I.
AUTHORITY:
The Board of Correction and Community Punishment (BCCP) 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 policy and its implementation in
situations where unexpected threat to, or loss of, life has occurred within the
Arkansas Department of Correction, and is not the result of disturbance or
criminal activity.
III.
DEFINITIONS:
Critical Incident: Usually 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. Internal
Affairs
B. Warden/Center Supervisor
or Assistant Warden
C. Medical
Services
D. Mental Health
Services
E. Other staff as deemed
appropriate by the Director.
III.
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. 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.
C.
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.
D. 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.
E. 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.
F. 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. The Deputy/Assistant Director will work with staff to
develop an action plan.
G. 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.
H. Portions of this review may be considered
performance evaluation records where describing individual employee actions.
Board Approval Date: 9/24/96
Effective Date: 10/7/96
Supersedes: 017
Dated: 6-18-81
