I.
AUTHORITY:
The Board of Correction is vested with the authority to
promulgate this administrative regulation by Ark. Code Ann. ss
12-27-105
(Michie Supp. 1995).
II.
POLICY:
To assess the adequacy of the Emergency Preparedness Plan and its
implementation in situations where unexpected threat to, or loss of, life has
occurred within the Arkansas Department of Correction, Critical Incident
Reviews may be ordered by the Director.
III.
DEFINITIONS:
Critical Incident: Usuallv a critical incident will meet the
following criteria:
A. An employee,
inmate, volunteer, or visitor has died or sustained serious injury
B. Occurred on property of the Arkansas
Department of Correction
C.
Occurred while being transported in a vehicle operated by ADC staff or
inmate
D. The event is not
associated with known criminal actions or rule violations by staff
E. Questions exist regarding response to the
event or prevention of similar events.
However, any incident to which the Director wishes to apply this
procedure will be considered a critical incident.
Critical Incident Review Committee: A
committee of ADC staff appointed by the Director drawing normally from the
following areas:
A. Emergency
Preparedness Coordinator
B.
Internal Affairs
C. Warden/Center
Supervisor or Assistant Warden
D.
Medical Services
E. Mental Health
Services
F. Other staff as deemed
appropriate by the Director.
IV.
PROCEDURE:
A. The Director shall use his/her discretion
in ordering a Critical Incident Review. The Director may review requests for
Critical Incident Reviews originating from Administrators, Wardens and Center
Supervisors and forwarded through the appropriate Deputy/Assistant
Directors.
B.
C. If the Director determines that the facts
warrant a Critical Incident Review, the Director will select and notify the
individuals to be on the Critical Incident Review Committee. The Director will
also advise the Management Team that a Critical Incident has been
authorized.
D. The Critical
Incident Review Committee, acting under the authority of the Director, will
conduct such interviews and gather such documentation as necessary to determine
the facts related to the incident.
E. Should the Critical Incident Review
Committee have good cause to suspect that criminal activity has occurred, the
Administrator of Internal Affairs will be immediately notified, and the
Director will make a determination as to whether to continue the Critical
Incident Review or refer the matter to the State Police or Internal Affairs for
Investigation.
F. The Critical
Incident Review Committee will usually finish its work within 45 days, and the
Chair will cause a report to be written which outlines the facts and
recommendations. Should additional time be needed, the Chair will notify the
Director and provide an expected completion date.
G. Copies of all records and tapes of
interviews from which the facts and recommendations have been drawn will be
retained by Internal Affairs. A copy of the summary and recommendations will be
forwarded to the Deputy/Assistant Director who originally requested the
Critical Incident Review and the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. The
Deputy/Assistant Director and the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator will work
with staff to develop an action plan and make any changes warranted to the
Emergency Preparedness Plan.
H. The
summary, recommendations and action plan will be made known to the Management
Team for review and to determine the feasibility of implementation. The
Director will set a review date to ensure that recommendations approved by the
Management Team are implemented in the designated time frame.
I. Portions of this review may be considered
performance evaluation records when describing individual employee actions.
Board Approval Date: 04/29/2014
Effective Date: 05/09/2014
Supersedes: 017
Dated: 10/07/1996
