and the notes, you know, from psychology.
7
Would you want those for while we are
8
discussing, or do you think they are not
9
needed?
10
MS.
:
Well, if there is anything I
11
think --
12
MR.
: Okay. Just let us --
13
MS.
: -- you know, I have a pretty
14
good --
15
MR.
: -- know if --
16
MS.
: -- memory.
17
MR.
: -- sure.
18
MS.
: But I mean, if you are going
19
to ask me on this exact date, did he say this
20
exact --
21
MR.
: Absolutely.
22
MS.
: -- then I would need my
23
notes.
24
MR.
:
No. I just --
25
MS.
:
Yeah.
EFTA00111940
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1
MR.
:
I just --
2
MS.
: Yeah.
3
MR.
: -- wanted to know if you
4
would actually prefer them in front of you.
5
So, while we are talking, you can reference
6
them. Because if you can, we could easily get
7
them for you.
8
MS.
: Okay. I will see how the
9
questions --
10
MR.
: Sure.
11
MS.
: -- proceed. And if I am
12
uncomfortable with one, I will let you know.
13
Yeah.
14
MR.
: Absolutely.
15
MS.
: Okay.
16
MR.
"Epstein's cellmate for the
17
Special Housing Unit was decided by the warden
18
and the associate warden. Dr.
was not
19
included on that decision. Her thought was
20
decided upon cellmate, Tartaglione, had a -."
21
Sorry. I don't know if that wording is wrong.
22
"Her thought was decided upon cellmate,
23
Tartaglione, had a lot to lose -."
24
MR.
: Just before we go on.
25
So, you said that it was decided by the warden
EFTA00111941
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35
1
and the associate warden. Do you know what the
2
names are of those individuals? Like,
3
would be the warden.
4
MS.
was the warden.
5
MR.
: Do you know who the
6
associate warden was?
7
MS.
: I don't know who, but I know
8
he meets with the associate wardens. I don't
9
know which one. I know
-
was there
10
during that period of time. And I'm trying to
11
remember the other one.
12
MR.
: Was it
?
13
MS.
: Yes. Yes. No.
took -.
14
Yeah.
15
MR.
: I don't know if
was
16
17
MS.
:
18
MR.
: -- there that early.
19
MS.
:
came after.
20
MR.
Yeah. I think it was a
21
different AW.
22
MR.
: Who was before
?
23
That's crazy.
24
MR.
: But regardless, they were
25
the ones --
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MS.
: Yeah. They --
MR.
okay.
MS.
: -- they make the housing
decisions.
MR.
: Okay.
MS.
: You know, and who they felt
he should be placed with.
MR.
: And then, let me just
read that sentence for you --
MR.
: Yeah.
MR.
: -- so that -. It says,
"Her thought was the decided upon cellmate,
Tartaglione, had a lot to lose given his
history and charges, which made him a low-risk
to Epstein."
MS.
: Right. I guess that was more
of an opinion.
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
MS.
: You know, because my thought
was the reasonr—they placed him with that
inmate is, you know, he is placing facing the
death penalty or life. Tartaglione. For these
alleged murders. And when you are pre-trial,
and you are in that situation, you are on your
best behavior, and not looking to hurt
EFTA00111943
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1
somebody,
2
MR.
3
4
MR.
and get yourself into more trouble.
: Okay. So, he was --
MS.
: So, a lot of times --
: -- he was facing --
37
5
MS.
: -- yeah.
6
MR.
: -- life in prison?
7
MS.
: Yeah.
8
MR.
: Okay.
9
MS.
: I think he was facing the
10
death penalty.
11
MR.
: Was he? Okay. And do
12
you know what he was --
13
MS.
: I don't know what his
14
situation is now. I know his attorneys, you
15
know, fight, has been fighting for him for a
16
long time.
17
MR.
: Okay.
18
MS.
: You know, to I think not get
19
the death penalty.
20
MR.
: And do you know if,
21
anything else about him? Was he law
22
enforcement --
23
MS.
: Yes.
24
MR.
-- or anything? Okay.
25
MS.
: He was law enforcement, and
EFTA00111944
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38
1
it was some drug related thing, and there was
2
four bodies, I think, and I don't know that
3
much about his case. I have met with him on a
4
couple of occasions.
5
MR.
: Okay.
6
MS.
: But, you know, he doesn't
7
come off as being, you know, he's not, like, a
8
gang member, or violent, or trying to prove
9
anything, per se.
10
MR.
: So, his goal was to stay
11
clean and to do what was right, so he could
12
potentially beat his case?
13
MS.
: That's what most people do,
14
pre-trial.
15
MR.
: Right.
16
MS.
: You know, it's not until they
17
go to pens that they become that way, unless,
18
you know, you are very young and antisocial,
19
you will act out.
20
MR.
: Right.
21
MS.
: But
22
MR.
: So, just to clarify, he was
23
pre-trial, or was he already facing a life in
24
prison?
25
MS.
: Yeah, I think he was --
EFTA00111945
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
39
1
MR.
: You said life in prison, and
2
death penalty?
3
MS.
: -- he was still pre-trial.
4
They both were pre-trial.
5
MR.
: Okay. So, he was trying to
6
avoid the death penalty
7
MS.
: Yes.
8
MR.
: -- and trying to get life in
9
prison?
10
MS.
: Right. Or maybe just get off
11
all together.
12
MR.
: Got it.
13
MR.
: Yeah.
14
MR.
: Okay.
15
MS.
: In his mind, he felt he could
16
get off all together, but that is unrelated,
17
but
18
MR.
: Okay. Thank you. "On July
19
11th, 2019, Epstein was taken off of
20
observation, and housed in the SHU. Dr.
21
met with Epstein in the attorney conference
22
rooms that day, because Epstein was there all
23
day. Both Epstein and his attorney were
24
mocking Dr.
for thinking Epstein was
25
suicidal. Epstein continued to make demands,
EFTA00111946
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
40
1
such as wanting to wear a brown uniform to his
2
attorney meetings. Dr.
continued to
3
pass those concerns onto the SHU Lieutenant
4
5
MS.
: I think so.
6
MR.
: Okay.
7
MS.
: Yeah.
8
MR.
"On July 16th, 2019, after
9
Epstein's bail hearing, he was called for," or,
10
"he called for Dr.
to come to attorney
11
conference. Epstein didn't report any
12
psychological concerns, but chastised her
13
because his needs weren't being met. Dr.
14
felt Epstein thought of her as his
15
personal assistant. Epstein requested a kosher
16
diet, which she again passed on."
17
MR.
: Wait. Before we go on.
18
It says he chastised you because his needs
19
weren't being met.
20
MS.
: Okay. Well, this is, he, you
21
know, while he was on watch, and when I would
22
talk to him, he would tell me all these
23
different things that he wanted. Like I said,
24
the special laxative. A certain diet. Certain
25
housing arrangements. You know, he had a lot
EFTA00111947
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
41
1
of requests. And I guess, in the beginning,
2
you know, I tried to help him as best as I
3
could, and when I say personal assistant, I
4
don't really like that word. But what I was
5
really trying to say is that the officerLs
6
would say he would always say, where is Dr.
7
, where is Dr.
? You know, that,
8
so that I could, maybe I had pull and could get
9
certain needs for him met, within the prison
10
setting.
11
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
12
MS.
: So, let me put it that way.
13
It sounds a little better than that. And then,
14
you know what? I wanted to follow up with him,
15
and do a session, but he was in attorney
16
conference, like, eight hours a day, during my
17
entire shift. So, I would have to go up there
18
just to check on him, and make sure he was
19
doing okay. So, when I would ask if he was
20
suicidal, he would be, like, I was never
21
suicidal, and, you know, he would laugh, and
22
the attorney would laugh at me. You know, so,
23
it was just kind of - that's what I meant. And
24
then, when he would chastise, he would become
25
angry.
EFTA00111948
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
42
1
MR.
: Right.
2
MS.
: You know, because he was very
3
demanding and entitled. So, if he got angry
4
when his needs weren't met, because he was used
5
to that kind of lifestyle, I assume. You know,
6
in the outside where, you know, at the snap of
7
his finger, he could have certain needs met.
8
And in the prison, it didn't work that way.
9
MR.
: And just so we are clear
10
11
MS.
: Right.
12
MR.
: -- when you say "needs,"
13
they are not actual needs that a person would
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
needed?
24
MS.
: He had everything that basic
25
inmates had.
need. It's his wants, I guess, would be --
MS.
: Yes.
MR.
: -- better.
MS.
: Yes.
MR.
: Because did he have --
MS.
: Okay.
MR.
: -- did he have
MS.
: Okay.
MR.
: -- everything that he
EFTA00111949
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1
MR.
: Okay.
2
MS.
: I guess one where
3
psychologists refer to, you know, people engage
4
in certain behaviors to get their needs met.
5
So, their wants and needs. So, yeah.
6
MR.
: Okay.
7
MS.
: Wants.
8
MR.
: But do you believe that
9
he had everything he needs? Like , he needed.
10
MS.
: Yes.
11
MR.
: Okay.
12
MS.
: For the most part. I mean, I
13
know he wanted a CPAP machine while he was on
14
watch. And I was, like, no. Because there was
15
cords, and things like that. So, you cannot
16
have your CPAP machine. And he wanted to get
17
off of watch at the end, because he wasn't
18
sleeping well, and he said he had sleep apnea,
19
and he wanted his machine. So, I wasn't going
20
to take him off until I felt he was ready, or
21
give him that, until he was off of watch.
22
MR.
: Okay.
23
MR.
"On July 18th, a SHU review
24
was attempted on Epstein, but he was not seen
25
because he was in attorney conference. On July
EFTA00111950
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44
1
23rd, 2019, Dr.
received a phone call
2
regarding Epstein, because he was found in his
3
cell with a loose noose around his neck, and
4
had been placed on suicide watch. She ordered
5
a suicide risk assessment be completed on him.
6
Dr.
• "
Is that -? Did I -? "Completed
7
the suicide risk assessment later that morning.
8
During the assessment, Epstein told Dr.
9
he did not remember what happened. He
10
denied suicidality. Had future plans. And he
11
wanted to learn. He wanted to fight his case.
12
And he was acting like a big kid. Dr.
13
learned that Epstein had told staff that his
14
cellmate, Tartaglione, had tried to kill him.
15
Dr.
kept Epstein on suicide watch." What
16
was your understanding, and did you have a
17
conversation with Epstein, after that point,
18
about his interaction with Tartaglione? What
19
exactly transpired --
20
MS.
: Yes.
21
MR.
-- on that incident?
22
MS.
: And that was the issue.
23
mean, he never retracted that statement.
24
mean, he said that he thought he was a
25
pedophile, and that he had taken this piece -.
EFTA00111951
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45
1
I don't know if it was a piece, or a piece of
2
cloth, or whatever. And went like this around
3
his neck. And -.
4
MR.
: Now, he told you this?
5
MS.
: Yes. He told my staff that,
6
as well.
7
MR.
: So, he told both you and
8
your staff?
9
MS.
: Yes. I had seen him
10
subsequently. Again, I don't have my notes in
11
front of me --
12
MR.
: Sure.
13
MS.
: -- but I remember him telling
14
me that. So, at that point, when we were doing
15
the suicide risk assessment, and Dr.
was,
16
we had to conceptualize what actually happened.
17
You know, whether this is something he
18
inflicted on himself, and you know, the
19
reasonings why he would do something like that.
20
Or whether it was there was indeed an assault
21
of some form. And so, then, you know, it was
22
referred to SIS, too. So, he wasn't ever
23
really forthright on what occurred, while he
24
was on watch that time.
25
MR.
: Did you ever believe - based
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on your conversations with Mr. Epstein -.
2
Sorry. I'll just end that. Based on your
3
conversations with Mr. Epstein, did you believe
4
what he stated, in terms of Tartaglione trying
5
to kill him?
6
MS.
: Honestly, I did not know what
7
to believe at that point. So, my mind was
8
opened that there were potentially three
9
things, different things going on, and a 33
10
percent chance of it being any one of those
11
things. Because you don't know what happens
12
behind closed doors, in the SHU, or whether
13
they did have a disagreement.
14
MR.
: You know what? It actually
15
goes into your hypothesis --
16
MS.
: Yes. Okay.
17
MR.
: -- let me read that --
18
MS.
: Okay.
19
MR.
: -- and maybe you can state
20
MS.
: Okay.
21
MR.
: -- if that's right. "Dr.
22
had three hypotheses, in no particular
23
order, regarding this incident, of what this
24
incident meant. One) it was gamey by either
25
Epstein, Tartaglione, or both. Meaning, there
EFTA00111953
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1
was something they wanted, and they weren't
2
getting. So, this is how they were going to
3
play the system to their advantage. Two) it
4
was rehearsal by Epstein, who really was
5
suicidal. Three) it was an assault committed
6
by Tartaglione." Was that the three? That is
7
your three hypotheses?
8
MS.
: Yes.
9
MR.
: Was there any one of those
10
that you were leaning towards?
11
MS.
: At that point, I didn't know
12
because --
13
MR.
: Okay.
14
MS.
-- you know, he was just
15
placed on watch. The SIS investigation hadn't
16
taken place. I had -. There was enough
17
evidence it could have been any one of those,
18
because the phone call I received in the
19
morning, when he was placed on watch, the
20
lieutenant at that time had told me it was
21
She was, like, this doesn't - because they have
22
been around a while - this isn't a real thing.
23
It was like a little string, and, you know, he
24
was, he seemed fine.
25
And then, when I turned around, he would
EFTA00111954
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1
be rocking back and forth. So, she, you know,
2
at that initial time, it almost looked a little
3
gamey. Like, that maybe he just went like this
4
with a piece of string, at that point. He had
5
lost his bail. I'm sorry.
6
MR.
: No problem.
7
MS.
: Let me just turn off my
8
phone. At that point, he had lost his bail
9
hearing. The judge denied him -. I'm sorry.
10
MR.
: Bail.
11
MS.
: The judge denied him bail.
12
MR.
: So, right before the
13
23rd, the judge denied him bail, and then this
14
happened?
15
MS.
: Right.
16
MR.
: Okay. So --
17
MS.
: So, there is, that is the
18
gamey piece. I mean, if you want my
19
conceptualization, that, you know, that maybe
20
he did, you know, this sends a message, I can't
21
take jail, put me on house arrest. I'm either
22
going to hurt myself or someone else is going
23
to hurt me. Get me out of here. Because he
24
came in very entitled. Like I said, he had a
25
lot of money. He was meeting with his
EFTA00111955
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1
attorneys every day.
2
He had a lot of money at that point. It's
3
not like he had lost trial. And Tartaglione
4
had a lot to gain, to save a life, because he
5
is facing life. You know, when you get a
6
letter that you save someone's life, that's
7
helpful in your case. I'm not saying that's
8
it, but I mean, I'm just trying to think of
9
hypotheses. So, that was where the gamey stuff
10
came in. That was the gamey piece.
11
The report from the lieutenant, the gains
12
that both of them could have by this behavior.
13
Could that be why that happened? Number two.
14
He is genuinely upset, and he was, it was a
15
rehearsal behavior, and perhaps he really
16
wanted to hurt himself. So, we need to be
17
cautious. So, it could be the gamey thing. It
18
could be the cautious thing. Or maybe Epstein
19
and Tartaglione had it out that night, and he
20
said something pompous or whatever, and the
21
other one got upset, and he did, you know, put
22
the rope around his neck, and that really
23
frightened Epstein, and that is why he went
24
into, like, this fetal position.
25
Maybe he was scared. You know, could it
EFTA00111956
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1
have been any of those? And subsequently, I
2
think one of his attorneys was convinced that
3
Tartagliione had assaulted him. Not because,
4
guess he told his attorney the same attorney.
5
So, it could have been any -. I say 33 percent
6
chance it could have been any of those things.
7
MR.
: Now, I understand that
8
that's what you thought --
9
MS.
: Yeah.
10
MR.
: -- on the 23rd. Did that
11
33 percent chance change, after time, that you
12
believed it was one over the other?
13
MS.
: I never knew.
14
MR.
: No?
15
MS.
: I mean, I never
16
MR.
: So, you still --
17
MS.
: -- knew.
18
MR.
: -- thought that they were
19
all equally plausible?
20
MS.
: Well, I guess towards the end
21
of watch, I thought the assault wasn't as
22
plausible. Because that he really wanted to
23
hurt Epstein, because later on, Epstein was
24
saying he would go back and cell with him. So,
25
why would you want to go back and cell with
EFTA00111957
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1
somebody that was trying to hurt you? So, but
2
again, I didn't do the SIS investigation. Sc,
3
and I never was privy to it.
4
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
5
MS.
: So, I don't know what the
6
findings were. But after that, that made that
7
one less plausible. So, made the other two
8
more plausible, at that point in time, which
9
was either it was a rehearsal behavior, or two)
10
it was a game - it was gamey - to get him out
11
of jail because he was just denied --
12
MR.
: Who did he --
13
MS.
-- bail.
14
MR.
: -- who did he make that
15
request to? That he wanted to go back within
16
the cell with Tartaglione? Was that to you
17
directly, or -?
18
MS.
: I think he might have
19
mentioned something like that, because when I
20
was trying to figure out where to house him
21
later, I remember him mentioning that to me.
22
don't know if I put it in a note or not.
23
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
24
MR.
: Okay.
25
MS.
: But yeah. So, I began to
EFTA00111958
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1
think that that was - it was less -. Why would
2
you want to go back in a -? But maybe he's not
3
thinking clearly. I don't know. But that made
4
me feel less about that. When he said that.
5
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
6
MR.
: Anything else on that?
7
MR.
: Now, being that he just
8
lost bail, had you heard that Tartaglione was
9
actually the one that notified the SHU staff
10
that there was an issue with Epstein, and that
11
is what made them respond to the cell? Had you
12
heard that?
13
MS.
: I mean, I had heard that he
14
called out.
15
MR.
: That's what I mean.
16
MS.
: Yeah. I had --
17
MR.
: So --
18
MS.
:
I had heard that.
19
MR.
: -- with those --
20
MS.
: But I don't -.
21
MR.
: -- factors in play, does
22
that make you believe that, you know, aside
23
from the fact that he wanted to go back with
24
Tartaglione, you know, at the end of his watch,
25
or observation, does that also make you think
EFTA00111959
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1
maybe it was less likely that he attempted to
2
harm himzclf, or does that play into your
3
decision?
4
MS.
: Still, those two, I just will
5
never know. At that --
6
MR.
: Okay.
7
MS.
: -- for that particular
8
circumstance. Was it, you know, a pact between
9
them, or maybe it wasn't even Tartaglione
10
trying to get any gain. Maybe it was Epstein
11
trying to call attention to himself, so that he
12
could be - so that he could go back to court,
13
and get that bail, and that they would feel
14
like he wasn't safe there.
15
MR.
: Right. I guess --
16
MS.
: And let him go home.
17
MR.
: -- my question maybe --
18
MS.
: Yeah.
19
MR.
: -- wasn't that clear.
20
MS.
: Yeah.
21
MR.
: So, I think you used the
22
example that Epstein, after he was coming off
23
of observation, and you were looking to see
24
where he was going to be housed, or who he was
25
going to be housed with, he mentioned that he
EFTA00111960
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1
was going to go, you know, he would be willing
2
to go back with Tartaglione, and that was the
3
reason why you thought, maybe, that one of the
4
three was probably less likely.
5
MS.
: Yes.
6
MR.
: What I'm saying is, do
7
the factors that Tartaglione called out to the
8
staff to say something is going on with
9
Epstein, come check him out, does that also
10
play into that, or no, you just placed that
11
simply in those other two, that -?
12
MS.
: Simply in those other two.
13
And that
14
MR.
: Okay.
15
MS.
: -- that, I don't know what to
16
make of that.
17
MR.
: Okay. Sounds good.
18
MS.
: Whether it was going to be
19
something to help, whether he really was
20
worried about Epstein.
21
MR.
: Okay. I'll never know,
22
and -.
23
MR.
: Sounds good.
24
MR.
: This may not be something
25
that you might know. It's more towards health
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1
services, but maybe you had a conversation with
2
health services. Do you know if they ever
3
medically examined him for any broken bones,
4
anything, kind of damages? Just, I know he had
5
here, the ligature mark on his neck, right
6
after the July 23rd incident.
7
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
8
MR.
:
Was there any -? Did they
9
examine him? Like, do you have an xray, MRI,
10
anything for broken bones in his neck?
11
MS.
: That --
12
MR.
: Any kind of injuries?
13
MS.
:
I don't know.
14
MR.
: Okay.
15
MS.
: That, I don't know. You
16
would have to look in BEMR. Yeah. For that.
17
MR.
: In where?
18
MS.
BEMR. B-E-M-R. BEMR.
19
MR.
:
What's that?
20
MS.
: That's the medical record.
21
MR.
: Okay.
22
MR.
:
Well, we have that.
23
MR.
: Okay.
24
MR.
: But as far as when you
25
are meeting him, though, at that time, did you
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notice any injuries on him?
2
MS.
: Just the mark.
3
MR.
: Just the mark.
4
MS.
: On the back of his neck.
5
Like -.
6
MR.
: Do you remember if he was
7
complaining about any potential broken bones,
8
or collar type issues, or anything?
9
MS.
: No.
10
MR.
: No?
11
MS.
: No.
12
MR.
: Okay.
13
MR.
: "On July 24th, 2019, Dr.
14
(Phonetic Sp. *00:44:22) met with
15
Epstein. Epstein reported he was fearful to
16
return to his cell with Tartaglione because
17
Tartaglione had called him a pedophile.
18
Epstein reported Tartaglione had put - had been
19
playing with the bedsheet before Epstein fell
20
asleep. And then, next thing Epstein
21
remembered, he was waking up snoring. Epstein
22
denied being suicidal, and reported being
23
unhappy with this legal situation. He had been
24
eating, drinking, and sleeping. Dr.
25
took Epstein off suicide watch, and placed on
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psychological observation."
2
MR.
: Nowe, on that, when the
3
inmate goes from suicide watch to psychological
4
observation, is the executive staff conferred
5
with?
6
MS.
: Yes.
7
MR.
: They are? And do they
8
provide an opinion on that, or was it just to
9
let them know?
10
MS.
: No. We just let them know.
11
MR.
: Just to let them know.
12
Okay. So, they don't have to say, oh, yes, we
13
agree, or please keep him on suicide watch, or
14
anything like that?
15
MS.
: If they feel that way, they
16
can express it, and we will keep it in mind,
17
though, and again, we make those decisions.
18
MR.
: Okay.
19
MS.
: Okay.
20
MR.
: Now, being that this is July
21
24th, the next day, and he had possibly tried
22
to hang himself --
23
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
24
MR.
: -- on July 23rd, and they
25
took him off - Dr.
takes him off
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1
suicide watch and places him on psychological
2
observation. Is that normal practice?
3
MS.
: Yeah, because psychological
4
observation is, he's in the exact same cell,
5
he's being constantly observed. She spent a
6
long time with him. I think she interviewed
7
him, like, over an hour, an hour and a half.
8
And she just felt that there was no eminent
9
risk of at that time. Like, while he was in a
10
suicide watch cell, he wasn't going to do
11
anything to harm himself. So, we stepped him
12
down. I think maybe gave him a -. I don't
13
know if she gave him underwear, or gave him
14
something, so that he was more comfortable.
15
So, it wasn't so depriving. Because he kept
16
adamantly denying wanting to harm himself.
17
And, you know, she came and talked to me. I
18
didn't sit in that interview because she's a
19
licensed psychologist, and she felt it was safe
20
to step him down, because he would still be by
21
himself in that cell, constantly observe with
22
the lights on all night. Nothing would have
23
changed.
24
MR.
: So, I guess --
25
MS.
: So.
EFTA00111965
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1
MR.
: -- what he wants to know,
2
though, is, was that normal? Is that normal
3
practice --
4
MS.
: Yeah.
5
MR.
: -- for her to do that?
6
MS.
: We do that. I mean
7
MR.
: Okay.
8
MS.
not all facilities have
9
the step down, the psychological observation.
10
Some people just have the suicide watch. And
11
then, they will give them privileges while they
12
are on suicide watch. But we have that, so, if
13
you want, because suicide watch is so strict,
14
that he couldn't even have a pair of underwear.
15
He couldn't, you know, have a piece of mail.
16
Nothing. So, we didn't feel he needed that
17
strict of supervision, but we still wanted him
18
constantly observed, to see, and we could
19
always step him back up, if he engaged in any
20
behavior, because he would be constantly
21
watched.
22
MR.
: All right. So, suicide
23
watch and psychological observation are
24
extremely similar.
25
MS.
: Very similar. Except that we
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1
can give a little more privilege. Like I said,
2
we could give him a book to read. Or we could
3
give him a pair of - start with the underwear.
4
Or, you know, he could have toothpaste, and
5
give it back to brush his teeth. That type of
6
thing. It wasn't as strict.
7
MR.
: And at the MCC, when an
8
inmate potentially attempts to harm themselves,
9
how long are they typically on suicide watch
10
versus observation, before --
11
MS.
: Well, that --
12
MR.
: -- they (Indiscernible
13
*00:47:51)?
14
MS.
: -- depends on how the inmate
15
presents.
16
MR.
: Okay.
17
MS.
: I mean, I have had people on
18
suicide watch for long periods of time because
19
they can't verbalize any protective factors,
20
which would be reasons they have for wanting to
21
be alive at the time. Reasons they have to
22
live. Factors that we would look at to say,
23
hmm, there is more factors here that suggest he
24
wants to be alive, and that he has reasons to
25
be alive versus not. Versus risk factors.
EFTA00111967
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1
So, at that time, he had verbalized enough
2
protective factors that Dr.
felt
3
comfortable stepping him down to psychological
4
observation. I don't have her SRA in front of
5
me, but if you read it, it would have his
6
reasons for wanting to be alive, his
7
presentation of not exhibiting any acute mental
8
health symptoms, not being depressed. So, she
9
stepped him down at that point.
10
MR.
: Okay. Now, do you know,
11
when they are on psychological observation, are
12
they allowed to have attorney visits?
13
MS.
: They usually consult with us
14
to see if we feel comfortable with that. And I
15
do allow it. A lot of times, as long as, you
16
know, there is a lieutenant present, or there
17
is an officer present there.
18
MR.
: Okay. And in this case,
19
do you know if Epstein was allowed attorney
20
visits while he was on observation?
21
MS.
: I don't remember.
22
MR.
: Okay.
23
MS.
: To be honest.
24
MR.
: So --
25
MS.
: I don't remember.
EFTA00111968
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MR.
: -- so, it's --
2
MS.
: It's very possible.
3
MR.
: -- okay. And do you know
4
if the institution was contacted by anyone,
5
such as Epstein's attorneys, or the judge,
6
asking that he be taken off of suicide watch
7
and placed on observation because he wasn't
8
being afforded attorney visits, or for any
9
other reason?
10
MS.
: No. I don't recall that
11
happening.
12
MR.
: Okay. And on that same
13
note, do you recall either the judge, an
14
attorney, or anyone from the outside,
15
contacting the institution when he was taken
16
off of observation and placed back in the SHU?
17
MS.
: I don't recall speaking to
18
any attorney about that.
19
MR.
: No, not you speaking with
20
them. But I mean, them contacting - I'm
21
assuming they would contact the warden.
22
MS.
: That, I don't know about.
23
MR.
: And the warden never had
24
that, or anyone, any of the executive staff, or
25
anyone had any conversation with you or staff,
EFTA00111969
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1
saying, this is what we are getting from the
2
outside, the judge contacted us, or the
3
attorney, you know, the attorneys -?
4
MS.
: I don't know.
5
MR.
: No?
6
MS.
: Hmm-mm.
7
MR.
: So, that was - you don't
8
believe that was at all factored into the
9
taking off of suicide watch?
10
MS.
: Oh, no. It would never be
11
factored anyway.
12
MR.
: Okay.
13
MS.
: Yeah.
14
MR.
: So, regardless, if they
15
contacted you, that wouldn't be a factor?
16
MS.
: No. I mean, that wouldn't
17
They would never influence our decision.
18
MR.
: Okay.
19
MS.
: One way or another.
20
MR.
: Okay. Great.
21
MR.
: You mentioned before, when
22
somebody is taken off of suicide watch and
23
placed back in psychological, step down into
24
psychological observation, they are given back
25
one piece of item at a time.
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MS.
: Well, no, sometimes it could
be more than one. It depends on the situation.
MR.
: Okay.
MS.
: But what I am saying is, when
you were reading the paper --
MR.
: Yeah.
MS.
: -- it sounded like we just
give them everything. We make those decisions.
We may step them one at a time, if it is more
significant. We may give them a book. And a
pair of underwear. I mean, we may give them -.
It is just whatever, it is at the discretion of
the psychologists that interview them, on what
they are going to allow the inmate to have.
MR.
: Do you know how it worked
with Mr. Epstein? Was he given one timc item
at a time back -? One or two items, or was he
given everything back?
MS.
: I don't remember. I don't
think he was given everything back, initially.
That's for sure. But -.
MR.
: Okay. I'm going to keep
going.
MR.
: Yeah.
MR.
: "At that time, Dr.
Was
EFTA00111971
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1
not any clearer on which of her hypotheses
2
might have been true. Epstein could have been
3
using his charm to breed doubt about what
4
happened. Psychology had not been contacted by
5
Epstein's attorneys with concerns regarding his
6
mental health. On July 25th, 2019, Dr.
7
met with Epstein, who was in good spirits. And
8
greeted her by saying, `Welcome back.' Dr.
9
confronted Epstein on the attempted
10
suicide incident, in an attempt to get answers.
11
Epstein said he was baffled over it, and told
12
Dr.
to give him some ques to help him
13
remember. He continued with his requests and
14
complaints, and did not want to go back to the
15
SHU. Epstein told Dr.
, `I have a life,
16
and want to go back to living my life.' Dr.
17
kept him on observation because her
18
questions had not been answered, regarding
19
their suicide attempt."
20
MR.
: Or the suicide attempt.
21
MR.
"Regarding the suicide
22
attempt."
23
MS.
: True.
24
MR.
: "After a conversation with
25
Dr.
, the national suicide prevention
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1
coordinator from central office, Dr.
got
2
involved in Epstein's housing. Dr.
3
recommended housing Epstein with a sex offender
4
in SHU, which Dr.
passedr on via email,
5
to executive staff. On July -."
6
MR.
: Do you know which
7
executive staff you sent that to?
8
MS.
: No. I know I gave a bunch of
9
documentation, when I had my last interview.
10
There may have been an email. I don't remember
11
who --
12
MR.
: Sure.
13
MS.
: -- it was so.
14
MR.
: And did you concur with
15
his recommendation?
16
MS.
: Yeah.
17
MR.
: Great.
18
MR.
: "On July 26th, 2019, Dr.
19
met with Epstein. Epstein said he
20
needed to establish trust with Dr. -."
21
What did he mean by that?
22
MS.
: He kept saying this thing, if
23
you want
It was this weird thing he said,
24
something. "If you want my trust, I have to
25
trust you." And that was trust that, if he
EFTA00111973
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1
2
3
4
asked for certain things, that I would follow
through with those wants. You know, if I said
I was going to do something, I would follow
through with it type of thing. I just remember
5
that.
6
MR.
: Basically, he wanted you to
7
provide something, so he can reciprocate?
8
MS.
: Right.
9
MR.
: Basically, if you wanted
10
answers from him, you had to provide him with
11
12
MS.
: No.
13
MR.
: -- is that what -?
14
MS.
: It wasn't like that. It was
15
just - again, I probably would have to refer to
16
my notes for that one - but it was just a weird
17
thing that he used to say. Like, if you wan-,
18
if we want to have, like, this trusting
19
relationship type of thing, then, you know, I
20
have to trust that you are going to follow
21
through with your stuff, and you -. And then,
22
you can trust me. I don't know. It was
23
strange. I don't really know what he meant by
24
that.
25
MR.
: Okay. "He continued with
EFTA00111974
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complaints and jokes, making reference to Dr.
2
being Jewish, like him. It is against
3
Jewish religion to commit suicide." Is that
4
something he mentioned, or is that a statement
5
from you?
6
MS.
: No. He joked about it one
7
time, in attorney conference. I didn't know
8
how he knew I was even Jewish, but he said
9
something to me, like, what's a nice Jewish
10
girl like you doing here? You know, working in
11
- or some comment like that.
12
MR.
: Okay.
13
MR.
: And --
14
MS.
: But it is against the Jewish
15
religion to commit suicide. But he didn't say
16
anything until that one time in attorney
17
conference.
18
MR.
: And you were in there,
19
the attorney conference, with him?
20
MS.
: Well, because I went to go
21
check on him, remember, because I --
22
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
23
MS.
:
I know he was never in his
24
cell.
25
MR.
: Okay.
EFTA00111975
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MS.
: He was never available.
2
MR.
: And he stated that?
3
MS.
: Yeah. He made, like, in
4
front of the attorney, like, a little, a little
5
joke.
6
MR.
: Okay.
7
MS.
: Like that.
8
MR.
: And just the way that it
9
reads in there, it doesn't say that he stated
10
it, or you stated it. It just says, "It is
11
against the Jewish religion to commit suicide."
12
So, just --
13
MS.
: Maybe --
14
MR.
: -- for context.
15
MS.
: -- that might have been in
16
one of our notes. I don't know if he mentioned
17
that. But --
18
MR.
: But he --
19
MS.
-- I don't --
20
MR.
: -- but he
21
MS.
:
I don't know where that
22
came from.
23
MR.
: -- but he said it to you
24
in the attorney conference? He was with you --
25
MS.
: Yeah. He didn't --
EFTA00111976
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MR.
: -- in the attorney -.
2
MS.
say anything about it's
3
against the Jewish -. Oh, maybe he did. I
4
don't remember. He may have. He may have, in
5
a joking way, said something like that to me.
6
I don't remember, to be honest.
7
MR.
: Okay.
8
MS.
: I would have to see
9
MR.
: Okay.
10
MS.
: -- if that is one of my
11
notes. Or if it is something that was just in
12
passing at attorney conference. I just
13
remember that one incident. About the Jewish
14
thing. Like, what's a Jewish girl like you
15
doing here? Or something.
16
MR.
: Okay.
17
MR.
: "Epstein said he did not like
18
pain, and didn't want to hurt himself. Epstein
19
had been interacting with the companions
20
assigned to him regularly. On July 27th, 2019,
21
Dr.
met with Epstein, who was anxious
22
about going back to SHU, due to the fact he did
23
not know how he got the marks. Epstein did not
24
answer Dr.
questions about that night.
25
She had begun working more therapeutically with
EFTA00111977
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1
him, and provided him with handouts to cope
2
with housing. Lieutenant Doctor's
3
investigation into a possible assault regarding
4
this incident still had not returned any
5
answers. Dr.
kept Epstein on
6
psychological observation."
7
MR.
: Just real quick on that.
8
It just says, "He was anxious about going back
9
to the SHU due to the fact he did not know how
10
he got the marks." So, he had changed his
11
story of how he got the marks, at that point?
12
MS.
: He didn't change the story.
13
He just didn't say anymore it was Tartaglione.
14
He was then, I don't know how I got the marks.
15
So, he --
16
MR.
: So, he went --
17
MS.
: -- he kept changing his
18
story.
19
MR.
: -- all right. So, he
20
went from Tartaglione did it, to I don't know
21
how I did it?,
22
MS.
: Right.
23
MR.
: Or how it happened?,
24
MS.
: Right.
25
MR.
: And do you know why that
EFTA00111978
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1
happened, or did you question him about that?
2
MS.
: Yeah, but he just kept being
3
vague, like he didn't know anything, or that,
4
like, he blacked out, or he doesn't recall how
5
it happened.
6
MR.
: Was he questioned, like,
7
well, before you said that Tartaglione did it,
8
and now you are saying you don't recall.
9
MS.
: I don't know if Dr.
10
confronted him in that way, because we are not,
11
like, investigators.
12
MR.
: Sure. Sure.
13
MS.
: You know, so, we don't -.
14
Psychologists don't always think that way.
15
MR.
: Okay.
16
MS.
: So, I don't know, but I
17
think, likely, she probably mentioned that, and
18
then, he was, like, oh, well, I don't, I don't
19
know. He was very vague.
20
MR.
: Okay.
21
MS.
: In giving us the reason.
22
MR.
: Okay.
23
MS.
: That happened.
24
MR.
: "On July 28th, 2019, Dr.
25
met with Epstein, who appeared the same.
EFTA00111979
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His logbook showed no signs of suicidality, and
2
he was participating in his legal meetings.
3
There had been no contact from Epstein's legal
4
team regarding any mental health concerns."
5
MR.
: Okay. So, there it says
6
that he actually was meeting with his legal
7
team.
8
MS.
: Okay.
9
MR.
: Okay.
10
MS.
: So, being that he was on
11
psych ops, that he wasn't acutely, eminently
12
suicidal, that he had been denied any current
13
thoughts of hurting himself, and over the past
14
several days, while on watch, he hadn't
15
displayed any self-harm behaviors. Or any odd
16
or unusual behaviors. Likely, we didn't have a
17
problem with him going there, as long as there
18
were staff up there --
19
MR.
: Okay.
20
MS.
to watch him.
21
MR.
: So, he would actually go
22
from observation to the attorney conference
23
rooms?
24
MS.
: And then, be escorted back.
25
Yes.
EFTA00111980
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1
MR.
: Okay. So, it wasn't that
2
they were meeting him at the suicide
3
MS.
: No.
4
MR.
: -- watch area.
5
MS.
: We never do that.
6
MR.
: Okay.
7
MS.
: Yeah.
8
MR.
: Okay.
9
MR.
: Do you know if those are all-
10
day meetings? Like, he normally had, or was it
11
just short meetings?
12
MS.
: I don't know how long the
13
meetings were.
14
MR.
: Okay.
15
MR.
: Yeah. Because if you
16
don't know, he was meeting with the attorneys
17
from, like, 7:00 or 8:00 a.m., up until, like,
18
7:00 p.m., every day. At least outside of this
19
20
MS.
: Yes. I knew that. Because
21
that's --
22
MR.
: -- but you don't know it
23
24
MS.
: -- that's why I could never
25
see him, but I don't remember, while he was on
EFTA00111981
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1
watch, how many hours a day. I think he was
2
probably there for a significant period of
3
time.
4
MR.
: While he was on
5
observation?
6
MS.
: Yes.
7
MR.
: Okay.
8
MS.
: But then, he would be
9
returned to psych ops while someone would sit
10
on him.
11
MR.
: But is that normal, though?
12
I mean, someone who is on psych ops be - you
13
mentioned that somebody who was in psych
14
observation should be monitored constantly.
15
Right? There's someone monitoring --
16
MS.
: Yeah.
17
MR.
: -- them?
18
MS.
: But he was right in front of
19
the officer that worked at attorney conference.
20
He was right there. And right by the
21
lieutenant's office. So, they could be
22
observing him the whole time.
23
MR.
: Okay. So, someone
24
MS.
: Right.
25
MR.
: -- is sitting there, watching
EFTA00111982
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him --
2
MS.
: Yeah.
3
MR.
-- at all times?
4
MS.
: Yeah. There was somebody
5
there. Like, the way our attorney. I don't
6
know. Have you been to our attorney conference
7
room?
8
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
9
MS.
: Do you know where the officer
10
sits there, there is an attorney conference
11
room right next to him, that has windows.
12
That's where Epstein was every day.
13
MR.
: So, you could see in?
14
MS.
: Full. Yeah.
You could see
15
his, like, white - you come off the elevator
16
you saw his white hair. Like, he was right
17
there.
18
MR.
: Okay.
19
MS.
: Like, he could be seen by the
20
attorney conference officer. At all times.
21
And he was with his attorneys. So, I mean, it
22
God forbid, he started banging his head for one
23
second, the officer was right outside his
24
window.
25
MR.
: Okay.
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MS.
: Yeah. So, we felt, you know,
2
it was okay, and again, he wasn't on suicide
3
watch. We didn't think he was eminently
4
suicidal. But precautionary, we had him on
5
psych ops, because we - the vagueness of his
6
responses.
7
MR.
: Okay.
8
MS.
: And not feeling completely
9
comfortable putting him in GP, until we
10
observed him over a period of time. So, that
11
is why.
12
MR.
: Okay.
13
MS.
: Because he wasn't on suicide
14
watch anymore. So.
15
MR.
: Anything else on that?
16
MR.
: No. I guess just on that
17
note, if he is meeting his, with his attorneys,
18
while he was on observation, are his
19
psychological needs being met?
20
MS.
: Well, that's why we had to go
21
up there, and talk to him.
22
MR.
: Right, right, right.
23
MS.
: So, we would go up there and
24
interview him.
25
MR.
: And around how long would
EFTA00111984
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those interviews take?
2
MS.
: I guess five to ten minutes.
3
MR.
: Okay.
4
MS.
: Just to check in. But a lot
5
of times, on suicide watch, they were, too. I
6
mean, we would review the suicide watch book
7
throughout the night, because we are not there
8
24 hours.
9
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
10
MS.
: So, we would look at his book
11
from before his visit, through the night. And
12
then, we would see him daily.
13
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
14
MS.
: We would see him
And
15
maybe, some of the times we saw him before he
16
saw his attorneys.
17
MR.
: Sure.
18
MS.
: See, I don't, I don't know if
19
-. I know --
20
MR.
: So, as far as --
21
MS.
:
I personally went up there
22
once or twice.
23
MR.
: -- but what --
24
MS.
: I don't know if Dr.
25
maybe went there once or twice, because when
EFTA00111985
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1
she went back there to see him, he was with his
2
attorney.
3
MR.
: Now, would that be any
4
different than if he were not seeing his
5
attorneys? Was that the same amount of time
6
that psychology would see him, if he was with
7
his attorneys, or staying in the cell where he
8
was being observed?
9
MS.
: Yeah. We usually, like, 15
10
minutes. I mean, it's not a therapy session.
11
MR.
: Sure.
12
MS.
: We're just, you know, doing a
13
mental status, seeing how they are doing. Are
14
you eating or sleeping? Are you having
15
thoughts of hurting yourself? We read the
16
book.
17
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
18
MS.
: In its entirety, for the past
19
24 hours, to see, did he voice anything to the
20
companions that he wanted to hurt himself. Did
21
he take his meals? Did he eat his meals? Did
22
he shower? Is he, you know, is he displaying
23
any behaviors that are consistent with
24
depression? So, we look at all of that. And
25
then, we interview him. We do the mental
EFTA00111986
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1
status. We ask him how he's doing. And so,
2
that would be pretty consistent. It might have
3
been a little shorter on occasion, if he was up
4
there with his attorneys, because his attorneys
5
were there. So, it wouldn't really be
6
confidential. But we do --
7
MR.
: Oh, so, when you were
8
conversing with him, it would be in front of
9
his attorneys?
10
MS.
:
yeah.
11
MR.
: Okay.
12
MR.
: Is that normal?
13
MS.
: Yeah. Well, because he was
14
in there with his - he has a right to his legal
15
meetings - so, he was with his attorneys. It
16
wasn't every time. I mean, there might have
17
been one or two occasions where we had to see
18
him up there, because he was in the meeting
19
with the attorneys. So, yeah. We talked to him
20
in front of his attorney to make sure he was
21
okay.
22
MR.
: Now, when you say he has
23
a right to his attorneys, if he was on suicide
24
watch, would he have the right to his
25
attorneys?
EFTA00111987
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1
MS.
: Normally, I really do try to
2
get them to meet with their attorney. I mean,
3
that's only if they are actively, like,
4
cutting, or
5
MR.
: Yeah.
6
MS.
: -- wanting to hurt
7
themselves, then I would have a lieutenant up
8
there.
9
MR.
: Sure.
10
MS.
: Like, I always try to give
11
people the right to be with their attorneys
12
because that could make them even more
13
depressed.
14
MR.
: Sure.
15
MS.
: If you deprive them of being
16
able to work on their legal case.
17
MR.
: Okay.
18
MR.
: All right. "On July 29th,
19
Dr.
visited Epstein. Epstein expressed
20
that he would like to stay in psychological
21
observation because it is safe. Epstein had
22
been requesting his CPAP machine, so that he
23
could get a good night's sleep. Due to the
24
machine having a cord, this could not be
25
accommodated in psychological observation.
EFTA00111988
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Epstein was given a chance to stay in
2
psychological observation -".
3
MR.
: A choice. Not a chance.
4
MR.
: Sorry.
5
MR.
: Epstein was given
6
MR.
: "Epstein was given a choice
7
to stay in psychological observation one more
8
night without it, or go to the SHU with it. He
9
chose to stay in psychological observation one
10
more night. Dr.
consulted with the
11
executive staff, prior to this decision."
12
MR.
: Yeah.
13
MR.
"On July 30th, 2019, Dr.
14
transitioned Epstein back to the SHU.
15
Dr.
sent an email, updating the
16
appropriate staff for Epstein's transition off
17
psychological observation, and the need for him
18
to be housed with a cellmate."
19
MS.
: Okay.
20
MR.
: Bear with us.
21
MS.
: So, that contact was at his
22
cell. It wasn't with the attorney. If there
23
was, like I said, a couple of contacts that
24
were in attorney conference, they were field
25
most of them were at his cell, we caught him
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
before he went up to his legal visits. That
last visit was in person. I remember that
visit.
MR.
: Okay.
MS.
: With the CPAP.
MR.
: Now, do you recall, when Dr.
transitioned Epstein back to the SHU, was
that solely the decision of psychology, or was
there any recommendation from executive
management? Like, the warden, the associate
warden, or somebody from the outside,
(India,ctnible
asked before.
MS.
: No. That was our decision.
After him being between suicide watch and psych
ops for almost a full week. It was our
decision that he was not eminently suicidal,
and could be transitioned.
MR.
: Okay.
MR.
: And just to, I mean,
Epstein expressed that he would like to stay in
psychological observation because it was safe.
So, he actually preferred psychological
observation over the SHU?
MS.
: Because he wasn't being able
EFTA00111990
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1
to be housed where he wanted to be housed. He
2
didn't want to go to Special Housing. Like I
3
said, he wanted to be housed in the Cadre unit.
4
He wanted to dictate his housing arrangements.
5
When they weren't what he wanted them to be,
6
and I guess maybe he heard rumors, or whatever,
7
that the SHU was, like, a bad place, or a scary
8
place, he didn't want to go back there.
9
But a lot of inmates don't want to go to
10
SHU, and that is why, earlier, when you said a
11
lot of people fake mental illness, or fake
12
suicidality, so that they can come down to our
13
suicide watch area, and just interact with the
14
companions, and hope that maybe someone will
15
slip them something they couldn't have while
16
they were in the SHU. Or just to get a timeout
17
because it could be loud up there, because
18
inmates will scream outside their cells,
19
because I don't know if you are familiar with
20
an AD-SEG (Phonetic Sp. *01:06:16) unit, or a
21
Special Housing Unit, where inmates are in a
22
cell, with a cellmate, like, 23 out of 24 hours
23
a day. So, it gets loud and rowdy.
24
So, a lot of times, people try to come
25
down. It's, like, almost, like, the Marriott,
EFTA00111991
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1
you know, to come to our suicide watch area,
2
where it is peaceful and quiet, and they don't
3
have to hear things, or if they are having
4
problems with officers up there. So, it's not
5
uncommon for any inmate to try to avoid going
6
to the Special Housing Unit.
7
MR.
: Okay.
8
MS.
: You know, it's not an
9
uncommon occurrence.
10
MR.
: Yeah. And I'm assuming -
11
12
MS.
: I never have any --
13
MR.
: -- (Indiscernible
14
*01:06:50).
15
MS.
: -- inmates say I want to go
16
back to the, you know, the SHU.
17
MR.
: From observation?
18
MS.
: No.
19
MR.
: So, it's bet --
20
MS.
: Very rarely.
21
MR.
: -- yeah.
22
MS.
: Unless they are so sick of it
23
because they have been deprived for so long
24
down there, that they feel that their wants and
25
needs will be met, or better suited up in the
EFTA00111992
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1
SHU, then they will be, like, okay, I'll go
2
back, I'll go back.
3
MR.
: Okay. But --
4
MS.
: Yeah.
5
MR.
: -- in observation, he was
6
housed by himself. Correct?
7
MS.
: Yes.
8
MR.
: And he wanted to be
9
housed by himself. Correct?
10
MS.
: Not necessarily. Because he
11
wanted to go to the Cadre Unit, which is a
12
dorm-style unit.
13
MR.
: Okay.
14
MS.
: With all the other, with tons
15
of other inmates.
16
MR.
: All right. Yeah.
17
MS.
: He just, there were certain
18
places he didn't want to go.
19
MR.
: SHU. So, he just
20
MS.
: Yeah.
21
MR.
: -- rather be in
22
observation than the SHU.
23
MS.
: Right. I mean, this is a guy
24
that has never jailed before.
25
MR.
: Sure.
EFTA00111993
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1
MS.
: He's in, you know, his late
2
sixties. He's probably afraid, like anybody
3
would be.
4
MR.
: So, he preferred the
5
general housing unit over the SHU, though?
6
MS.
: Yes.
7
MR.
: Okay.
8
MS.
: Particularly, the dorm-style
9
Cadre Unit.
10
MR.
: Yeah. Maybe I'm not -.
11
Is that different than the general housing
12
unit?
13
MS.
: Yeah.
14
MR.
: Okay.
15
MS.
: Because in the regular
16
housing units, you are celled with a cellmate
17
18
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
19
MS.
-- at night. Whereas in the
20
Cadre Unit, there are tiers of dorms. So, it
21
is a bunch of bunkbeds. And so --
22
MR.
: Oh, it's per --
23
MS.
-- it's more open.
24
MR.
: -- it's per tier, would it
25
be?
EFTA00111994
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1
MS.
: I'm not sure per tier. I
2
know there is about - it can house, like, 100,
3
120 inmates. The dorms.
4
MR.
: With no, like, doors, or
5
not separated?
6
MS.
: No. There is just a tier.
7
There is a -. No.
8
MR.
: So, he -. So, we had
9
always heard, up until this time, that he
10
wanted to be housed alone. What you are saying
11
is he wanted to be actually housed with more
12
people?
13
MS.
: Well, that is where -. Well,
14
he wanted to be housed there, where Manafort
15
and other people had been housed, where Cadre
16
inmates were housed. Maybe because the Cadres
17
were, he felt they were less dangerous.
18
MR.
: Okay.
19
MS.
: I don't know. I know when he
20
came in, he didn't like being on the unit.
21
That was for sure.
22
MR.
: And is the Cadre
23
MS.
: You know?
24
MR.
: -- Unit the low --
25
MS.
: Yeah.
EFTA00111995
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MR.
: -- security level --
2
MS.
: -- yeah.
3
MR.
: -- inmates?
4
MS.
: Yeah. Because those are the
5
ones that have been sentenced, to lower
6
sentences.
7
MR.
: Okay. So, he wanted to
8
be where the lower sentence inmates were.
9
MS.
: Yeah.
10
MR.
: Okay.
11
MS.
: That was the only place, I
12
think, he was wiling to go. In our
13
conversations.
14
MR.
: Okay.
15
MR.
: Was Paul Manafort still
16
there, at that point?
17
MS.
: I don't know if he had
18
recently left. He thought he was still there
19
because he was only there briefly.
20
MR.
: So, he's not asking -. So,
21
he, as if he knows Paul Manafort, and he wants
22
to go be housed with Paul Manafort. He just
23
wants to be -. He just wanted to be in the
24
same area as Paul Manafort was housed.
25
MS.
: Right.
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MR.
: Okay.
2
MS.
: And there was somebody else.
3
I can't remember who he said. There was
4
somebody else, more high-profile, that was
5
there, and he said he wanted to be where that
6
person was.
7
MR.
: Okay.
8
MS.
: Maybe he felt it was safer
9
because they were surviving there, or whatever.
10
I don't know what his thought process was, but
11
that's how, that's -. I think it's -. I mean,
12
it was part of his personality. I mean, he
13
wants to be associated with higher-level
14
people, and these were, that was a higher-level
15
inmate. You know, so, he would feel
16
comfortable being amongst those type of people.
17
MR.
: Okay.
18
MS.
: Does that make sense?
19
MR.
: Yes.
20
MS.
: Yeah. Okay.
21
MR.
: I'm going to keep going.
22
MR.
: Yes.
23
MR.
: "Dr.
discussed the
24
importance of SHU inmates having a cellmate for
25
the following reasons: it decreases isolation;
EFTA00111997
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1
it decreases privacy; provides a distraction;
2
provides a rescue opportunity."
3
MS.
: Yes.
4
MR.
"At risk settings for
5
inmates, including housing, single cells, and
6
private spaces. SHU employees receive training
7
on suicide prevention quarterly. All employees
8
receive suicide prevention training once a
9
year. Dr.
provided slides from MCC's
10
suicide prevention training to the interviewing
11
agents, reference that, referred to as
12
references any denying, attached to his report.
13
She stated all lieutenants should be aware of
14
the cellmate policy. Both due to the training
15
regularly provided, and psychological services
16
constantly reminding them of the procedure, and
17
needs of specific inmates. Dr.
noted,
18
after Epstein's death, his old cellmate's label
19
was still on his door. That is one of the
20
things that the psych department looks for, in
21
their daily rounds in the SHU, that there are
22
two bodies in each cell." Now, that label on
23
the door, if an inmate is removed, should that
24
label have been removed, too?
25
MS.
: Yes.
EFTA00111998
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MR.
: How soon?
2
MS.
: It should have been done
3
immediately, especially since he was housed
4
with Epstein.
5
MR.
: Why should it have been
6
removed immediately?
7
MS.
: Because then his cellmate was
8
bailed out, and wasn't coming back.
9
MR.
: By removing it, would that
10
also give SHU officers, inform the SHU officers
11
that there is only one inmate in that cell?
12
MS.
: That would have helped. Yes.
13
Most definitely. It wouldn't have been the
14
only way they should know, but it definitely
15
would have —helped the situation.
16
MR.
: Are we talking about
17
August 9th right now?
18
MS.
: I don't know.
19
MR.
: Yeah. Because it says, "Dr.
20
noted that after Epstein's death, his
21
old cellmate's label was still on his door."
22
MR.
: Okay. So, who would have
23
been, on August 9th, the one who would have
24
done the rounds in the SHU?
25
MS.
: The psychologist?,
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1
MR.
: I guess, it sounds like -
2
3
MS.
: Well, psychology, psychology
4
rounds is weekly. We do weekly rounds. And
5
monthly SHU reviews, which are more intense
6
rounds. So, we didn't see Epstein every single
7
day.
8
MR.
: Yeah. Okay.
9
MS.
: That, we didn't do. We don't
10
do daily rounds. We do weekly rounds.
11
Sometimes, we are up there, we are up there
12
almost every day, especially when we were, our
13
SHU was full, because there is always inmates
14
that have concerns or needs. So, if we are up
15
there, and an inmate has a concern, we go to
16
that tier and see those inmates.
17
MR.
: Just those --
18
MS.
: But as far as going cell to
19
cell, we do that weekly.
20
MR.
okay. Because this,
21
yeah, this last sentence said, "This is one of
22
the things the psych department looks for in
23
their daily rounds in the SHU --
24
MS.
: In our rounds --
25
MR.
: -- that there are two
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bodies in each cell."
2
MS.
: In our rounds. Like, if we
3
are doing our weekly rounds, and we notice that
4
5
MR.
: Okay.
6
MS.
someone doesn't have a
7
cellmate, especially if we know that person is
8
a care two and above, we are going to say
9
something. Like, why is this inmate housed by
10
themselves?
11
MR.
: So, when they said daily
12
rounds, you are not doing that every day.
13
MS.
: Hmm-mm.
14
MR.
: They meant your weekly
15
rounds.
16
MS.
: Yeah.
17
MR.
: And do you know what day
18
of the week that was done back then?
19
MS.
: I don't.
20
MR.
: No?
21
MS.
: I do not know the
I would
22
have to look at the SHU logs.
23
MR.
: Okay. And do you know if
24
it was done on that Friday, on August 9th, the
25
day before?
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MS.
: No. But I do know, on August
2
8th, before I left for vacation, I personally
3
went up there, just to check on him, and he had
4
a cellmate at that time.
5
MR.
: Right. Okay.
6
MR.
: Anything else?
7
MR.
: Nope.
8
MR.
"Dr.
was aware that
9
Dr.
attended the close out
10
meeting that week, and discussed Epstein's
11
desire to have a single cell, but his need for
12
a cellmate. Dr.
was unaware regularly
13
rounds by the correctional officers were not
14
being completed. She is considered executive
15
staff, so officers would not tell her they were
16
not being completed, and inmates wouldn't tell
17
her because of fear of retaliation by the
18
guards.
19
Dr.
noted Lieutenant
is very
20
regimented, and regularly does what she asks.
21
Dr.
was not aware that Epstein signed a
22
new will on August 8th. Had she known, it
23
would have been considered a red flag, and
24
Epstein would have been placed on psychological
25
observation. The attorneys did not tell anyone
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from psychological services that it had
2
occurred." So, we had a couple of questions.
3
How did you learn that he had signed a will?
4
MS.
: The newspaper.
5
MR.
: In the paper?
6
MS.
: Yes.
7
MR.
: That's not something that you
8
learned firsthand, from the attorneys, or by
9
being --
10
MS.
: No.
11
MR.
: -- okay.
12
MR.
: Do you know if he
13
actually, in fact, signed a new will on the
14
8th?
15
MS.
: No. Hearsay.
16
MR.
: Okay. Did you bring that
17
up during the interview, or did the agents ask
18
you about it?
19
MS.
: That, I don't remember.
20
MR.
: Okay.
21
MS.
: How it came up. They may
22
have asked me a question, if I knew about it.
23
MR.
: Okay.
24
MS.
: And I may have said, probably
25
said no. I didn't know about it directly from
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them. I knew about it from reading it in the
2
paper.
3
MR.
: Okay.
4
MS.
: But one thing I did say,
5
after reading the paper, gee, that would have
6
been helpful information. Because had I known
7
that, I would have said, that is a red flag,
8
and let's put him back on, and just watch him
9
for a few more days, and see if we can get more
10
information from him. About why he would do
11
that, or what was going on.
12
MR.
: Should have the attorneys
13
notified you?
14
MS.
: Well, the attorneys have
15
their own ethical, you know, confidentiality
16
issues.
17
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
18
MS.
: So, you know, a lot of times,
19
attorneys call us all the time if they are
20
concerned about their patients. I mean, I get,
21
I used to get, like, several a week, where
22
attorneys would call in and say, you know, I'm
23
worried, I talked to my client on the phone.
24
don't like how he sounded. Can psychology
25
check on that inmate? And I was, like, why
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1
didn't they do that this time? Because they
2
always do that. And we do. We go immediately.
So, if that was true, I wish someone would have
called us, but they didn't.
MR.
: All right. Thank you
14t4iseerftikrie-L94-t-1-6
)Did you have the key
to the restroom?
I think that thatLs
(Indi2ccrniblc *01:15:36)person needed it.
MR.
: Oh.
MR.
: Is this the only one we
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
have?
MR.
: Yes.
MS.
: But, you know, again, like,
attorneys have their own ethical -. Like, they
can't -. I don't know what their ethical
standards are, but I guess, if he didn't say he
was going to kill himself, and he's just
signing a will, they don't -. I don't think
they have to tell, call us. It would be a
choice if they had a concern, that he was going
to hurt himself.
MR.
: Okay.
MS.
: But -.
MR.
: Well, before -.
MS.
: Yeah. Yeah.
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MR.
: Did he ever bring up changing
2
his will in any of his your meetings, or the
3
psychological meeting
4
MS.
: No.
5
MR.
: -- psychological meetings
6
with him?
7
MS.
: No.
8
MR.
: That was the first time you
9
guys had, you ever heard that would be from --
10
MS.
: Right.
11
MR.
-- (Indiscernible *01:16:30).
12
MS.
: After the fact. I read that,
13
and I was, like -.
14
MR.
: And now, why would it be a
15
red flag?
16
MS.
: Because he is in jail. He is
17
not happy being in jail. He is facing a lot of
18
time. He's high risk. And he is signing a
19
will. You know, I definitely would have
20
interviewed him. I can't say 100 percent he
21
would be put on psych ops, but if he didn't
22
give me the answers that I was looking for, he
23
would have been put on some form of
24
observation, until we could get the answers
25
that we were looking for.
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1
MR.
: "Dr.
mentioned that
2
was the first day ever, she ever heard about
3
the will being changed. There was no
4
discussion with Epstein before
5
MS.
: No.
6
MR.
: -- about the will."
7
MS.
: Epstein never shared that
8
with me. It was something that I read after
9
the fact.
10
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
11
MS.
: And again, I don't know if
12
it's true or not true.
13
MR.
: Sure.
14
MR.
"On August 8th, 2019, Dr.
15
attended the SHU meeting. She couldn't
16
recall all who was there, but it included unit
17
team members, executive staff, and attorneys
18
for MCC. Nothing significant was discussed
19
about Epstein at the meeting. She conducted
20
SHU rounds, to see Epstein." Is this what you
21
mentioned before, that before you went on
22
vacation?
23
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
24
MR.
: Okay. "He had a cellmate at
25
the time, and Epstein had the lower bunk. He
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didn't have any visible problems, appeared in
2
good spirits, and reported getting along with
3
his cellmate. He had received his pack number,
4
which allows him to make phone calls, and he
5
had asked for his books from psychological
6
observation." When he received his pack
7
number, do you know if it was active, and was
8
he able to make phone calls with it?
9
MS.
: That, I don't know. That,
10
only unit team would know.
11
MR.
: Do you know around what
12
time the SHU meeting would have been held?
13
MS.
: Thursdays. Thursdays, at
14
that time, they say that my meetings have
15
changed with different --
16
MR.
: Sure.
17
MS.
every warden changes it.
18
MR.
: And what time
19
MS.
I believe they --
20
MR.
: -- did you work?
21
MS.
were in the morning.
22
Like, around 9:00.
23
MR.
: Okay.
24
MS.
: Like, 9:00.
25
MR.
: So, if around, like,
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1
3:00, 3:30, the Marshals sent an email saying
2
that his cellmate was going to be transferred,
3
that wouldn't have been discussed at that SHU
4
meeting?
5
MS.
: Hmm-mm.
6
MR.
: And did you know anything
7
about any emails --
8
MS.
: No.
9
MR.
: -- regarding -?
10
MS.
: And I didn't know the inmate
11
was
The inmate -. I didn't know that he
12
went to court that day, or anything. I was not
13
even in town.
14
MR.
: Right. I'm saying the
15
day before --
16
MS.
: Yeah.
17
MR.
: -- on August 8th, there
18
was emails that were sent from the U.S. Marshal
19
Service, saying that his cellmate Reyes was
20
going to be transferred to another institution.
21
I was just wondering if that was at all
22
discussed --
23
MS.
: No. Not that I --
24
MR.
: -- that wasn't discussed.
25
MS.
-- and I, likely, I don't
EFTA00112009
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1
know. Yeah. I was -. Huh. I don't remember
2
hearing that at all.
3
MR.
: Okay.
4
MS.
: Because that would have been
5
6
MR.
: Even after the fact?
7
MS.
: -- that would been something
8
that, you know, the lightbulb kind of would
9
have went on.
10
MR.
: Sure.
11
MS.
: I was pretty shocked to find
12
out that he didn't have a cellmate.
13
MR.
: Right.
14
MS.
: After he killed himself.
15
That was the first question I asked. When I
16
was away, and I was went to Vancouver, and the
17
times difference was off, and my flight was
18
delayed. I had slept for, like, two hours. It
19
was very strange. I went into the restroom,
20
you know how you bring your phone? I know,
21
TMI. I pressed my phone, and all these alerts
22
came on, and everyone was texting me, and then,
23
I saw that he had hung himself, and I was just,
24
like, how could that happen? And the first
25
thing, when I called my associate warden, the
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1
first thing I asked is, did he have a cellmate?
2
Because that was the first thing that came in
3
my mind. And she was, like, no.
4
MR.
: What -? So --
5
MS.
: So -.
6
MR.
: -- who was this?
7
MS.
: I called
8
MR.
: And what did she say
9
about that?
10
MS.
: You know, she just said no.
11
And then, I was just, like, I started, like,
12
crying, because I was, like, why? Like -.
13
MR.
: And did she respond to
14
where his cellmate was?
15
MS.
: She didn't. She was, like, I
16
don't know, Dr.
. You know, this was all
17
just that morning.
18
MR.
: Right.
19
MS.
: I mean, she was probably, you
20
know, very upset, too. And that was it. I
21
mean, later on, I found out what happened,
22
which was that his cellmate went to court. He
23
was --
24
MR.
: And so --
25
MS.
: -- bonded out, and that they
EFTA00112011
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1
didn't replace the cellmate with him.
2
MR.
: -- so, that is not
3
accurate information. So, who told you that he
4
went to court and bonded out?
5
MS.
: That was later on. I don't
6
remember the person who told me that.
7
MR.
: But someone told you he
8
actually went to court, and not transferred to
9
a different institution?
10
MS.
: That's what I had heard.
11
MR.
: Okay.
12
MS.
: That he had gone to court,
13
and then he was -. That might not be accurate,
14
though. He was bailed out, or he wasn't,
15
didn't come back.
16
MR.
: Okay.
17
MS.
: That's what I had heard.
18
MR.
: Sure. But you don't
19
remember where you heard that from?
20
MS.
: Hmm-mm.
21
MR.
: Okay.
22
MR.
: Well, just to clarify, I
23
think you mentioned it already. There was an
24
email that came up the day before, from the
25
Marshals, on August 8th, in the afternoon, that
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1
stated that he was being transferred - Reyes
2
was being transferred - to another facility.
3
He wasn't going to court. So, that morning, he
4
would, he wasn't going to court. He was
5
actually transferred out to another facility.
6
MS.
: Okay. Okay. So --
7
MR.
: Now, if an email like that
8
came out, whose responsibility would it have
9
been to make those notifications up, hey,
10
listen, Reyes is now gone?
11
MS.
: I mean, everybody reviews
12
that. I mean, the captain's review that log.
13
The warden. The executive staff. I mean, I
14
guess they would all see that.
15
MR.
: Would psychology have the
16
court production list?
17
MS.
: I don't always review the
18
court production list. No.
19
MR.
: Yeah. No. You weren't
20
even there.
21
MS.
: No. Yeah.
22
MR.
: I'm just saying --
23
MS.
: No.
24
MR.
: -- like, on, like, on the
25
9th, I guess there would have been a court
EFTA00112013
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1
production list that would have said Reyes,
2
WAB, With All Belongings.
3
MS.
: Right. I mean, I don't have
4
access to that. Some of my staff have that
5
correctional services box.
6
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
7
MS.
: And they do review it,
8
sometimes. But I'm not so sure we reviewed it,
9
anybody in my department.
10
MR.
:
Yeah. And again, I know
11
you weren't even --
12
MS.
:
Yeah.
13
MR.
: -- there, but so, should
14
have someone reviewed that?
15
MS.
: That's not something that we
16
did on a regular basis.
17
MR.
: Okay.
18
MS.
:
You know, we - custodial wise
19
- we don't manage hands-on like that.
20
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
21
MS.
: As much. Like, we're not
22
looking all the time. I think now, since this
23
event happened, we might become more involved
24
with that. And review those things. Like,
25
when I get the Marshal's list, I was, I look to
EFTA00112014
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make sure they don't have any histories of
2
things, or there is a no Marshal's notices.
3
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
4
MS.
: More so than ever now,
5
because, you know, we are hyper alert.
6
MR.
: Sure.
7
MS.
: But as psychologists, that is
8
not something that is our job to review, and
9
then compare it to the SHU list, and make sure
10
everybody --
11
MR.
: Absolutely.
12
MS.
-- is cell, you know, that is
13
not something we do.
14
MR.
: So, when Reyes was listed
15
as WAB, and was removed from the institution on
16
the count numbers and everything
17
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
18
MR.
: -- should someone have
19
notified psychology? Now, this isn't Epstein.
20
MS.
: Right.
21
MR.
: This is his cellmate.
22
MS.
: Right.
23
MR.
: Reyes.
24
MS.
: I don't know so much as
25
notified us, but at least made - or I would
EFTA00112015
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1
think - someone would make arrangements to say,
2
well, this guy is coming out, we've got to get
3
someone in with Epstein. There would be no
4
need to call psychology. Unless Epstein was
5
demonstrating any psychological issues, because
6
we were --
7
MR.
: Okay.
8
MS.
: -- following him as needed,
9
and during our weekly rounds, anyway. So, if
10
he displayed, if he didn't display any mental
11
health problems, they probably wouldn't just
12
call us.
13
MR.
: So, were there any
14
problems, as you see them, that no one notified
15
anyone in your department that Reyes was gone?
16
MS.
: Well, the only problem is, if
17
they had planned on housing Epstein alone, and
18
not replacing Reyes, then we should have been
19
consulted, and spoken to about, do we think
20
that is a good idea?
21
MR.
: Right.
22
MS.
: So, that is
23
MR.
: But -.
24
MS.
: -- but that whole - not --
25
MR.
: But that was never
EFTA00112016
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1
changed --
2
MS.
not likely --
3
MR.
so, he was supposed to
4
be housed with another cellmate --
5
MS.
: Yes.
6
MR.
: -- so, the fact that his
7
cellmate was gone, and he is supposed to be
8
housed with a cellmate, should have they -?
9
Should someone have contacted psychology to let
10
you know this cellmate is gone, we need to get
11
another cellmate in there? Is that something
12
that you should be a part of, or is that
13
something that was just custody?
14
MS.
: That is mainly custody.
15
MR.
: Okay.
16
MS.
: That is mainly custody. Now,
17
things are a little different. I mean, again,
18
things are put into place. That may not have
19
been in place before. Things we may not have
20
been as involved with.
21
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
22
MS.
: We have become more involved
23
with. Because of lessons learned. So, now,
24
when they house anybody alone, they let us
25
know, do you recommend this? Like I was
EFTA00112017
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telling you, there is a sheet. Do you
2
recommend this? And we always say no.
3
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
4
MS.
: I tell my staff, never
5
recommend a single cell. Like, if we think
6
someone is going to be single celled, we are
7
notified. Oh, this person is going to be -.
8
Dr.
, come sign this, this form. But
9
before, we didn't do that. Okay, when Epstein
10
was there, we did not do that.
11
MR.
: Okay.
12
MS.
: If they had a plan to put him
13
by himself, we would have been notified. The
14
fact his cellmate was leaving, we wouldn't have
15
been notified, unless the intention was not to
16
replace him with somebody else. Because the
17
intention was always to keep him in the SHU
18
with a cellmate.
19
MR.
: Now --
20
MS.
: I think custody's intention
21
were, too.
22
MR.
: -- as far as people --
23
MS.
: It should have been.
24
MR.
: -- that worked in the SHU
25
staff --
EFTA00112018
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MS.
: Mm-hmm.
2
MR.
: -- or, for instance,
3
anybody in custody, do you think there is ever
4
an excuse, especially in this specific instance
5
with Epstein, that for people to say, we didn't
6
know he was supposed to have a cellmate. Is
7
that - do you believe that that is an excuse?
8
Or a reason, I should say. Not an excuse. And
9
this is not, I'm not talking about psychology
10
now.
11
MS.
: Right.
12
MR.
: What I'm talking about is
13
custody or
14
MS.
: No. I know what you are
15
saying. I mean, it comes from management and
16
it goes down.
17
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
18
MS.
: You see what I'm saying? So,
19
as far as I knew, the lieutenant up there, as
20
far as what he had shared with me, is that he
21
let the officerLs know. And that there was a
22
sign up there, from what I understand, on their
23
desk, that said he had to have a cellmate.
24
Okay?
25
MR.
: Now, did you ever see a
EFTA00112019
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sign?
2
MS.
: I did not see that sign,
3
because I don't go behind that desk.
4
MR.
: Sure.
5
MS.
: When I go. So
6
MR.
: Because we knew that
7
there was a sign stating that they had to do
8
rounds on Epstein. It was a big orange sign.
9
But --
10
MS.
: Okay.
11
MR.
: -- we have never come
12
across signs saying that he had to have a
13
cellmate. Aside from the very first day --
14
MS.
: Right.
15
MR.
:
I think --
16
MS.
: Right.
17
MR.
: -- that he was actually
18
housed with Reyes.
19
MS.
: Right. But I mean, that is
20
something that is monitored by the SHU
21
lieutenant, and the operations lieutenant.
22
They were aware because the captain was aware,
23
and sits in executive staff.
24
MR.
: Sure.
25
MS.
: And the captain is under the
EFTA00112020
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1
warden, and the warden would have wanted him to
2
have a cellmate.
3
MR.
: Right.
4
MS.
: A 100 percent.
5
MR.
: Absolutely.
6
MS.
: And supported our
7
recommendation for him to have a cellmate. So,
8
where the ball was dropped, I'm not 100 percent
9
sure. But I know executive staff were aware,
10
and I know that was a strong recommendation on
11
our part. Whether the officer's, whether it
12
went down the chain, that, I will not know
13
because I am not in custody.
14
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
15
MS.
: How --
16
MR.
: But didn't you say --
17
MS.
how they advised them, you
18
know, the morning of their shift, this is what
19
you need to do. I don't know.
20
MR.
: Isn't it something,
21
though, that you guys discuss, or psychology
22
discusses during training, saying that, hey --
23
MS.
: Well, yeah.
24
MR.
: -- inmates that are at
25
risk for suicide need to have, if they are
EFTA00112021
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1
coming off --
2
MS.
: Oh, absolutely.
3
MR.
: -- suicide observation.
4
So, that is where I mean --
5
MS.
: That is where --
6
MR.
: -- by, like --
7
MS.
: -- like, the yearly training.
8
I mean, you would think, you know, with the
9
yearly training, with the annual training, with
10
the SHU, there is also a SHU training, a
11
quarterly training that I teach suicide
12
prevention. So, I teach suicide prevention
13
quarterly, to SHU staff. Where I have a slide
14
show that talks about the cellmate, and the
15
need for the cellmate. So --
16
MR.
: What about during their
17
annual refresher training? Is it also
18
discussed?
19
MS.
: Yeah. Also. Yes. So --
20
MR.
: So -.
21
MS.
: -- it's quarterly and annual.
22
MR.
: And you say that same
23
thing during the annual training?
24
MS.
: Yes.
25
MR.
: Okay. So, not only are
EFTA00112022
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1
the SHU staff getting it in their quarterly
2
training, but every staff is getting it in the
3
annual training.
4
MS.
: Yes.
5
MR.
: Okay.
6
MS.
: Everybody.
7
MR.
: So, that is what I mean
8
by, is there ever an excuse, saying that we
9
didn't think he needed one? If they receive
10
this training, shouldn't have they known
11
MS.
: Right. And also, I don't
12
know, I mean, he was a high-profile inmate. I
13
think everybody was aware of that.
14
MR.
: Okay.
15
MS.
: So --
16
MR.
: So, do you --
17
MS.
if he didn't have a
18
cellmate, they would know, even if they thought
19
he wasn't supposed to, they would know that he,
20
they should be rounding every half an hour, and
21
checking on, particularly a high-profile
22
inmate.
23
MR.
: Now, does --
24
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
25
MR.
: -- every single staff
EFTA00112023
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1
member of MCC, regardless if custody or not, do
2
they take that annual refresher training?
3
MS.
: Yes.
4
MR.
: So, R&D --
5
MS.
: They are required.
6
MR.
: -- you know --
7
MS.
: Yes.
8
MR.
: Okay.
9
MS.
: They are required.
10
MR.
: Okay. Perfect.
11
MR.
: Okay. "Dr.
never
12
suggested a cell room with a camera for
13
Epstein, because she wanted him to have a
14
cellmate."
15
MS.
: I don't make those decisions,
16
as far as who goes on Ten South. Ten South is
17
a high security unit where we house many of the
18
SAMs inmates. I don't know if you are familiar
19
with the SAMs, but they are in Special
20
Administrative Measures. On occasion, we have
21
had high profile inmates, but that is at the
22
discretion of the warden. Not psychology.
23
Whether he wants to house a high-profile inmate
24
up there. We had Bernard Mayta (Phonetic Sp.
25
*01:30:19) up there. We had El Chapo (Phonetic
EFTA00112024
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1
Sp. *01:30:20) up there. We had the Russian
2
arms dealer up there for a while. So, we have
3
had people there. But the warden - and I don't
4
know why, because I was not in those meetings -
5
decided that he was not going to place him in
6
Ten South. So, if you are not going to be in
7
Ten South, you are going to have a cellmate.
8
You know, as far as I am concerned. But I did
9
not -. I was not -. It was not up to me
10
whether he be placed on Ten South and a camera.
11
MR.
: Was that ever --
12
MS.
: My recommendations were not
13
sought.
14
MR.
: -- yeah. I was going to
15
say, was it ever
16
MS.
: No.
17
MR.
: -- even discussed with
18
you?
19
MS.
: No.
20
MR.
: Okay.
21
MS.
: It was told. It wasn't
22
discussed.
23
MR.
: What was told? I'm
24
sorry.
25
MS.
: That he was not going on Ten
EFTA00112025
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1
South.
2
MR.
: But that's what I mean.
3
Did Ten South even come up in discussion?
4
MS.
: Just that he wasn't going to
5
be housed there.
6
MR.
: Okay.
7
MS.
: That the warden had decided.
8
I was informed by legal. And I said, oh --
9
MR.
: And when were you
10
informed that?
11
MS.
: Earlier --
12
MR.
: Was that before?
13
MS.
: -- earlier in his
14
incarceration.
15
MR.
: Okay. So, while he was
16
alive?
17
MS.
: Yes.
18
MR.
: Okay. So, at the end --
19
MS.
: Yeah. Earlier in his
20
incarceration, I received a phone call that he
21
wasn't going to be housed in Ten South, that it
22
was decided, by the warden, that he wasn't
23
going to put him up there. So, when I was
24
being told that, knowing if he was going to be
25
on Nine South, then I would say certainly
EFTA00112026
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1
suggest a cellmate. But I would have had no
2
problem him being on a camera in Ten South.
3
MR.
: Would you have a
4
preference? From Ten South or Nine South?
5
MS.
: If I was asked, I would have
6
preferred, I would have said Ten South because
7
I had been there for so long, and had seen so
8
many high-profile inmates up there, and being
9
on a camera 24/7.
10
MR.
: So, you said psychology
11
always recommends a cellmate, but in this
12
instance, you would actually recommend him
13
being housed alone with a camera on him?
14
MS.
: I think having a cellmate is
15
a good thing, but when somebody is this high-
16
profile on other levels, in retrospect, it
17
would have probably been not a bad idea.
18
MR.
: So, in retrospect, and
19
obviously, we can all Monday morning
20
MS.
: Yes.
21
MR.
: -- quarterback.
22
MS.
: Yes.
23
MR.
: And unfortunately --
24
MS.
: Yes.
25
MR.
: -- that is what we are
EFTA00112027
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1
doing.
2
MS.
: Yes.
3
MR.
: But, like --
4
MS.
: Yes.
5
MR.
: -- at the time, do you
6
believe that you would have thought that Ten
7
South would have been more appropriate over
8
Nine South?
9
MS.
: I don't really want to say
10
because --
11
MR.
: Sure.
12
MS.
:
I don't make those
13
decisions.
14
MR.
: No.
15
MS.
: I mean --
16
MR.
: But you weren't
17
consulted? They --
18
MS.
: I wasn't consulted.
19
MR.
: -- no one told you.
20
MS.
: I was told. So, once that
21
happened, then of course, I was going to
22
suggest he have a cellmate.
23
MR.
: Okay. But it was the
24
warden's call, as far as you know?
25
MS.
: As far as I know. That's what
EFTA00112028
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1
I was told by legal. Which was the warden has
2
decided he will not be on Ten South. They are
3
going to house him on Nine South with
4
Tartaglione.
5
MR.
: Okay.
6
MR.
: Let me finish that --
7
MR.
: Yes.
8
MR.
-- (Indiscernible *01:33:20).
9
That's the last paragraph. "Rooms with cameras
10
aren't always perfect due to the guard having
11
to maintain a constant eye on the camera
12
screen. She noted she has never gone to
13
attorney conference for any other patients or
14
inmates. She believes MCC psychological
15
services did all they could for Epstein. And
16
ultimately, the lack of a cellmate, and under
17
staffing contributed to his death. Three
18
suicide risk assessments were completed on
19
Epstein, which is unusual. One of those was
20
completed due to a judge's order." Is it
21
normal for a judge to request a psychological -
22
23
MS.
: It is not uncommon,
24
especially when the judge knew he had been on
25
watch before.
EFTA00112029
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1
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
2
MS.
: So, I think, I don't think he
3
was ordered the first time, to be placed on
4
watch. I think it -. I don't remember which
5
time it was that the judge ordered it. But
6
judges will, if there is, if they have ever
7
been on suicide watch in the past, when they
8
leave a court proceeding. If it was the time
9
that he was denied the bail, I don't know which
10
was the time that the judge ordered it.
11
MR.
: So, your -.
12
MR.
: Would your notes say when
13
it was?
14
MS.
: Possibly. Possibly.
15
MR.
: Possibly.
16
MS.
: Yeah.
17
MR.
: So, you don't think it
18
was the first time, though?
19
MS.
: I thought the first time I
20
did it precautionary. I don't know if it had
21
the judge's order.
22
MR.
: Now, when you say there
23
are three risk - suicide risk assessments were
24
included, completed on Epstein.
25
MS.
: Yes.
EFTA00112030
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1
MR.
: Or Epstein. When he
2
first came on, when he, on July 23rd, what was
3
the third?
4
MS.
: I think that is when he came
5
back and was denied the bail.
6
MR.
: And do you think that was
7
probably the one that the judge -? Because
8
obviously, you do it when they come on, right?
9
And then, you do it if they try to attempt
10
suicide.
11
MS.
: Or maybe the judge -. I
12
don't know if it was the first time. Maybe it
13
was the first time. Because I think the second
14
time was Dr.
Which I really
15
complimented her on. I think she did it out of
16
precaution, because of what happened in court.
17
MR.
: Okay. And that was --
18
MS.
: I think she did it on her own
19
instinct. Not because she was told to.
20
MR.
: Okay.
21
MR.
: Wait. I have an event that
22
took place on August --
23
MS.
: Okay.
24
MR.
: -- August 1st. It looks like
25
the correctional systems received a form from
EFTA00112031
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1
the U.S. Marshal Service, the previous day
2
stating that Epstein had reported suicidal
3
tendencies. I guess he went to court. And he
4
reported suicidal tendencies. So, the Marshal
5
Service reported that to correctional systems,
6
and correctional systems notified that to
7
psychological observations. Psychs.
8
MS.
: That was August 1st.
9
MR.
: Do you believe that might be
10
the third time?
11
MR.
: That would have been,
12
like, the day after he came off of --
13
MR.
: Yeah.
14
MR.
: -- psych observation.
15
MS.
: Right. And they always put
16
suicidal tendencies on every single one of
17
them. So, I am thinking, because he was just
18
coming off watch, he might have said, I was on
19
watch.
20
MR.
: All right. So, that is -
21
22
MS.
: But I don't -.
23
MR.
: -- you think the Marshals
24
do this frequently?
25
MS.
: Yes.
EFTA00112032
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1
MR.
: This isn't --
2
MS.
: They all say --
3
MR.
: -- that wasn't
4
MS.
suicidal tendencies.
5
MR.
: Okay.
6
MS.
: And there, it's, they all say
7
the same thing.
8
MR.
: All right. So, that
9
wasn't abnormal that they wrote that on August
10
1st?
11
MS.
: Not if he had recently been
12
taken off of watch, and they were aware of
13
that.
14
MR.
: Okay.
15
MR.
: Okay.
16
MR.
: But you don't know what
17
the third instance was, with -? Because we
18
have, again --
19
MS.
: One was when he first came
20
into jail.
21
MR.
: -- right.
22
MS.
: Remember, we did, we had him
23
on --
24
MR.
: Yup.
25
MS.
and he was mad. The
EFTA00112033
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1
second time, I believe was when, maybe when the
2
Marshals -. I don't know. I don't know.
3
MR.
:
So, we know the two.
4
MS.
:
Yeah.
5
MR.
: I'm just trying to
6
MS.
: The third one --
7
MR.
to figure -.
8
MS.
-- was when he had, when he
9
actually had the --
10
MR.
:
Yeah, yeah, no
11
MS.
: -- Marshals --
12
MR.
:
I know. They are my
13
two that I know. Is when he first came on,
14
July 23rd.
15
MS.
: And I think the other one was
16
when he came back from court.
17
MR.
: On the August 1st?
18
MS.
:
Yeah. I think so. I have to
19
look. It might be. I have to look at my
20
notes.
21
MR.
: Okay.
22
MS.
: But those were the three
23
times.
24
MR.
:
Yeah. No. Because in
25
your report, it kind of - because obviously, it
EFTA00112034
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1
was probably taking so long - it kind of jumps
2
really quickly from July 30th to basically the
3
end.
4
MS.
: Okay.
5
MR.
: So, that was just -. So,
6
I was wondering --
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MS.
: Okay.
MR.
if we were missing
something there, and that sounds like maybe
that is what we were missing.
MS.
: Okay. If you wanted me to
look at my notes, I could do that.
MR.
: This. Do you know? Because
I think --
MR.
: I'll just --
MR.
that will help you.
MR. -:
real quickly cover
this with you. I think we already did. This
was the 302 with
Who is that?
MS.
: She is the forensic
psychologist that removed him from watch the
first time, and stepped him down to psych ops.
MR.
Okay. So, in part of her
302, we're just going to cover this quickly.
EFTA00112035
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1
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
2
MR.
: Just because we're
3
running out of time. It says, "
4
stated psychological observation allowed
5
Epstein to possess hygiene products, two
6
novels, to attend his legal visits, and to
7
shower." And as we already stated, he was
8
authorized legal visits while he was on
9
observation.
10
MS.
: Okay. All right.
11
MR.
: Yeah.
12
MS.
: So, she did those
13
authorizations.
14
MR.
: Okay.
15
MS.
: After she took him off.
16
MR.
: Okay. So, and then, it
17
says, and that part says, "
stated she
18
discussed the decision to step down Epstein
19
with Dr.
and associate warden
20
." Now, when she says, "
stated
21
she discussed the decision to step down Epstein
22
with Dr.
and associate warden
23
," do you know which step down she is
24
talking about? Is she talking about watch toed
25
observation? That's what --
EFTA00112036
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1
MS.
: Yes.
2
MR.
: -- okay. Rather than
3
observation to SHU?
4
MS.
: Correct.
5
MR.
: Okay. And with associate
6
warden
, is that a normal thing
7
that she would discuss that decision? She
8
would discuss that with an associate warden?
9
Is that normal?
10
MS.
: Yes. I mean, maybe
11
gave her a call. Maybe she gave
12
a call, just because he was who he was.
13
We don't do it with every single inmate. We
14
send out a notification to, like, all executive
15
staff. And every day, on who is on watch, he
16
was removed from watch. An average inmate,
17
maybe they wouldn't have had a discussion.
18
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
19
MS.
: Maybe it was because it was
20
Epstein.
21
MR.
: And this is where
22
MS.
: Yeah.
23
MR.
: -- it goes into the -.
24
Do you have any knowledge that around this
25
time, executive staff, or anybody at the
EFTA00112037
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
1
institution, was contacted by either the
2
attorneys or the judge, saying he needs to be
3
taken off of suicide watch, and put to
4
psychological observation, so the attorney
5
visits may -?
6
MS.
: We never got a call like
7
that.
8
MR.
: No? Okay.
9
MS.
: Yeah.
10
MR.
: And you don't know that
11
mentioned that to you guys?
12
MS.
: No.
13
MR.
: Okay.
14
MS.
: Not that I know of.
15
MR.
: Okay. It says,
16
stated both
and
17
concurred with her determination regarding
18
Epstein.
stated, `I made the
19
decision with the consent of
and
20
'
Is that correct?
21
MS.
: Right. I mean, she came and
22
discussed it with me. And gave me all of the
23
reasons she felt he was written to be stepped
24
down.
25
MR.
: Great.
EFTA00112038
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1
MR.
: I have a few follow up
2
questions.
3
MR.
: So, this is the very end.
4
MR.
: This is the very end.
5
MR.
: Sorry.
6
MS.
: It's okay.
7
MR.
: That's okay.
8
MR.
: It's taking longer than
9
we expected.
10
MS.
: It's okay.
11
MR.
: When inmate Reyes was chosen
12
to be Epstein's cellmate after he was brought
13
back to the SHU, do you know who was involved
14
in that decision-making?
15
MS.
: Executive staff, most likely.
16
Or correctional staff. Probably the captain.
17
The captain and the AW over programs.
18
MR.
: And do you think that
19
everyone, in terms of captain, the lieutenants,
20
and even the SHU staff would have known who
21
Reyes was, that he was Epstein's cellmate?
22
MS.
: I mean, I would hope that was
23
discussed. But again, I don't know if it was
24
discussed with them. But the captain should
25
have passed it onto the lieutenants, and the
EFTA00112039
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1
lieutenants should have passed it to the staff.
2
MR.
: And based on the
3
recommendation, as you mentioned, from your
4
office and also through the chain of command,
5
they should - everyone should have known that
6
Epstein needed a cellmate?
7
MS.
: Yes.
8
MR.
: And if everyone knew Epstein
9
needed a cellmate, they should have technically
10
also known that his cellmate was Reyes?
11
MS.
: I would think so.
12
MR.
: Okay.
13
MS.
: I would hope so.
14
MR.
: And when they came up the,
15
came up with the name, with the list of names
16
to place as a cellmate for Epstein, did they
17
have other names also chosen? Or just Reyes?
18
MS.
Hmm. That, I don't know.
19
MR.
: Okay. You are not aware?
20
MS.
: Because I didn't make those
21
decisions.
22
MR.
: Do you know if there --
23
MS.
: At the time.
24
MR.
: -- was a plan, if he was
25
to leave, someone else would go into his place?
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MS.
: I don't know that.
2
MR.
: Okay. That was a custody
3
4
MS.
:
Yes.
5
MR.
: -- decision?
6
MS.
: Determination.
7
MR.
: Okay.
8
MR.
:
Do know if he was prescribed
9
any medications? Epstein was prescribed any
10
medications?
11
MS.
: I would, again, have to see
12
his chart.
13
MR.
: Okay.
14
MS.
: I don't --
15
MR.
: Not that -.
16
MS.
:
I don't remember. I don' -
17
think so.
18
MR.
: Okay.
19
MS.
: I mean, from psychiatry.
20
MR.
:
I want to show --
21
MS.
: I don't remember.
22
MR. -:
-- we will jump into
23
that.
24
MR.
: Yeah.
25
MR.
:
Just in a couple of
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minutes.
2
MR.
: I just had a quick question.
3
You mentioned that he told you the first time
4
that he had a bail hearing.
5
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
6
MR.
: Do you recall him mentioning,
7
in your last meeting with him on August 8th,
8
that he was scheduled for another bail hearing?
9
MS.
: I don't recall.
10
MR.
: He didn't mention that?
11
Okay.
12
MS.
: I don't recall. He may have.
13
MR.
: Okay.
14
MS.
: He may have. I know he was
15
trying to get several hearings, so it is very
16
possible he did.
17
MR.
: So, what we have here is an
18
after-action review. It was conducted by the
19
Bureau of Prisons.
20
MS.
: Yes.
21
MR.
: And I'm going through some of
22
the noted -.
23
MR.
: Have you seen this?
24
MS.
: Hmm-mm.
25
MR.
: No. Okay.
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MR.
: Basically, do you know what
2
an after-action review is?
3
MS.
: Yes. I do.
4
MR.
: Okay. So, this was done by
5
the team that was sent down to do on running
6
Mr. Epstein's death. And maybe the --
7
MR.
: Immediately after their
8
death.
9
MR.
: -- immediately after.
10
MS.
: Okay.
11
MR.
: There is a note. "On July
12
9th, 2019, at 12:35, health services completes
13
a history and physical for inmate Epstein.
14
This assessment was done in lieu of an intake
15
screening, which should have been conducted
16
within 24 hours of arrival." It looks like he
17
arrived on July 6th, but the intake screening
18
wasn't done for him.
19
MS.
: That's medical.
20
MR.
: That's medical. Okay.
21
MS.
: We did it the next day. We
22
do them within 24 hours.
23
MR.
: Okay. "On July 18th, 30-day
24
psychology reviews are conducted for the entire
25
SHU population. Inmate Epstein was not in the
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SHU at the time due to an attorney visit. The
2
review was never conducted."
3
MS.
: He was probably seen in
4
attorney conference, but it wasn't conducted if
5
he wasn't in the SHU at the time.
6
MR.
: Should they have followed -
7
psychology - have followed up?
8
MS.
: I would have to see my
9
records.
10
MR.
: Okay.
11
MS.
: To see if there was a reason,
12
or if we put in a note, subsequently.
13
MR.
: Understood. And you said,
14
the notification by the U.S. Marshal Service on
15
August 1st, you said that would be routine, if
16
he came off of suicide watch or psychological
17
observation, went to court, and they saw tha-,
18
they would normally make a routine
19
notification?
20
MS.
: They often do. Yes.
21
MR.
: Okay.
22
MS.
: Unless they are not privy to
23
it. You know? But if they are, they would, to
24
cover everything.
25
MR.
: But you don't know --
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MS.
: Yeah.
2
MR.
: -- anything specifically
3
he was doing on August 1st, that would have
4
caused them to make a note?
5
MS.
: No.
6
MR.
: Okay.
7
MR.
: Now, I don't have these
8
documents in here, to show you, but it was
9
flagged that, "The psychology intake screening
10
contains errors in identifying details. Inmate
11
Epstein is referred to as a black inmate, and a
12
different inmate's name is used within the
13
report."
14
MS.
: Yes. One of the
15
psychologists made an error. Perhaps. It was
16
a template-ish error. I don't know.
17
MR.
: Okay.
18
MS.
: To be honest, it was probably
19
a template error. She was probably writing it
20
quickly, and when she proofread it, she didn't
21
catch it.
22
MR.
: Okay. "There --
23
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
24
MR.
: -- there are errors within
25
the risk of sexual abusiveness report, such as
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referencing an inaccurate program statement,
2
and noting a history of prior prison sexual
3
predation."
4
MS.
: Okay. Again --
5
MR.
: (Indiscernible *01:44:50)?
6
MS.
: -- again, that is a
7
checklist. It was probably a typo on the
8
checklist.
9
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
10
MS.
: By the psychologist. It was
11
a seasoned psychologist. I don't read every
12
single note that goes into the record. The
13
only time I read every single note is when
14
somebody is a probationary psychologist, and
15
unlicensed.
16
MR.
: And who was --
17
MS.
: Then I will --
18
MR.
: -- the psychologist?
19
MS.
: -- the psychologist at the
20
time was Dr.
21
MR. -:
. Okay.
22
MS.
: And I just think they were
23
typos. Looking back and having a conversation
24
with her, they were typos, but she is a
25
seasoned psychologist, a forensic psychologist,
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and I couldn't possibly read every note that
2
goes in the record. Or else I would never
3
sleep. But I read, you know, like I said, if
4
they are unlicensed, on probationary, then I
5
read all of the notes that go into the record.
6
MR.
: So, it is not that
7
didn't do the intake properly.
8
It was just, it was a format that she probably
9
used.
10
MS.
: Yes.
11
MR.
: Okay. Now --
12
MS.
: Definitely.
13
MR.
: -- there is another incident,
14
"July 16th, 12:48 p.m., inmate Epstein is seen
15
by psychology in the presence of his attorneys,
16
while conducting a legal visit. This visit
17
recommended no follow up. This visit was at
18
the request of inmate Epstein, that was wholll.
19
inappropriate. Inmate Epstein attempted to
20
establish guidelines for communication, and
21
bring his attorneys into the fray regarding
22
mental health treatment be provided by the
23
institution.
24
It is not typical for the Bureau of
25
Prisons to provide psychological intervention
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in the presence of others, nor is it
2
appropriate for an agency psychologist to meet
3
with the inmate attorneys." The summary they
4
put on there is, "On July 16th, 2019, a
5
psychologist met with inmate Epstein in the
6
presence of his attorneys. This visit was done
7
at the request of inmate Epstein, that appears
8
to have been the purpose of airing grievances
9
with conditions of confinement.
10
This is a highly abnormal event. It is
11
not typical for the Bureau of Prisons to
12
provide psychological intervention in the
13
presence of others, and agency psychologists
14
should not - should neither provide mental
15
health intervention in the presence of others,
16
nor engage legal representation regarding
17
institution operations or conditions of
18
confinement.
19
Although the specifics of what information
20
the psychologists are unknown, any items shared
21
could be viewed as an unauthorized release of
22
information, both regarding inmate Epstein's
23
mental health treatment, and institution
24
operational information."
25
MS.
: Okay.
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MR.
: Can you elaborate -?
2
MR.
: What is your response to
3
that, I guess?
4
MS.
: I wasn't aware --
5
MR.
: Do you agree with it, or
6
-?
7
MS.
-- if one of my
8
psychologists, or I went up one time, and I
9
think another one of my psychologists went up,
10
it was probably just to see that he was okay,
11
and that he didn't need anything from
12
psychology. So, the intention was to check on
13
him. It wasn't to breach any security, or it
14
wasn't to meet his demands, or anything like
15
that. It was probably because he did spend
16
eight hours up there, and it was more well
17
meaning that we just probably just wanted to
18
see if he had any needs from our department, at
19
that time. Or on that one occasion, he was up
20
there when that psychologist was conducting her
21
rounds in the suicide watch area, and he wasn't
22
there. And she went up there to check on his
23
mental status, to see if he was okay.
24
MR.
: Right.
25
MS.
: So -.
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MR.
: And who would have that
2
one been?
3
MS.
: I think it was Dr.
that
4
went up there on one occasion. And I think I
5
went up there on one occasion. That's when he
6
made that comment to me.
7
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
8
MS.
: But -.
9
MR.
: Now, so, what is your --
10
MS.
: I did not share
11
MR.
: -- do you agree
12
MS.
: -- anything with his
13
attorneys. He stepped out of the room. Like,
14
the attorneys were sitting at the table. And
15
then, there is the door, and he walked up
16
towards the door. And I just said, you know,
17
think when I went up there, you know, are you
18
okay? Have you been eating and sleeping okay?
19
I didn't discuss any intimate details of his
20
childhood, or anything like that. It was kind
21
of just, like, are you okay?
22
Do you have any thoughts of harming
23
yourself? Have you been eating and sleeping,
24
or do you have any concerns like that. And you
25
could see my notes, it would probably indicate
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what I did ask him. It was well meaning.
2
certainly didn't engage. I don't know. I
3
doubt Dr.
did, because she is very rigid.
4
And any discourse with his attorney about
5
anything. I think his attorneys may have made
6
a comment to me, but I think I ignored it.
7
MR.
: Okay.
8
MS.
: But yeah.
9
MR.
: So, you -.
10
MS.
: If that is what they are
11
referring to, you would have to re, you know,
12
show me the contacts, and the context. The
13
contacts, the actual site contacts that they
14
are referring to.
15
MR.
: Yeah, they don't
16
MS.
: Well.
17
MR.
: Yeah.
18
MR.
: -- they don't list it on
19
there.
20
MR.
: I mean, so -
21
MS.
: I mean, those are the only --
22
MR.
: -- two --
23
MS.
: -- two times that we went up
24
there, and that was more well meaning, to check
25
on his mental status.
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MR.
: Sure.
2
MS.
: It was certainly -.
3
MR.
: And not a discussion
4
MR.
: So, do you --
5
MR.
: -- with the attorneys.
6
Sorry.
7
MR.
: But as --
8
MS.
: No.
9
MR.
: -- this is the BOP's
10
findings. This isn't on ours. We are just
11
saying --
12
MS.
: Yeah.
13
MR.
do you agree with that
14
finding, or do you think that that is
15
inaccurate, the way that they have that? They
16
are saying that you should not have done that?
17
MS.
: I would say it is 50/50. i
18
mean, now, in retrospect, if it could be
19
perceived that way, it is probably not the best
20
situation. However, circumstantially, this guy
21
was in the conference room from dawn until
22
dusk. And we felt a need to check on him, to
23
see if he was okay. So --
24
MR.
: What -.
25
MS.
:
I would say we just
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probably weren't aware that it wasn't a good
2
thing to do.
3
MR.
: Okay.
4
MS.
: We meant it to be --
5
MR.
: Okay. So, and --
6
MS.
a good thing.
7
MR.
: -- and this prior to his
8
first suicide attempt, it looks like, on, it
9
says July 16th.
10
MR.
: Yeah.
11
MR.
: Okay.
12
MS.
: So, that was probably just to
13
check on him due to our concerns.
14
MR.
: Sure.
15
MS.
: In reading that, I probably
16
would not do that ever again. Because it is
17
perceived that way. But we weren't aware that
18
that wouldn't - that that was an unusual
19
circumstance.
20
MR.
: Sure.
21
MS.
: It doesn't spring upon us
22
frequently. We don't have inmates that have
23
that kind of money to sit in there for nine
24
hours a day.
25
MR.
: Okay.
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MR.
: Yeah.
2
MS.
: You know? So, that has never
3
happened before.
4
MR.
: So, what, in retrospect,
5
I guess, what should have happened? Should
6
have you asked him to be excused, and seen him
7
a private room?
8
MS.
: I guess we could have done
9
that, but that would have interfered with his,
10
and he is paying his attorneys. It is just, I
11
would have to probably consult on that further.
12
MR.
: Has anyone --
13
MS.
: Because -.
14
MR.
: -- spoken with you about
15
this?
16
MS.
: No.
17
MR.
: Okay.
18
MR.
: You just mentioned something.
19
You said it is highly unusual that somebody is
20
sitting in attorney conference for that long.
21
Is that not allowed for him? Was that not
22
allowed for any other inmates? Was he the only
23
inmate who was, that was allowed to?
24
MS.
: I think he was the only
25
inmate that had that kind of money.
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MR.
: Yeah. It's -.
2
MR.
: Okay.
3
MS.
: To pay an attorney for nine
4
hours.
5
MR.
: Okay.
6
MS.
: To sit in a conference room.
7
You know, usually, they last about an hour.
8
So, I had never seen that before in all my
9
years in the prisons. But it is not like you
10
can't do it. I guess if you have the money,
11
and the resources to have different attorneys
12
come, to cover your whole day --
13
MR.
: Okay.
14
MS.
: -- then -.
15
MR.
: I just have one more topic,
16
and then it is done.
17
MS.
: Okay.
18
MR.
: So, were you aware that Mr.
19
Epstein was allowed to make an unmonitored
20
phone call on the evening of August 9th?
21
MS.
: No.
22
MR.
: So, on August 9th, it looks
23
like he, his pack and PIN was provided to him,
24
but it was never set up. So, he requested a
25
phone call, and it looks like the unit manager
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took him to the SHU, brought back from attorney
2
conference, and placed him in the shower.
3
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
4
MR.
: Mm-hmm.
5
MR.
: Plugged it into the legal
6
line.
7
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
8
MR.
: And he said he wanted to talk
9
to his mother. So, the unit manager dialed out
10
the number. A guy answered the phone. He
11
handed the phone, the phone over to Mr.
12
Epstein.
13
MS.
: Mm-hmm.
14
MR.
: And he left. So, Mr. Epstein
15
was allowed to make the phone call. It was not
16
monitored. And what do you think? Do you
17
think that should have ever been allowed?
18
MS.
: That is never allowed. That
19
is not allowed.
20
MR.
: Do you think that played any
21
part into what happened that night, being the
22
fact that he was allowed to make a phone call,
23
unmonitored, a phone call? Remember, he
24
mentioned that it was to his mother.
25
MS.
: Right.
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MR.
: But we learned that his
2
mother has been deceased for a while.
3
MR.
: This isn't really for her
4
to answer.
5
MS.
: That, I don't know.
6
MR.
: So, as far as, this is
7
something that we skipped over in your
8
interview report, though. It says, "On August
9
8th, 2019, Dr.
attended the SHU meeting.
10
She couldn't recall all who was there. But
11
noted," - so, this talks about that meeting,
12
and it said that, "Epstein had received his
13
pack number, which allows him to make phone
14
calls, and he asked for his books from
15
psychological observation." So, are you aware
16
that he actually did receive his pack number?
17
Pack and PIN number, so he could actually make
18
calls?
19
MS.
: I probably was privy to it,
20
if it was mentioned in the SHU meeting. But
21
that wouldn't have any psychological meaning,
22
other than he could make the calls, and they
23
would bring the phone to his cell, which is
24
what they usually do, and he can make the phone
25
calls.
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MR.
: So, you don't recall if
2
he was actually provided a pack and PIN number
3
or not?
4
MS.
: I don't recall.
5
MR.
: Okay.
6
MS.
: Because I don't set that up
7
or anything. It could have been mentioned in
8
the SHU meeting. But that doesn't directly
9
impact mental health services.
10
MR.
: Okay.
11
MS.
: So.
12
MR.
: So, and you don't know if
13
it was actually - not only was he given a pack
14
and PIN number - but you don't know if it was
15
actually set up or not?
16
MS.
: That, I don't know.
17
MR.
: Okay. Go ahead.
18
MS.
: And I don't know if it played
19
a role.
20
MR.
: Okay.
21
MS.
: You know, I don't know.
22
MR.
: That is the last two.
23
MR.
: Yeah. Go ahead.
24
MR.
: Okay. So, do you think Mr.
25
Epstein took his own life?
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MS.
: Yes. I mean, it would be
2
highly unlikely that he didn't. I can say that
3
psychologists, the difficult thing is that we
4
are psychologists. We are not psychic. But
5
the events leading up to it, too, that period
6
of time, he appeared psychologically stable.
7
But the information that he received, according
8
to what I heard the night before, and all of
9
that information being unsealed, and him being
10
alone with his thoughts, and thinking that
11
maybe, perhaps he would have to spend the rest
12
of his life in jail, and that all of these
13
high-profile individuals information was going
14
to come out about them.
15
Could he have, at that moment, just felt
16
completely hopeless, and thought of ending his
17
life? Yes. That is very possible. You know,
18
that is very possible. Prior to me leaving, he
19
wasn't given any of this information, and he
20
had a lot of hope, he had a lot of resources.
21
Perhaps he thought, you know, maybe he could
22
cooperate, or get some kind of a deal. I don't
23
know what happened at that meeting. But having
24
been in the prison system as long as I have
25
been, and being a psychologist, sometimes when
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people get really bad news, and they feel very
2
hopeless, and the opportunity is there.
3
They will take that opportunity. So, yes.
4
It would be highly improbable, you know, the
5
way our prison is set up, that someone could
6
have snuck up there and harmed him, in some
7
way. The way that the tiers are and
8
everything. So, I think the higher probability
9
is that he did kill himself.
10
MR.
: That leads to my second
11
question. The last question.
12
MS.
: Yeah.
13
MR.
: Do you have any reason to
14
believe that Epstein did not take his own life?
15
MS.
: I have no reason to believe
16
he didn't.
17
MR.
: Do you have any other follow
18
up questions?
19
MR.
: No. Is there anything
20
that we missed, that we should know?
21
MS.
: Not that I can think of.
22
Just that, you know, we -. No. Not really.
23
No.
24
MR.
: Okay. Great. We can't
25
thank you enough.
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MS.
: Yeah.
MR.
: So, again, it took longer
than we expected, but you were extremely
helpful.
MS.
: Thank you.
MR.
is the case agent,
so if you have any questions or anything --
MS.
: Okay.
MR.
: -- you can (Indioccrnible
*01:57:25)qo directly with
MS.
: Thank you.
MR.
: Thank you for taking your
time.
MS.
: If there is anything else I
can do, or anything I can clarify, with regard
to the case, or if you want me to review some
notes, if anything wasn't clear, because like I
said, I probably, to be more specific, if I had
those notes, I would know when the Marshals
came in, because it is kind of a blur to me.
It has been a few years. It was probably the
most traumatic event in my entire career.
MR.
: Oh, wow. Yeah.
MS.
: You know?
MR.
: Sorry to hear that.
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MS.
: So, yeah.
2
MR.
: Okay. Well, thank you so
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much for that.
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MS.
: Thank you.
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MR.
: If anything comes up, or you
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have anything that you want to share, please,
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reach out.
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MS.
: Yes. Thank you.
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MR.
: Okay. It is currently
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11:18 a.m. on Wednesday, October 27th, 2021.
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This is Senior Special Agent
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I am turning off the recorder.
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EFTA00112062
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
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EFTA00112063
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
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CERTIFICATE
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I hereby certify that the foregoing pages
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represent an accurate transcript of the
electronic sound recording of the proceedings
before the Department of Justice, Office of the
Inspector General in the matter of:
Interview of
Brianna Rose Burton, Transcriber
EFTA00112064
Extracted Information
Phone Numbers
Document Details
| Filename | EFTA00111908.pdf |
| File Size | 5733.4 KB |
| OCR Confidence | 85.0% |
| Has Readable Text | Yes |
| Text Length | 149,675 characters |
| Indexed | 2026-02-11T10:41:09.084948 |