Deck 14: Liability and Suicides in Detention

Question 1

Studies suggest that approximately _______ percent of jail custodial deaths are suicides.

A) 10
B) 20
C) 30
D) 40

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a prisoner suicide awareness factor?

A) Prisoner's history of suicide attempts.
B) Prisoner's intoxicated condition.
C) Prisoner charged with a serious felony.
D) Prisoner shows signs of depression.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A common defense raised by officers in a custodial suicide claim is which of the following?

A) Assumption of the risk.
B) Qualified immunity.
C) Statute of limitations.
D) None of the above.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Lawsuits filed over custodial suicides include which of the following elements?

A) Failure to protect and monitor the prisoner.
B) Failure to provide medical and mental health services.
C) Failure to admit and properly classify the prisoner.
D) All of the above.

Question 5

Studies suggest that since 1980 the petitioner has the greatest likelihood of success when the case involves a suicide committed by a prisoner held in which of the following types of facility?

A) Jail
B) Lockup
C) Prison
D) Halfway house

Question 6

Section 1983 lawsuits filed over custodial suicides are more likely to be filed against officials if the prisoner was housed in which of the following types of facilities?

A) Jail
B) Lockup
C) Prison
D) Halfway house

Question 7

A reasonable justification for removing a prisoner from "suicide watch" may be which of the following:

A) The recommendation of a counselor who has reviewed the prisoner's file and interviewed the prisoner.
B) The statement of the prisoner that he was not suicidal.
C) The history of the facility with regard to custodial suicides.
D) None of the above.

Question 8

A claim of failure to train in a custodial suicide case will often include which of the following allegations?

A) The agency was deliberately indifferent by failing to train officers in recognition of suicide indicators.
B) The agency was deliberately indifferent by failing to train officers in suicide monitoring procedures.
C) The agency was deliberately indifferent by failing to train officers in how to obtain medical and mental health care and resuscitation procedures.
D) All of the above.

Question 9

What best describes the use of a suicide risk profile by correctional facilities and officers?

A) Suicide risk profiles are highly reliable in identifying at-risk prisoners.
B) The use of a suicide risk profile will allow an officer to prevail through qualified immunity.
C) Suicide risk profiles are useful in training correctional officers.
D) All of the above.

Question 10

Deliberate indifference includes which of the following?

A) Describes a state of mind that is more blameworthy than negligence.
B) Requires more than an ordinary lack of due care.
C) Can be proven with less than acts or omissions with knowledge that harm will result.
D) All of the above.

Question 11

The most prevalent cause of death in state prisons is which of the following?

A) Homicide
B) Accident
C) Illness
D) Suicide

Question 12

The case of Farmer v. Brennan (1994) expanded protections for officers who are sued for a custodial suicide by which of the following?

A) The officer must have been assigned to monitor the prisoner.
B) The officer must be aware of the facts from which an inference could be drawn that there was a serious risk of harm to the prisoner exited.
C) The officer was negligent in his duties.
D) None of the above.

Question 13

A study by Noonan et al. (2015) reported which of the following?

A) Causes of death in prisons and jails included higher percentages of homicides in prisons.
B) Causes of death in prisons and jails included higher percentages of illness in jails.
C) Causes of death in prisons and jails included higher percentages of suicides in jails.
D) All of the above.

Question 14

Plaintiffs in custodial death cases will include which of the following in their complaint?

A) The complaint will include the strongest possible theory of liability.
B) The complaint will allege multiple theories of liability.
C) All of the above.
D) None of the above.

Question 15

A definitive profile of potential custodial suicide that is accepted by researchers does not exist.

Question 16

The risk of suicide by a person confined in a jail or detention center is approximately equal to the risk of suicide by a person confined in a state prison.

Question 17

The serious and critical nature of custodial suicides produces a greater likelihood of success for plaintiffs in these cases.

Question 18

Prisoners do not attempt suicide at rates that are higher than that of free persons in society.