EFTA00135369.pdf

1 DIGITALLY RECORDED SWORN STATEMENT OF OIG CASE 4: 2019-010614 /-1 iS4/ I eir DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AUGUST 12, 2019 FENTON TRANSCRIPTION 28720 Roadside Drive, Suite 250 Agoura Hills CA 91301 Phone: SDNY_00007896 EFTA_00001020 EFTA00135369  2 APPEARANCES: OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL BY: 1; 1 4 4I lY BY: WITNESS: 4 4/e OTHER APPEARANCES: SDNY_00007897 EFTA_00001021 EFTA00135370  3 1 MR. : Today is Monday, August 2 12. The following will be a voluntary 3 interview of BOP in 4 furtherance of OIG investigation to be determined, for the purpose of transcription, 6 will now identify all present in the interview. 7 I'll ask everyone to say and spell their last 8 name, as well as identify their working title 9 and employer. • 10 I am Special Agent 11 , Office of the Iris e .or General. • 12 MR. Special Agent 13 II with the FBI. 14 EMPLOYEE 15 Federal Bureau of Prison5. Mina 16 17 18 19 MR. : Thank you. EMPLOYEE 20 21 IrglaKCIAigtell Um-hum. 22 MR. : -- you have reviewed and 23 signed Department of Justice OIG Form 226-2 24 which is Warnings and Assurances of Employees 25 Request to Provide Information on a Voluntary SDNY_00007898 EFTA_00001022 EFTA00135371  4 1 Basis. Do you have any questions about this 2 form? 3 No. 4 MR. : Would you like time to 5 review it with an attorney, or would you like 6 an attorney here? 7 EMPLOYEE 22 For now, I don't need an 8 attorney. 9 MR. : Okay. Are you currently 10 under the influence of any substances, or is 11 there any reason to prevent you from fully 12 understanding my questions and answering 13 truthfully today? as. 14 EMPLOYEE 15 MR. I'll now swear you to the 16 statements you're about to make. Please raise N\ 17 your hand and repeat after me. 18 MR. : Hereby solemnly swear or O1 22 affirm. miummum Hereby solemnly swear or 23 affirm. 24 MR. : That the statements that 25 I'm about to make. CCIIIIIIIP SDNY_00007899 EFTA_00001023 EFTA00135372  5 1 EMPLOYEE 22 That the statements I'm 2 about to make. 3 MR. : Shall be the truth and the 4 whole truth. 5 F2,1P -' Shall be the truth and the 6 whole truth. 7 MR. : Thank you, sir. 8 EMPLOYEE Um-hum. 9 MR. : Warden would you mind 10 telling us a little bit about your career with 11 BOP? When you started, how you became a 12 Warden? 13 roggioynistrom 14 . hu. you moved up the A, 15 ranks. 16 makesurtam I started out as a sinr lk 17 Correctional Officer, and I was promoted to a 18 Lieutenant. From there, I went to Special 19 Investigative Agent at our regional office, and 20 then I went from there, I was promoted to 21 Captain, and then I was Associate Warden, and 22 then from there I went to DC as a Chief 23 Internal Affairs, and now in my present 24 position. 25 MR. : Great. How long have you SONY 00007900 EFTA_00001024 EFTA00135373  6 1 been the Warden? 2 EMPLOYEE I've been here since May of 3 2018. 4 MR. : Okay, great. Just, your 5 role, you've done a lot of internal 6 investigations with the prison and you've 7 worked with the Department of Justice kle 8 EMPLOYEE Um-hum. 9 MR. moving forwar just as 10 a note for the record, you're aware that 11 failure to be honest with us today would be 12 considered a criminal offense; correct? 13 Irm3flynomolg Yes. 14 Okay, great. Let's talk a 15 little bit about some overall policies at the 16 prison to start with. 17 pV Okay. 18 MR. : So, actually let me back 19 up. We're here today to talk about, 20 specifically Jeffrey Epstein. 21 ILVISMIIII Um-hum. 22 MR. : The inmate. 23 raf[O 13O. 41. Um-hum. 24 MR. : Would you mind just 25 telling us a little bit about when, your SDNY_00007901 EFTA_00001025 EFTA00135374  7 1 understanding of when he arrived and that type 2 of, when he arrived, how he was placed, where 3 he was placed, and the reasons behind that? 4 EMPLOYEE 22 I don't remember the 5 specific date he arrived, but we didn't, what_‘ It' 6 happened was, we weren't told that he was going 7 to be coming to the institution. 8 MR. : Okay. A 9 gpmsommostill When he initially came, he 10 was dropped off on the weekend, and we didn't 11 find out until Monday, myself, that he had been 12 placed at the institution. And from then on, 13 we, you know, went through the whole process of 14 the screening, his medical stuff. Just normal 15 procedures that we follow and (Indiscernible 16 *00:04:04). , 14lir 17 MR. Okay. Now when you say 18 "he was dropped off over the weekend", when 19 somebody arrives at the facility, what's the 20 normal -- 21 I mean typically if 22 somebody's that high profile -- 23 MR. : Um-hum. 24 NUMINUMO -- we should've been 25 notified and said hey, he's coming in. We SDNY_00007902 EFTA_00001026 EFTA00135375  8 1 weren't. 2 MR. : Okay. 3 You know, I mean, we saw it 4 on the news, but it didn't say. They just said 5 they had him in custody, but we didn't get any 6 formal, I didn't get any formal notice that he 7 had been brought into the institution. 8 So, he was dropped off, and you know, the 9 Lieutenant on shift processed him in and 10 brought him into the institution. We didn't 11 find out or realize it until Monday. 12 MR. : So, it was Monday that you 13 first were officially made aware of it? 14 EMPLOYEE 2 That I was made aware. You 15 know, we found out, and I don't remember if it 16 was from looking at the news reports, we put it 17 together that he had been brought into the 18 institution. We went through our Monday 19 morning meeting that we went through. So, 20 that's when -- 21 MR. : When he first arrived, was 22 he placed in general population? Do you know 23 where he was placed? 24 I don't recall where he was 25 placed when he came in. SDNY_00007903 EFTA_00001027 EFTA00135376  9 1 MR. : At some point, he was 2 placed in Special Housing Unit? 3 Yes. 4 : Known as the SHU. EMPLOYEE Right. 6 : how did he end up there? 7 ratasionstary Well, he was a new 8 commitment. He was high profile. So, we 9 placed him in the Special Housing Unit so we 10 can further evaluate, you know, his status. Is 11 he ready for general population? And we do 12 that with all inmates, but --4I 13 MR. : Okay. 14 EMPLOYEE -- and then to see, okay, 15 any separation issues. Any threats to him, 16 before we put him out there in general 17 population. 18 MR. : Was he ever in general 19 population? 20 I don't recall. I don't, 21 I'm not sure if it might've been the first day 22 when he came in. 23 MR. : Okay. 24 L:41_:. But I'm not sure, so I mean, 25 I would have to look at the 37 to confirm. SONY 00007904 EFTA_00001028 EFTA00135377  10 1 MR. : But as far as you know, 2 that Monday, the first business day after the 3 weekend he was initially dropped off. 4 Right. 5 MR. : From that point forward, 6 was he ever in general population? 7 No. 8 MR. : Okay. What are the 9 policies in terms of, or is there policy that 10 dictates when somebody goes into general 11 population from the SHU after the first 12 arrival? 13 minummual 'Jell, what we do is we 14 evaluate the individual to see if they're ready 15 for general population, if they can hang, you 16 know -- 17 C jims : Um-hum. 18 -- if they can populate. MR : Okay. 44 3 l,sb LAI_ I.L_ And it's a number of O cloeullimp 1 factors. It depends. I mean, if I have a gang 22 member coming in, I'm taking into consideration 2 23 separation issues on it. If it's, you know, 24 somebody that might've been fraud or bank 4q1 25 fraud, then we determine if it's any issues of SDNY_00007905 EFTA_00001029 EFTA00135378  11 1 them going into the general population. So, 2 it's a case-by-case basis on how we determine 3 it. 4 MR. : Okay. What are the 5 policies in terms of when you're notified if 6 someone enters Special Housing Unit or is 7 discharged from Special Housing Unit? 8 LA1_ Well what it is is, it's 9 routed the individual, it's called a Release 10 Form. So, several people sign it. They review 11 it. I believe psychology, CMC, the Captain, 12 and it goes to the Associate Warden and then 13 they sign what we call is a Kick-Out. Meaning 14 everybody's reviewed i5;a l nd said, okay, this 15 person is appropriate for general population 16 MR. : Okay. For Mr. Epstein, 17 after that, he was never put in general 18 population; correct? 19 IIIIIIIIIIII No. 20 MR. : Was the determination to 21 keep him in Special Housing? What was the 4 .00122 communication that goes on there? / 1 1(lpillim. 23 Well we, now initially when al.eLOYEE 22 24 he came in, it's the goal to determine, okay, 25 can they go to general population. c SONY 00007906 EFTA 00001030 EFTA00135379  12 1 : Okay. 2 EMPLOYEE So, between evaluating him, 3 at the same time, we're looking at saying, 4 okay, can he go to general population. 5 MR. : Um-hum. 6 EMPLOYEE So, it's a dual role th 7 we're going to -- 8 MR. : Sure. /Or 9 ipmaosoommig But I had gotten word, and I 10 don't recall the date, where from my Regional 11 Director which stated he's not to go to general 12 population until further notice. 13 MR. : The Regional Director, 14 where is that in the chain of command for BOP? 15 ipomigovoommig We have five regional 16 offices. Nk 17 MR. : Okay. J 18 Each region has a Regional 19 Director. 20 MR. : Okay. 21 This is the Northeast 22 Region. 23 MR. : Okay. 24 rwpaswmpatm Where we have 21 25 institutions. So, he supervises and is in SDNY_00007907 EFTA_00001031 EFTA00135380  13 1 charge of the 21 institutions. 2 MR. : Okay. So, is he -- 3 (Indiscernible *00:08:37). 4 MR. : -- your direct supervisor? 5 L It _ He's my director supervisor. 6 MR. : Okay. Who is that? (phonetic sp.). tinaosogeom Yeah. 10 MR. : And told you, 11 do you recall if it was verbally or an email? 12 Phone call? .‘1 1414 13 magagung We had talked about it, too, 14 but I would have to check if there was an email 15 to go with it. But we did talk and said, hey, 16 we're going to hold off on putting him out in 5=-J 17 general population. 18 MR. : Okay. Do you recall when 19 you officially were, you and , spoke 20 about this? 21 ENP-OYE- 22 I don't want to give you the 22 wrong date. But it was within that, you know, 23 maybe a couple weeks after he arrived. 24 MR. : Okay. So, it was a few 25 weeks after he arrived -- SDNY_00007908 EFTA_00001032 EFTA00135381  14 1 Right. 2 MR. : Okay. After 3 told you to keep him, or it was agreed upon -- 4 Um-hum. 5 MR. : -- to keep him in Special 6 Housing Unit. 7 Right. 8 MR. : Who did you notify that he 9 was to stay in the Special Housing Unit? How 10 does that communication -- 11 EMPLOYEE So, what ! IV,ibs is I get my 12 exec staff together -- 13 MR. Um-hum. 14 rimummommtil -- which is my Associate 15 Wardens, the captain, my exec, and we have our 16 meetings, and I tell them he's not, you know, I 17 lay out the specific instructions. He's not to 18 go out to general population. And -- MR . : Were there, sorry. EMPLOYEE L. Go ahead. MR. : No. EMPLOYEE And that's basically how we 23 start. 24 MR. : Okay. 25 Yeah. SDNY_000079O9 EFTA_00001033 EFTA00135382  15 1 MR. : Were there any other 2 specific directions or instructions given to 3 the staff regarding him? 4 Well, so at the time of him is:Sfr 5 staying in there, we had to find him initially, 6 a roommate. 7 MR. : Okay. 8 L_!1_" So, and it's hard especially 9 in Special Housing Unit when you've got gang 10 members in there that are not appropriate to be 11 housed with. So, we came up with, I came up 12 with Tartaglione, who was in there. White 13 male, probably be able to cope with him. And 14 that's typically how we, you know, that's part 15 of the evaluation process. 16 MR. : Is it standard for inmates 17 in Special Housing Unit to have cellmates? 18 milimiggi We typically would like for 19 them to have it. 20 MR. : Sure. 21 IUMMIIIIIIII But certain situations 22 dictate that they can. If an inmate's a total 23 separation from a group, and we get word from 24 US Attorney's office or the arresting agents 25 that, hey, he's to be totally separated, then SDNY_00007910 EFTA_00001034 EFTA00135383  16 1 they would be housed by themselves. They could 2 have an incident in the institution, you know, 3 for example our gang members, somebody has an 4 issue, and for example, the Bloods, then we 5 have to say hey, let's separate him from there. 6 You know? 7 MR. : Was there any directions 8 specifically that Mr. Epstein was to have a 9 cellmate at all times? 10 Immussi From psychology when -- 11 : Okay. 12 oprzizocatineat said hey, that he's 13 required, he needs to have a cellmate at all 14 times. 15 MR. : Okay. And that occurred 16 later on? When he first arrived, there was no Nk 17 specific directions regarding that; correct? 18 guissiggi No, it wasn't. 19 : Okay. 20 EMPLOYEE L.- Wait, let me. 21 MR. : Sure. You mean when he first came 4(4?::t 11)2 2: in were we talking about him having a cellmate? 24 MR. : Initially. 25 L:11 _ I don't recall any talks SDNY_00007911 EFTA_00001035 EFTA00135384  17 1 about him. 2 MR. : Okay. 3 Initially, and trying to 4 figure out when he first came in, how he was 5 housed. I don't recall how he was housed when 6 he first came in, but -- 7 MR. : Okay. The MCC is 8 stranger to high profile -- 9 irinaosmemil Right. 10 MR. : -- inmates. Generally 11 speaking, how do you normally, or generally 12 handle these type of high profile inmates? Any 13 other special considerations or concerns. How 14 does this work? 15 potaistordaine4‘ Again, you come in. We 16 evaluate him to determine, okay, if they can go 17 out to general population or not. We've had, 18 you know, we've had a bunch that come in that 19 were able to go out. We had Siock (phonetic 20 sp.), you know, the phone that, I don't know if 21 you recall, the one that sent the bombs to the LOO1 22 ex-presidents. 1(lpillim. 23 MR. III: (Indiscernible *00:12:41) 24 MR. : Okay. 25 Him. So, when he first came SDNY_00007912 EFTA_00001036 EFTA00135385  18 1 in, you know, he was high profile. So, we 2 brought him in to determine 3 FEMALE VOICE: Excuse me. 4 Yeah. 5 FEMALE VOICE: Can you guys step out here 6 for just a moment? 7 MR. : We, pausing the in 8 at 10:55 a.m. (tape paused). 9 We're resuming the interview wit 10 11 12 MR. IIIIIII; 13 irgoamoostim Yeah. 14 (Indiscernible *00:00:14). 15 The time is now 10:56. Joining the interview 16 room is Assisting United States Attorney from • 17 the Southern District of New 18 19 MS. 20 MR. , I apologize. 1 Can you spell your name for transcription 22 purposes? 4(4iihir 23 MS. : Sure. 24 . Thanks. 25 MR. : Thank you. Before we were SDNY_00007913 EFfA_000O1037 EFTA00135386  19 1 just going over some of the overall high- 2 profile inmates and the general -- 3 Um-hum. 4 MR. : -- evaluation of them. 5 Going back to, you said earlier that a few 6 weeks had occurred. You and the Regional 7 Director discussed keeping Epstein in the a 8 Special Housing Unit. 9 irnaosmemil Um-hum. 10 MR. : How often was the Regional 11 Director being briefed on Epstein? 12 ipmulasmoomail I guess the situation 13 dictated it. If something happened, then we'd 14 notify him, or he needed some questions for 15 him, he would call me. But I don't want to, I 16 don't recall the specific amount of times. But 17 we were in contact. 18 MS. : Um-hum. Frequent contact. MR. : Okay. How often were you, 4 1.l are you notified differently of high-profile ci g imar 22 inmates or how often were you being aware or 23 notified of Epstein's housing situation? 24 masummull Well, I mean, he was in the 25 Special Housing Unit. So, I knew where he was. SDNY_00007914 EFTA_00001038 EFTA00135387  20 1 : Okay. 2 So, it wasn't like I had to 3 be updated as to where he was. I knew where he 4 was. 5 MR. : Okay. 6 I mean, I knew that he went 7 on his attorney visits, spent the whole day 8 there. Would be the first one in, last one 9 out. So, I mean, that's what I knew. And then 10 I kind of (Indiscernible *00:02:06) with the 11 attorneys. I had some outside attorneys 12 complain about, you know, they were taking up 'So, I knew that was, you 13 the attorney room.` 14 know, those issues were coming up with the 15 attorney room. s 16 MR. : Okay. Going back to 17 general policies at the -- 18 INWISIONOill Um-hum. 19 MR. : -- within the BOP, 20 actually when Epstein arrive 21 Um-hum. 22 MR. : I think we already 23 covered this, but just to, were any special 24 arrangements or considerations given to him? 25 As far as SONY_000079i5 EFTh_00001039 EFTA00135388  21 1 MR. : Obviously you said earlier 2 he was put in the SHU on Monday. 3 Right. 4 MR. : After, was it, at that 5 point, was there any issues that you're aware 6 of regarding him? Anything that you needed to 7 be aware of other than just who he was? 8 EMPLOYEE No. Just who he was and the 9 basic screening. The intake screening. 10 MR. : Okay. At the time he 11 first arrived, did you have any, was there any 12 notification of any mental health concerns? 13 IrwainToomoil No, not that I know of. 14 : Okay. How -- 15 rogiatolValeta% Are you talking about the 16 weekend he came in, or -- 17 MR. : Yeah. 18 mulimmullsi (Indiscernible *00:03:19). 19 MR. : First arrival. 20 EMPLOYEE That weekend, I don't know. 1 But I know afterwards, he was medically 2assessed and they were, you know, our health 23 service department assessed him and he, I think 24 he might have told him that he had certain 25 medications. SONY_00007916 EFTA_00001040 EFTA00135389  22 : Okay. When -- 2 EMPLOYEE -- that he was taking. 3 MR. : When inmates come into the 4 MCC, are they all screened for mental health 5 issues or medical issues? 6 Well, yes. They come in, 7 you're screened for your medical. The unit 8 team screens you and psychology screens you. 9 But -- 10 MR. : What timeframe does that 11 occur? 12 Typically like with him, he 13 came in on the weekend. So, it depends if 14 there was a psychologist. Maybe the next day 15 someone would go screen him, the on-call 16 psychologist. But, you know, or Monday if 17 someone came in. But typically the on-call 18 psychologist is there through the weekend and 19 will screen them. 20 MR. : Who is notified of the 21 results of those screenings? cessw - ‘,s , , 22 of? 23 MR. : Of the medical screen and 24 psychological screenings, who gets notified of 25 that? SDNY_00007917 EFTA_0000I041 EFTA00135390  23 1 As far as what? If they 2 find something in there? 3 MR. : Yes. 4 Like what would be an 5 example? I mean -- 6 MR. : Any medical concerns that 7 people need to be aware of. Any psychological 8 issues. How does that information get 9 disseminated? 1%b 10 Because when we talk about 11 medical issues, some of that falls under 12 privacy issues. SI\ '414 13 MR. Um-hum. 14 So, you know, it's not going 15 to be divulged as to 16 MR. : Okay. 17 -- just like that. 18 MR. : Sure. 19 But as far as psychological, 20 if it was something that psychologists did an 21 interview and said, hey, there's a mental 22 health issue or something, then she would, you 23 know, she would let her Associate Warden know. 24 She would let me know that, hey, there's some 25 issues. sixmLoommn EFTA_0000I042 EFTA00135391  24 1 MR. : Okay. And when he first 2 arrived, were you made aware of any medical or 3 mental issues regarding him? 4 EMPLOYEE 2 Mental health, I don't 5 recall any mental health. But I was told tha 6 he was on certain medications or whatever. 7 it was general. It wasn't -- 8 MR. : Okay. 3 9 ramcovmpooll -- anything major. 10 MR. : Okay. And just, and 11 that's a general policy /for all inmates that 12 arrive? 13 Irwamoomoll The screening, yeah. 14 : Just the medical 15 screening. They all get that? 16 IMEMINNIMIN Right. Nk 17 MR. : Is there any, as a result 18 of those screenings, is there any, does it have 19 any bearing on where they're placed, whether 20 it's special housing or general population? 21 I mean typically if you do, 22 like I said, if you do an intake screening and 23 the individual comes in and they have no 24 issues, no separation issues, and, you know, 25 then they can populate like anyone else. But SDNY_00007919 EFIA_00001043 EFTA00135392  25 1 if there are issues with them going out in 2 general population; i.e., safety issues, then 3 you would be placed in the Special Housing. 4 MR. : Okay. 5 ILIWSSUMWMI Until we could further 6 evaluate if you could go to general population. 7 MR. : If someone during the 8 mental health screening, the mental health, the 9 psychologist deemed them to be suicidal -- 10 Okay. esti 11 MR. : -- what are the suicidal 12 watch policies as it relates to that? 13 NIAWAIMMAI So, if the psychologist was 14 to say, hey, they're suicidal, then they would 15 be placed on suicide watch. 16 MR. : Okay. 17 Now if the psychologist is 4 18 not there and someone exhibits suicidal 19 ideations or statements or thoughts, then 20 they're placed on suicide watch. 21 MR. : Can you explain to me what 22 suicide watch is, where it is in the MCC -- 23 EMPLOYEE 22 It's on the second floor of 24 the institution, on the same floor of the 25 hospital. SDNY_00007920 EFTA_00001044 EFTA00135393  26 1 : Okay. 2 And it's a cell, and if you 3 go on suicide watch, you're placed in a smock. 4 MR. : Okay. 5 EMPLOYEE That covers you and then 6 you're watched for 24 hours. 7 MR. : Now the smock, is 8 made of paper, or -- 9 EMPLOYEE It's cloth. 10 Cloth? 11 It's like, you ever see 12 those movies where they have those heavy bomb 13 vests? 14 MR. : Uh -- 15 EMPLOYEE It's something, I mean, I 16 don't want to you know, say, but it's something 17 like that. 18 : Okay. FR sugamaill And it just hangs. 20 MR. : Sure. Hangs on them just like 91 2 that.Mahala 23 MR. : And you said they're 24 monitored for 24 hours. How are they, is it 25 There's a companion sitting mmuommn EFTA_0000I045 EFTA00135394  27 1 there. An inmate. 2 MR. : In the cell? 3 No. Outside the cell. 4 MR. : Okay. 5 L: It's a cell where you sit 6 and observe. 7 MR. : Okay. Is the com 8 another inmate or a staff? 9 EMPLOYEE No, it's a trained inmate 10 companion. Now, we have four cells. If those 11 cells get full, then we have to move them up to 12 the Special Housing Unit and then put a staff 13 watch on them. 14 MR. : Okay. What policies are 15 in place for suicide watch as it relates to 16 staff response, notification, how people get \\). 17 notified, if they're moving from suicide watch 18 to off suicide watch. How does that work? 19 IIIIIIIIIIII That works through 20 psychology. 21 MR. : Okay. 22 Psychology evaluates and 23 they'll say, okay, we've evaluated him and, you 24 know, wherever we're going, typically you 25 always usually go from the Special Housing Unit sorcumonn EFTA_00001046 EFTA00135395  28 1 to suicide. So, they'd say, okay you know 2 what, they're ready to go back up. 3 MR. : Okay. What role, how does 4 the program, is the psychologist the program 5 coordinator? 6 The chief psychologist 7 the department. 8 MR. : Okay. 9 lipal2011*0040-4 And then she has various 10 psychologists that work under her. 11 MR. : Okay. 12 IpmulmaroloWill And then evaluate because we 13 have a different mission as far as we have a 14 forensic mission. So, we get a lot of forensic 15 studies in the institution. 16 MR. : Okay. 17 EMPLOYEE And then we have a regular 18 psychologist also that handles the inmate 19 population but they work together and they 20 handle everything. 21 MR. : Okay. Who's ultimately 22 responsible for placing somebody on suicide 23 watch or off suicide watch? 24 ILIOSSMISSI Well placing it, a staff 25 member comes and says hey, this guy is SDNY_00007923 EFIA_00001047 EFTA00135396  29 1 suicidal. You can place him on suicide watch. 2 MR. : Okay. Anybody in the 3 institution can do that? 4 Yeah. If I come upon an 5 inmate that's saying, "Hey, I'm going to kill 6 myself." Okay, we get him on suicide watch. 7 Psychology comes and, you know, evaluates them 8 and then comes up with a plan. 9 MR. : Within the psychology 10 department -- 11 EMPLOYEE Um-hum. 12 MR. : -- or the medical 13 department there in mental health, who there 14 ultimately makes that decision? 15 EMPLOYEE I believe, and don't quote 16 me on this. T believe the psychologists. 17 MR. : Okay. 18 E:4P-rYEE 22 You know, they're trained 19 professionals. So, they can make a decision 20 and they consult with the Chief in, you know, 21 determining okay what's the plan of action to 22 move forward. 23 MR. : And are you, when 24 someone's placed in suicide watch, are you 25 notified of that? sormuommn EFTA_0000I048 EFTA00135397  30 1 Yeah. They send out a form 2 every day stating like who's on suicide watch, 3 who's on psyche observation. So -- 4 MR. : Okay. 5 ILIWSSUMWMI we're aware of who it is 6 and then they'll send out a form if there's no 7 one on there. 8 MR. : You said earlier that AI 9 while on suicide watch, there was an observer. 10 Right. 11 MR. How doe nmate become 12 an observer? 1‘;74\ 13 It's an inmate companion. 14 A companion, I'm sorry. 15 EMPLOYEE 2 So, it's a trained program. 16 So, they have to go through training. They lk 17 have to take courses, and then they become 18 eligible to become a companion. 19 MR. : Who authorizes the use of 20 an inmate companion? 21 The psychology department / 1 4 .)22 runs that. So 1(lpillim. 23 MR. : Do you have any input as 24 the Warden in selecting or training or 25 implementing the inmate companion program? simuomms EFTA_00001049 EFTA00135398  31 1 No. 2 MR. : Does every institution 3 have an inmate companion program? 4 Yes. 5 MS. : Who's the Chief 6 Psychologist? 7 (;;I:lir (phon 8 sp.). 9 MR. is the one 10 who is ultimately responsible for determining 11 if someone is on suicide watch and removing 12 them; correct? 13 rogiliftwaietey conjunction with our 14 staff. 15 :opaay. 16 irmgmwoomom Because you could be, a 17 psychologist is assigned to the individual when 18 they're working a plan with them. And if they 19 come to the determination that hey, you know 20 what, they no longer need to be on suicide 21 watch. 22 MR. : Okay. But as the clinical 23 director, she's ultimately responsible. 24 em il7 She's not the clinical. 25 She's the Chief Psychologist. SDNY_00007926 EFTA_00001050 EFTA00135399  32 1 MR. : Okay. 2 EMPLOYEE Clinical Director is a 3 separate position. 4 MR. : Okay. I apologize 5 that 6 That's fine. 7 : Thank you for cla 8 EMPLOYEE Okay. 9 MR. Who in the medic staff, 10 just for my clarification, who in the medical 11 staff is ultimately responsible for removing 12 somebody from suicide watch? 4 13 waingsal The psychology department 14 determines to remove somebody from 15 MR. : So, who in the psychology 16 department? 17 Again, it depends on who's 18 eitaluating the inmate. A 19 MR. : Okay. So -- 20 rammtunig And so we have one, two, 21 three, really we have, (Indiscernible Clim00122 *00:12:26) , uh, four. We have four 23 psychologists on staff. 24 MR. : You have four 25 psychologists on staff. And any one of those <Zig...1r mmumonn EFTA_00001051 EFTA00135400  33 1 four can remove somebody? 2 EMPLOYEE 22 Can remove somebody. 3 MR. : Do those four have, who's 4 those four supervisors? 5 liainZgara 6 MP. : E. 7 Irmalansmat Yeah. 8 MR. What authority does she 9 have to overrule them? 10 EMPLOYE: And I'm of ologist - 11 - 1444%, 12 : Sure: 13 -- to know what procedures 14 they use -- 15 : Um-hum. 16 -- or what conversation they 17 have to determine if she's going to overrule 18 them. I mean, she's the supervisor, and it's 19 just like with any, you know, profession you 20 have. 21 MR. : Right. O w 22 If I come up with some 23 reasoning 40Q! 24 MR. : Um-hum. 25 L ll i__,._ In saying hey, I don't agree SDNY_00007928 EFTA_00001052 EFTA00135401  34 1 with your decision, then we debate it and then 2 we ultimately come to a decision. 3 MR. : Okay. 4 As to yay or nay. 5 : Okay. 6 So, it's kind of the same 7 thing. 8 MR. : While on suicide watch, 9 you said there's a 24-hour companion. What 10 does staff do for the inmates while they're on 11 suicide watch? 12 m