EFTA00123213.pdf
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U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Reentry Services Division
Washington, DC 20534
SEP 17 2019
MEMORANDUM FOR J. RAY ORMOND, REGIONAL DIRECTOR
MADTUVACT pwri-nm
FROM:
Keentry services Division
SUBJECT:
Psychological Reconstruction
Inmate Epstein, Jeffrey (763181III)
Inmate Jeffrey Epstein (763181III) died by suicide on
August 10, 2019, while housed at the Metropolitan Correctional
Center (MCC) in New York. The attached psychological reconstruction
was completed by Drs.
, National Suicide Prevention
Coordinator,
, Sex Offender Treatment Programs
Coordinator,
, Mental Health Treatment Coordinator and
Mr.
, Correctional Services Administrator,
Northeast Regional Office. A summary review of these and other
recent reconstruction findings is forthcoming. Distribution of this
report is limited to staff named in this memorandum.
Recommendations at the conclusion of the report should prove
beneficial to staff at the facility and will be used to inform our
national suicide prevention program. Within sixty days of receipt
of this memorandum and report, please provide me with a written
response which outlines corrective actions as well as a plan for
implementation, based on recommendations contained within. The
institution response should be routed by the Warden through the
Regional Director to the Assistant Director, Reentry Services
Division.
If you have questions or concerns regarding this request, please
contact me at
cc:
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PSYCHOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF INMATE DEATH
This is an interim report, due to an inability to gather all necessary data. Formal interviews were
not conducted as a part of this reconstruction to avoid interference with pending investigations
by other Department of Justice components. A copy of the video is normally made by Special
Investigative Staff following a significant incident, but there was no such video in this case since
the original video was confiscated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) prior to the
beginning of this reconstruction. The absence of these two sources of information severely
limited the ability to establish accurate timelines, confirm subjective reports, establish
converging and diverging lines of facts, or discover new areas of inquiry. As a result,
information typically gathered, reviewed and consolidated during a reconstruction to support
actionable findings and recommendations is limited.
Name:
Jeffrey Epstein
Register Number:
76318-054
Date of Death:
08-10-2019
Prepared by:
National Suicide Prevention Coordinator,
Psychology Services Branch, Central Office
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mr. Jeffrey Epstein was a 66-year-old, White male who died on August 10, 2019, while housed
former Acting Assistant Director, Reentry Services Division, appointed a team to
‘c
,ict a
at the Metropolitan Correctional Complex (MCC), in New York, New York.
psychological reconstruction. The team consisted of
National Suicide Prevention
Coordinator, Central Office;
Sex Offen er reatment Programs Coordinator,
Central Office;
en
t Treatment Coordinator, Central Office; and
orrectional Services Administrator, Northeast Regional Office. This
reconstruction was established in accordance with Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) Program Statement
5324.08, Suicide Prevention Program.
Social History: Mr. Epstein did not have a Pre-Sentence Report (PSR) available at the time of
the reconstruction; therefore, no official information regarding social history was accessible.
The following was gathered from publicly available documents. Mr. Epstein was born in 1953
and grew up in a middle-class family in the neighborhood of Sea Gate on Coney Island,
Brooklyn, New York, with one brother. After early promotion in two grades, Mr. Epstein
graduated from Lafayette High School in 1969, at the age of 16. He attended Cooper Union and
New York University but did not graduate from either. Mr. Epstein taught at the Dalton School,
a private school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan from September 1974 until he was
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dismissed in June 1976 for inadequate development as a teacher. Following that, he held a
number of positions in the financial industry to include a position as a limited partner at
Bear Stearns until he was dismissed for unknown policy violations in 1981. He also worked as a
financial consultant and founded at least two separate companies.
Mr. Epstein had two significant periods of employment. The first of these was his position as a
consultant with Steven Jude Hoffenberg in the late 1980s. Mr. Hoffenberg was described as his
first mentor. Mr. Hoffenberg was later convicted and incarcerated for running a large Ponzi
scheme. He implicated Mr. Epstein in fraudulently diverting company funds for his own
personal use. Years later, Leslie Wexner, Mr. Epstein's sole client at J. Epstein and Company,
granted him power of attorney over his affairs. Despite also being identified as Mr. Wexner's
mentee, Mr. Epstein was again accused of misappropriating funds—more than 46 million
dollars. These large sums are believed to be the seed money Mr. Epstein used to establish his
considerable fortune. These events are indicative of Mr. Epstein's highly-regarded intelligence
and charismatic personality.
Legal History: Mr. Epstein had a history of adult criminal charges and convictions. In
June 2008, he entered into a non-prosecution agreement and pleaded guilty to one count
Solicitation of Prostitution and one count Procuring a Person Under the Age of 18 for
Prostitution in the state of Florida. He was sentenced to 30 months: 18 months of incarceration
and 12 months of probation. He was also mandated to register as a sex offender under the
National Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Mr. Epstein served 13 of his 18-month
incarceration and then successfully completed 12 months of probation. It is unclear whether he
followed the sex offender registration guidelines in each place he owned a residence.
In regard to pending charges, Mr. Epstein was formally charged with Sex Trafficking Conspiracy
in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 and Sex Trafficking in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a), (b) (2), 2
on July 2, 2019. Specifically, he was accused of sexually exploiting and abusing minor females
over the course of several years. Charging documents allege Mr. Epstein enticed and recruited
minor females to engage in sexual activity. The minor females were reportedly compensated
with cash following the sexual encounters and some were encouraged to find other minor
females to accompany them to Mr. Epstein's residences in New York or Florida. He pleaded not
guilty to these charges and was in pretrial status at the time of his death.
In a 37-page Decision & Order Remanding the Defendant, signed by Judge Richard M. Berman
on July 18, 2019, 18 pages were dedicated to detailing the danger Mr. Epstein posed to others
and the community. The document also alleged he was a flight risk. As a result, Mr. Epstein's
proposed bail package was determined to be inadequate. He was denied pretrial release and held
on remand.
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Institutional History: On July 6, 2019, Mr. Epstein was arrested at Teterboro Airport in
New Jersey upon his return from Paris, France. It is unknown whether he was anticipating this
arrest. He was transported to MCC New York and keyed into SENTRY at 9:24 p.m. that
evening.
Mr. Epstein was placed in a general population housing unit for approximately 22
hours. On July 7, 2019, at approximately 7:20 p.m. he was moved to the Special Housing Unit
(SHU) pending reclassification due to the significant increase in media coverage and awareness
of his notoriety among the inmate population.
With regard to his adjustment to a correctional setting, Mr. Epstein received one incident report
while in BOP custody for Self-Mutilation on July 23, 2019. As of August 15, 2019, the incident
report had been expunged though it is unclear why it had been expunged and whether
Mr. Epstein knew this. Also, a review of financial transactions associated with Mr. Epstein's
S
on account revealed one of his attorneys was depositing funds into his cellmate's (inmate
commissary account for unknown reasons.
HEALTH CARE AND PERSONALITY DESCRIPTION
BOP Electronic Medical Records (BEMR) indicate Mr. Epstein was diagnosed with
hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, hypertension, constipation, prediabetes, neuralgia, and neuritis
unspecified. He was prescribed the following mediations: docusate sodium, milk of magnesia,
omega 3, methylprednisone, and bisacodyl. Mr. Epstein was also prescribed insulin, and the
prescription required him to go to the institution pharmacy for administration of this medication.
However, the dates for which it was prescribed have a notation indicating "dose not indicated,"
thus it does not appear insulin was routinely medically necessary. The rest of the medications
prescribed were self-carry. lie also had a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine
which is typically used to treat sleep apnea. Mr. Epstein was provided with his personal CPAP
machine on July 30, 2019, per BEMR.
In regard to mental health history and treatment, there are no known available records. Any
records that may have been maintained relating to Mr. Epstein's incarceration in Florida were
not available for review as of the date of this report. With regard to Psychology Data System
records in BEMR (PDS-BEMR), Dr.
I, Forensic Psychologist at
MCC New York completed a routine Intake Screening on July 8, 2019. During this screening,
Mr. Epstein denied any history of mental health problems, substance abuse, and treatment. No
symptoms of mental illness were observed. He was classified as Mental Health Care Level 1 and
was not diagnosed with a mental illness.
Following a cons 1
i n with Dr.
, National Suicide Prevention Coordinator on
July 8, 2019, Dr.
Chief Psychologist at MCC New York determined Mr. Epstein
should be pre-emptively evaluated for suicide risk upon his return from court. Primary
consideration was given to his various risk factors for suicide such as his high profile case and
media attention, pending sex offense charges, pre-trial status, and an ongoing court proceeding.
Mr. Epstein returned from court on July 8, 2019, after normal business hours. He denied suicidal
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thoughts at that time, but due to the potential for other risk factors listed above, the on-call
psychologist placed Mr. Epstein on Psychological Observation in one of the suicide watch cells
until he could be assessed in person by a BOP psychologist. Psychological Observation is a
form of individual monitoring that is less restrictive than Suicide Watch. It is used for inmates
who are stabilizing and not yet prepared for placement in general population or restrictive
housing. It is often used to transition inmates off of Suicide Watch in order to monitor their
transition and safety after an acute suicidal crisis. On July 9, 2019, Mr. Epstein underwent a
formal, in-person suicide risk assessment with Dr.
. She determined that, while suicide
watch was not warranted at that time, Mr. Epstein should remain on Psychological Observation
status out of an abundance of caution. He was removed from Psychological Observation on
July 10, 2019.
On July 23, 2019, Dr. ME, the on-call psychologist was notified Mr. Epstein had been found
in his cell with a piece of orange cloth around his neck. Reportedly, he was observed lying in the
fetal position on the floor with a noose around his neck. Medical staff evaluated Mr. Epstein and
found friction marks and superficial reddening of the neck skin and one knee. He was placed on
suicide watch by the Operations Lieutenant at a roximately 1:40 a.m. pending a formal in-
person suicide risk assessment. Dr.
, Staff Psychologist at MCC New York,
assessed Mr. Epstein for risk of suicide later in the morning of July 23, 2019, and determined he
should remain on suicide watch. Mr. Epstein denied any knowledge of how he received marks
on his neck and initially informed staff he believed his cellmate,
, had
attempted to kill him. Special Investigative Services (SIS) staff opened an investigation to assess
Mr. Epstein's safety and collect facts surrounding the episode. Despite this investigation, staff
was unable to determine whether he was assaulted or engaged in self-directed violence.
Mr. Epstein was removed from suicide watch on July 24, 2019, after 31 hours and 5 minutes.
Thereafter, he remained in the suicide watch cell and was placed on Psychological Observation,
where he remained housed until July 30, 2019, according to PDS-BEMR records. A discrepancy
exists regarding when he was removed from Psychological Observation. His cell assignment,
per SENTRY, indicates he was transferred back to the Special Housing Unit (SHU) on
July 29, 2019, whereas PDS-BEMR indicates he was removed from Psychological Observation
on July 30, 2019, at approximately 8:15 a.m.
Mr. Epstein attended a court hearing on July 31, 2019, and, upon his return, the United States
Marshals Service (USMS) provided paperwork to Receiving and Discharge (R&D) staff that
noted "suicidal tendenci.r.
was notified on August 1, 2019, about this paperwork.
She consulted with Dr.
and then met with Mr. Epstein to conduct a suicide risk
assessment. She determined suicide watch was not warranted at that time.
Mr. Epstein remained classified as a Mental Health Care Level 1 throughout his time at
MCC New York. During his contacts with psychologists, Mr. Epstein routinely denied current
mental health symptoms to include suicidal ideation, and he did not exhibit symptoms of a
serious mental illness. However, there was evidence Mr. Epstein was experiencing challenges
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adjusting to his environment and changes in his lifestyle. He reported frequent complaints of
difficulty sleeping. He did not have access to his CPAP machine until it was reportedly provided
to him on July 30, 2019. Mr. Epstein also reported he was bothered by noise in the SHU. At
times, he noted concerns related to his safety in SHU or on a general population housing unit.
On two occasions, July 26, 2019, and July 27, 2019, he describlif self as a coward and as
someone who does not like pain. On July 28, 2019, he told Dr.
the toilet in his cell would
not stop flushing for an extended period of time, and he then took to sifting in the corner with his
hands over his ears. Mr. Epstein indicated he was agitated following this incident and was
unable to sleep that night.
ANTECEDENT CIRCUMSTANCES
Mr. Epstein entered BOP custody on July 6, 2019, with a history of convictions for sexual
offenses and allegations comprised of more serious charges. The current indictment alleged
sexual crimes against minors, and he was facing up to 45 years in prison. On July 18, 2019,
Mr. Epstein's request for bail and pretrial release was denied.
On July 23, 2019, Mr. Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell. The motivation and context
were never fully determined. After 31 hours and 5 minutes on Suicide Watch, he was then
placed on Psychological Observation. On July 30, 2019, Mr. Epstein was removed from
Psychological Observation. Dr.
sent an e-mail reporting Mr. Epstein had been removed
from Psychological Observation and needed to be housed with an appropriate cellmate. This
e-mail was sent to 71 MCC New York staff and, as of August 13, 2019, only 27 staff members
had opened the message.
On August 9, 2019, a federal court unsealed approximately 2,000 pages of documents into the
public domain. These included graphic allegations against Mr. Epstein. Included was a book
order receipt for titles such as SM 101: A Realistic Introduction; SlaveCraft: Roadmaps for
Erotic Servitude; and Training with Miss Abernathy: A Workbook for Erotic Slaves and Their
Owners. Additional high profile public figures were also named in the released documents. The
documents were part of a defamation lawsuit filed by
, a woman who
alleged Mr. Epstein had victimized her, against a British socialite, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was
Mr. Epstein's ex-girlfriend, associate, and alleged to have assisted with his criminal activities.
According to staff report, Mr. Epstein was afforded telephone calls on two different days
although it is unknown whether they were legal or social calls. No recording of the calls exist
and it is not known with whom he was speaking. One occurred on or around July 16, 2019, and
the other on August 9, 2019. Legal calls are not monitored, and would not be recorded. A
social call would be recorded; given the limited information known about Mr. Epstein,
knowledge of the content of any social calls would have been crucial to helping staff work with
him.
Following his final telephone call on the evening of August 9, 2019, Mr. Epstein was moved into
his SHU cell. He was single-celled at that time because his cellmate
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did not return from court. The need for a cellmate was communicated between Day Watch
(DW) and Evening Watch (EW) shifts in the SHU, but no cellmate was placed with him by the
EW staff. According to a memorandum from Senior Officer Specialist I
, SHU
staff were informed at approximately 1:50 m. Omit Mr. Epstein's cellmat would likely not
return from court. Furthermore, Officer
noted Mr. Epstein would need a cellmate upon
arrival from his attorney visit.
A review of the 30-minute rounds forms indicate unit rounds were co
e entire MW
shift on August 10, 2019. However, a memorandum from Lieutenant
indicates
Officer Tova Noel and Material Handler Supervisor Michael Thomas made a statement after
Mr. Epstein's death that they did not complete proper 30-minute rounds at 3:00 a.m. or 5:00 a.m.
DESCRIPTION OF SCENE
A detailed description of the scene was unavailable because the officers who discovered
Mr. Epstein did not write memorandums and could not be interviewed. According to the Report
of Incident, on August 10, 2019, at approximately 6:33 a.m., while serving the breakfast meal in
the SHU, Range 9 South, Mr. Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell. Staff reportedly called
for medical assistance, activated the body alarm, and began life-saving measures. Arriving staff
stated they brought an automated external defibrillator (AED) and stretcher. Cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) reportedly continued while the AED was placed on Mr. Epstein. The AED
reportedly indicated no shock advised and CPR was continued. Mr. Epstein was escorted to
Health Services at approximately 6:39 a.m., and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived at
6:43 a.m. He was transported to the local hospital at approximately 7:10 a.m. Mr. Epstein was
pronounced deceased at 7:36 am. It was not possible to confirm this timeline without viewing
video footage.
CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS
A general appreciation of risk factors for suicide specific to sex offenders is necessary when
reviewing Mr. Epstein's death. These factors, as well as more general risk factors for suicide,
were likely present. There are several common factors that increase risk for suicide in
individuals with a history of a sexual offense. These include stigma due to the nature of
sexually-based crimes (both within society and the prison system), a disruption of the ability to
utilize sex as a coping mechanism (which can lead to increased levels of distress and negative
affect), and grief about loss experienced in regards to arrest. This grief may be secondary to the
loss of former lifestyle, loss of physical items or collections related to sexual offenses, and/or the
loss of perceived relationships with victims. Other factors that may increase risk for suicide
among individuals accused of a sex offense include safety concerns, potentially long sentences,
and lack of skills necessary to navigate social relationships in prison.
Mr. Epstein was a high-profile, pretrial detainee awaiting trial on sex trafficking offenses. He
had been a successful, wealthy businessman with a number of high-profile acquaintances that he
accumulated through a combination of charisma, charm, and intelligence. Despite his many
associates, he had limited significant or deep interpersonal ties. Although Mr. Epstein appeared
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to cultivate a large social and professional network, he was estranged from his only brother.
Indeed, his identity appeared to be based on his wealth, power, and association with other high-
profile individuals. Approximately two-and-a-half weeks before his death, Mr. Epstein appeared
to attempt suicide, but ultimately denied it was a suicide attempt. He was convincing in his
denial. On that occasion, he was saved because his cellmate notified BOP staff. In the weeks
before his death, he made statements that he was "a coward" and was having difficulty adapting
to his diminished circumstances. He also frequently referenced poor sleep and an inability to
tolerate the noise of prison. On the day before his death, a number of documents in his case were
unsealed, further eroding his previously-enjoyed elevated status and potentially implicating some
of his associates. The lack of significant interpersonal connections, a complete loss of his status
in both the community and among associates, and the idea of potentially spending his life in
prison were likely factors contributing to Mr. Epstein's suicide.
The following recommendations concern institution operations:
1. Single Ceiling: It is recommended that all inmates be double-celled unless safety
concerns or an odd number of inmates precludes this. Priority should be given to inmates
with a history of mental illness, self-directed violence, recent stressors (e.g., losses, newly
sentenced, etc.)
It is recommended that a system of control be implemented explaining who will be
notified when a Suicide Watch or Psychological Observation ends and how that
communication will take place. Because this is a life safety issue, the system of control,
once approved by the warden, should be reviewed in formal meetings such as staff
recalls, department head meetings, and lieutenants meetings.
2. Rounds: 30-minute rounds are required by P5500.14, Correctional Services Procedures
Manual.
3. Cellmate Assignments: Wh
would be his cellmate. As explained by
ein was placed in SHU on July 7, 2019,
Exec
Staff decided Mr.
Dr.
, input was not sought from Psychology Services and it is not clear if or how
sex
-
ific needs and associated risk were incorporated into the housing plan.
Mr.
was also a high profile inmate—an ex-police officer charged in multiple
murders. However, he and Mr. Epstein did not share the risk associated with being a sex
offender and their pairing may have aggravated Mr. Epstein's risk for self-directed
violence. In an effort to treat Mr. Epstein the same as other inmates, a statement repeated
by multiple staff, Executive Staff may have inadvertently overlooked the need to consider
unique risk factors associated with individuals whim been charged with and
V
ense. On July 25, 2019, Dr.
sent an e-mail to
, Associate Warden explaining a consultation betwee
and Dr.
; National Suicide Prevention Coordinator. In the e-mail, Dr.
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reviewed the consult and recommendation from the Psychology Services Branch, Central
Office that Mr. Epstein be housed with another inmate who had also been accused of
committing a sex offense. There is no evidence this information was considered beyond
this e-mail, and Mr. Epstein was never housed with another inmate charged or convicted
of a sexual offense.
It is recommended Executive Staff and Correctional Services staff include a psychologist
in decisions about cellmates as a means of incorporating expertise about suicide risk,
mental health needs, and interventions for psychological stability.
4. Documentation Accuracy: On July 23, 2019, Mr. Epstein was found unresponsive in his
cell. He had abrasions on his neck and knee. There are inconsistencies between
documents describilifircumstances of the scene. In a General Administrative Note
in PDS-BEMR. r.
documented information received from Operations Lieutenant
that Mr.
'
found with a string loosely hanging around his
neck." In contrast, Officer,
who responded to this e
ncy, wrote a
memorandum dated July 23, 2019. In that memorandum, Officer
wrote he saw
Mr. Epstein "laying down near his bunk with what appeared to be a piece of handmade
orange cloth around his neck." It is critical that all descriptions of the incident accurately
reflect objective evidence.
Officer
wrote Mr. Epstein an incident report for Self-Mutilation on
July 23, 2019, after he was found unresponsive in his cell but prior to having the
necessary facts to determine whether he likely engaged in a Bureau violation. BOP
policy expects staff to write an incident report within 24 hours of having the information
that an inmate likely violated BOP rules but without making a presumptive decision
about guilt. A Special Investigative Services Threat Assessment was completed
August 2, 2019, but results were inconclusive as to whether Mr. Epstein engaged in self-
directed violence, willingly fought with his cellmate, or was assaulted by his cellmate. It
is recommended that staff remain open to all reasonable explanations for a behavior and
take the appropriate actions when a final determination is made. Although the incident
report was later expunged, inmates frequently experience significant stress when they
contemplate the potential consequences associated with findings of guilt.
Dr.
entered a Psychology Services Intake Screening into PDS-BEMR on
July 8, 2010. The document has three typographical errors. She selected the No Sexual
Offense Convictions check box when, in fact, Mr. Epstein was previously convicted of
Solicitation of Prostitution and Procuring a Person Under the Age of 18 for Prostitution.
Second, Mr. Epstein was erroneously identified as a Black male in this document.
Finally, there is one instance where he was mistakenly referred to as Mr. Brown.
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Dr. acompleted
a Risk of Sexual Abusiveness document on July 8, 2019. She
marked "History of prior prison sexual predation" in the affirmative. This is not accurate.
Mid-Level Practitioner, completed a History and Physical on
July 9, 2019. An Intake Screening should have been conducted within 24 hours of his
entry into Bureau custody which was on July 6, 2019, according to P6031.04, Patient
Care.
Officer was
responsible for observing Mr. E stein and documenting his
behavior while on suicide watch on July 23, 2019. Officer
mistakenly used a
Suicide Watch Log Book intended for inmate companion documentation between
1:40 am. and 6:00 am. on July 23 2019, when he should have been using the Staff
Suicide Watch Log Book. Ms.
Drug Treatment Specialist, reportedly
noticed this error and subsequent y an copied all of Officer ing entries from 1:40
a.m. to 6:00 a.m. into a Staff Suicide Watch Log Book. She then initialed these entries,
and this makes it appear as if she was the one conduct
the watch. This information
was discovered and conveyed in an e-mail from Ms.
Associate Warden
to Dr.
with a carbon copy to Warden
on ugust 12, 2019. Of note,
Ms.
did not make an entry explaining why s e was making the log book changes.
Additionally, Ms. =then
wrote entries for 6:15, 6:30, 6:45 and 7:00 a.m. in the
Staff Suicide Watch Log Book. These were not a part of the original entries made by
Officer nor
was Ms.
assigned to work the Suicide Watch post. Due to the
inability to interview staff at
s time, it is unknown why Ms.
attempted to correct
Officer
error, or made any of the subsequent log entries. t is recommended that
if a staff mem r makes an entry error (e.g., writes in the incorrect suicide watch log
book), the staff member should describe the error in the correct log book, to include
indicating when they became aware of the error. The staff member should then notify the
Chief Psychologist.
A review of Special Housing Unit Records (BP-A0292) revealed a number of incomplete
entries. This document is used to monitor provision and receipt of basic services such as
recreation, medical rounds, showers, meal consumption, etc. The Officer in Charge
signature is missing on 10 occasions and a medical provider's signature is missing in
seven instances. There are six instances in which it is not clear if Mr. Epstein ate his
meal. There are nine instances in which it is not clear if Mr. Epstein took a shower.
There are ten instances in which it is not clear if Mr. Epstein was offered recreation.
P5500.15, Correctional Services Manual requires accurate and complete information on
the BP-A0292.
A review of Psychology Observation Log Books revealed significant discrepancies from
the approved Psychological Observation Procedural Memorandum, dated April 15, 2019.
A Correctional Officer is required to complete hourly rounds and sign the log book; 179
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out of 183 round signatures were missing. The lieutenant is required to sign the log book
one time per shift and signatures were missing in 10 of 23 instances. A Physician
Assistant is required to sign one time per shift and 16 of 16 instances were missing. It is
recommended that a further review of Psychological Observation procedures be
conducted.
5. Telephone Calls: In a PDS-BEMR note written by Dr.
on July 16, 2019, she was
informed by an unnamed staff member that a lieutenant facilitated two telephone calls for
Mr. Epstein. It is unknown when and to whom these calls were placed and no evidence
that they took place on a monitored telephone.
According to a memorandum from Unit Managers
on August 10, 2019,
Mr. Epstein terminated his legal vis on August 9, 2019, in order to place a
telephone call to his family. Mr.
(who was the Institutional Duty Officer that
week) escorted Mr. Epstein to SHU around 7:00 p.m. that evening and he was placed in
the shower area on G tier. While there, he was provided the telephone to make a call.
Since Mr. Epstein reportedly did not have his PAC or PIN number, which is required to
use the inmate telephone system, the Unit Manager placed
dialing a number that
reportedly began with area code 347. Mr. Epstein told Mr.
he was calling his
mother who, according to public records, has been deceased since 2004.
It is recommended that all telephone calls, other than legal calls, be made on monitored
lines to be available for post-call review or on a speaker phone so staff can monitor what
is discussed.
6. Direct Observation: Mr. Epstein was on suicide watch from July 23, 2019, until
July 24, 2019. While on suicide watch on July 23, 2019, Mr. Epstein attended an
attorney visit from approximately 12:40 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. During this time, he was
without "direct, continuous observation" by a dedicated BOP staff member as required by
P5324.08. While on Psychological Observation, he attended attorney visits on
July 24, 2019, for 11.25 hours; on July 25, 2019, for 11.25 hours; on July 26, 2019, for
9.25 hours; on July 27, 2019, for 11.33 hours; on July 28, 2019, for 10.5 hours; and on
July 29, 2019, for 8 hours. On July 30, 2019, Psychology Observation was terminated.
During these visits, continuous observation by a dedicated BOP staff member was not
maintained as required by MCC New York's Procedural Memorandum for Psychological
Observation.
7. Follow-Up: Mr. Epstein arrived at MCC New York on
y 6, 2019. While
conducting the 10:00 p.m. institution count that evening...,
Facillissistant
mated she observed Mr. Enstein in his cell. In an e-mail she sent to Drs.
and
El and Lieutenant I
later that evening, she described Mr. Epstein as
"distraught, sad and a little confused." She said she then asked Mr. Epstein if he was
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okay, and he reportedly said he was. However, Ma
noted in her e-mail she was
not convinced of this, adding, "He seems dazed and withdrawn." She went on to say, "So
just to be on the safe side and prevent any suicidal thoughts can some
Psychology come and talk with him." Despite the fact that Lieutenant opened
the e-mail there is no evidence that he contacted the on-call
gist as is required by
P5324.08, Suicide Prevention Program. Additionally, if Msillit was concerned about
suicide risk, P5324.08, Suicide Prevention Progra
ircs her to maintain direct,
continuous observation of Mr. Epstein. When Dr.
the e-mail the following
Monday morning, Mr. Epstein was evaluated by Dr.
at approximately
9:30 a.m.
Mr. Epstein was denied bail on Thursday, July 18, 2019. This was a significant
disappointment for Mr. Epstein and likely challenged his ability and willingness to adapt
to incarceration. Given the potential impact of the judge's decision, a psychologist
should have oscesced Mr. Epstein's mental status upon his return to the institution. The
BOP developed a SENTRY assignment of PSY ALERT for purposes such as this.
Specifically PSY ALERT is used "to ensure, if movement occurs, that all staff consider
the special psychological and management-related risks associated with the inmate."
Furthermore, P5324.07, SENTRY Psychology Alert Function states, "When a decision to
move [any PSY ALERT] inmate occurs, any special psychological needs of the inmate
are reviewed and considered by Psychology Services staff [and] any safety and security
concerns are highlighted for non-Psychology Services staff." Psychologists should use
the PSY ALERT assignment more frequently with high profile cases and with inmates
who have a history or charge of sex offense. Both of these groups of inmates are
susceptible to exaggerated or unrealistic fears about correctional settings and experience
stress associated during movement and periods of transition (e.g., cell/unit changes,
movement to and from court, institutional movement, and release of information through
the media).
Mr. Epstein was reportedly in court on July 31, 2019. It is unknown what time he
departed or returned to MCC New York because this information was not entered in
SENTRY. Regardless, upon his return, the United States Marshals Service (USMS)
provided R&D staff with a Prisoner Custody Alert Notice regarding Mr. Epstein. The
notice indicated Mr. Epstein had "mit Mental Concerns Suicidal Tendencies." The
USMS requested R&D staff sign the lam and theyikleparted with the signed copy.
On August 1, 2019, at 8:46 a.m., Dr.= sent Dr.
an e-mail reporting she had
just become aware of the above information. In the absence of additional information
about this notation, this should have been considered a referral to Psychology Services
about a potentially suicidal inmate and procedures should have been followed as outlined
in P5324.08, Suicide Prevention Program. Specifically, when a staff member becomes
aware an inmate may be thinking about suicide during normal working hours, that staff
member must contact Psychology Services and maintain the inmate under direct,
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EFTA00123224
continuous observation until he is placed on Suicide Watch or seen by a psychologist.
There is no evidence Mr. Epstein was monit
der these conditions from the time he
returned from court until he was seen by Dr.
or a suicide risk assessment on
August 1, 2019, at approximately 1:30 p.m.
8. Inmate Accountability and Assignment Accuracy: According to a SENTRY quarters
roster generated on August 10, 2019, at 12:51 a.m., there were three inmates assigned to
Mr. Epstein's SHU cell, Z04-206LAD, including him,
theiime_othis_deau
nwrver,
his SHU cell was only a double neciwancy cell. Inmate
inmate
L and Mr. Epstein were all assigned to the same cell.
On August 13, 2019, at
naiad 12:08 p.m., a quartegaiug roster was
generated for innate= and
respectively. lnmat
cell assignment was
Z04-206LAD from Aue
019, until August 11, 2019, when he was moved to cell
Z04-212UAD. Inmat
cell assignment was Z04-206UAD from August 1, 2019,
until August 11, 2019, when he was moved to cell Z04-207LAD. A quarters history
roster was generated for Mr. Epstein on August 13, 2019, at 9:07 a.m. His cell
assignment was Z04-206LAD from July 29, 2019, until August 10, 2019.
On Monday, August 12, 2019, photographs of nametags on SHU cell doors and SHU
locator forms were sent to the Correctional Service Department
Northeast Region.
The SHU locator form is dated August 9, 2019. It shows inmate
207L
(SENTRY states he was moved to this cell on August 11, 2019), inmate
in cell
212U (SENTRY states he was moved to this cell on August 11, 2019
in in
M
220L (SENTRY never shill.'
•
ng with nun
). The locator shows intnat
) and inmate
in cell 206. The photo sheets show the csajiiirwaa with irunatagastriji and
identification cards on the door. Inmatea,M,
Reg. No.allt
was in cell
Z06-220U from August 5, 2019 to August 9, 2019.
MCC New York has four suicide watch cells and each is for single occupancy use. The
suicide watch cells are located in Health Services. Each cell is abbreviated with the unit
code H01 in SENTRY followed by the four-digit cell number. The doors are identified
by a painted number from one to four. Two reviews were conducted. The first revealed
Mr. Epstein was in H01-001L according to SENTRY but the Suicide Watch Log Books
indicate he was in cell 4. A second review was conducted on August 13, 2019, while
there were four inmates on in these cells. SENTRY showed two inmates assigned to
HO1-001L, one assigned to H01-002L, and the fourth inmate assigned to a general
population housing unit. Through physical observation of the dedicated suicide watch
cells there were four H0I cells, however a review of the BOPWARE Inmate Housing
Format, only shows three cells.
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EFTA00123225
Inmate movement and assignments are not accurately reflected in SENTRY as required
by P5500.14, Correctional Service Procedures Manual.
9. Attorney Log Books: Four log books were not secured following Mr. Epstein's death.
Specifically, three Attorney Log Books located in the Attorney Visiting and Front Lobby
areas and an Inmate Search Log Book located in the Attorney Visiting area were not
secured. All four books were still in use at the outset of the reconstruction and after the
reconstruction team advised staff to secure them. P5324.08 states, "In the event of a
suicide, institution staff, particularly Correctional Services staff, and other law
enforcement personnel, will handle the site with the same level of protection as any crime
scene in which a death has occurred." This policy further states, "All possible evidence
and documentation will be preserved to provide data and support for subsequent
investigators doing a psychological reconstruction."
Further, a review of the attorney log books identified many errors and signify a systemic
concern. For example, there were two concurrently open attorney log books in the
Attorney Visiting area. Further, the different purposes of the two attorney log books, one
in the Attorney Visit area and one in the Front Lobby, could not be explained. BOP staff
were unable to articulate a system of control for the log books, and during the
reconstruction, some of the log books could not be accounted for. Within the log books,
entries were made out of chronological order, attorneys did not consistently sign in and
out, significant information was illegible or missing, columns were not consistently
labeled, log book opening and closing dates were inconsistent, and the cover had been
torn off of several books. At the current time, these log books are not functioning as an
adequate system of control and monitoring.
10. Automatic External Defibrillators: A review of available AEDs in the institution
revealed that the list used for accountability and inspection purposes was inaccurate and
incomplete.
11. Post Orders & SHU Training: SHU Post Orders Sign-In Shce
viewed for the 3nd
Quarter, spanning June 9, 2019, to September 7, 2019. Officetrililif failed to sign post
orders for SHU #3 post.
Quarterly SHU Training Sign-In Sheets were reviewed. The 2019 r Quarter SHU
Training was conducted on June 6, 2019. Three staff assigned to the i rd Ollarter
Roster
attend or rec. ;ye the SHII Training: Officer
Officer,
and Officer
12. Staffing: The Drug Abuse Program Coordinator positon at MCC New York was
abolished during Phase I of the staff realignment during fiscal year 2018. Re-establishing
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EFTA00123226
the Drug Abuse Program Coordinator position would provide the institution with an
additional supervisory psychologist to provide critical clinical services.
Staffing in the Correctional Services department is relevant to the reconstruction.
However, the details about this topic are provided in an After Action Review completed
separately from this report.
13. Sex Offense Risk Factors: A broad understanding of risk factors associated with sex
offenders, by staff at MCC New York, did not appear to be present in all staff but was
vital to his adjustment and safety in prison. A more focused management strategy is
recommended, particularly in complex and high profile cases. Supplemental training on
sex-offender specific risk factors is recommended for all staff and should be provided by
Executive Staff and Psychology Services.
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EFTA00123227
DOCUMENTS EXAMINED
TRU-INTEL Download Report of Incident (583), 586, & Global Report
TRUVIEW — Money Exchanged; Phone, Email, & Visitor Lists; Calls; Messages; Visits;
Timeline
TRU-SCOPE — Logs, High Risk Inmates, Inmates Lists, etc.
Staff Memorandums
Staff E-Mail
Photographs of Scene; Deceased, Autopsy
Video Showing Scene and Staff Response
Sentry Documentation
SIS Case File Index
Psychology File PDS-BEMR
Psychological Observation Procedural Memorandum
Post Orders
Lieutenant Logs
Attorney Logs
Staff Roster
Medical Information/Records (BEMR)
BOP Twenty-Four Hour Death Report
Pre-Sentence Report
Note(s) Left Behind by Deceased
Time Line
Autopsy Request & Report
Inmate Central File
Court Return Screening Form
Prisoner Remand Form (If applicable)
USM 129 Individual Custody/Detention Report (If applicable)
Prisoner Custody Alert Notice
Staff Sign-In Log 1 Week Prior to Suicide (If applicable)
Detention Orders (If applicable)
30 minute SHU rounds
BP 292's & 295's
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EFTA00123228
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