Code of Maryland Regulations
Title 12 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Subtitle 12 - PATUXENT INSTITUTION
Chapter 12.12.21 - Death, Serious Illness, or Injury of an Inmate
Section 12.12.21.01 - Death of an Inmate
Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B. Terms Defined.
C. Upon discovery of the death of an inmate, medical services staff or the senior shift supervisor shall immediately notify the following authorities:
D. After receiving clearance to do so by the appropriate investigating agency, Institution staff shall:
E. Upon official pronouncement of death, the Director shall contact the decedent's next of kin. The identity of a deceased inmate may not be released to the media until the next of kin have been notified.
F. The Institution shall obtain two copies of the autopsy report when appropriate. One copy shall be placed in the inmate's base file and one copy shall be forwarded to the Director for inclusion in the serious incident report.
G. If an inmate is known to have died of natural causes while in the Institution's infirmary, or while in an outside hospital, the following action shall be taken after a medical doctor on the scene has pronounced the inmate dead:
H. After the required immediate actions have been taken and the initial notifications have been made, the Warden shall secure three copies of the death certificate from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Vital Records, to be distributed as follows:
I. The Warden shall ensure that the provisions of Regulation .02 of this chapter are followed in cases when the next of kin intends to claim the body of the deceased inmate, if both the next of kin and the inmate are indigent.
J. The Warden shall advise the next of kin to seek the assistance of legal counsel to obtain authority to receive the personal property of the deceased inmate, and shall follow the procedures described in COMAR 12.12.26.03BB in disposing of the deceased inmate's inventoried possessions.