Custody Div: Jail Mental Evaluation Team (JMET)



Four Custody Division Jail Mental Evaluation Teams (JMET) address the needs of mentally ill inmates within the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The primary responsibility of the JMET teams is to identify mentally ill inmates who may be in need of attention to address their special needs. All inmates in the general population shall have access to Mental Health Services. Custodial personnel or Medical Services may request evaluations. During routine working hours access to Mental Health Services will be provided by Jail Mental Evaluation Team (JMET) members.



Each team consists of one deputy and one mental health clinician. Two North teams are assigned to, and responsible for, every facility within the Pitchess Detention Center and are available Monday through Saturday. Two South teams are responsible for the Century Regional Detention Facility, Twin Towers Correctional Facility, and Men's Central Jail and are available Monday through Friday. All teams are available during day-shift hours.



COMMAND AND CONTROL

JMET is based at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF), and works under the command of Commander Kelley S. Fraser. Members report to the TTCF Mental Health Liaison Lieutenant.



CRISIS SITUATIONS

During their normal working hours JMET shall be available to watch commanders to respond to crisis situations and/or tactical situations. Watch commanders may consider the use of JMET in situations including, but not limited to:

- Barricade situations, suicidal ideation, exhibition of bizarre behavior, hunger strike, threatening others. In these circumstances, JMET may act as consultants, or may be used to communicate with the inmate in an effort to defuse a situation.



JMET REFERRALS

When a staff member from an affected facility encounters an inmate whom they feel may need the attention of a mental health clinician, the appropriate Jail Mental Evaluation Team shall be notified. Each facility shall designate a central point where staff members can log referrals to the JMET. Members of the JMET shall review the referral log and interview the inmates in question to assess their mental health needs. In no way does this preclude any deputy from taking emergent action if they perceive that an inmate needs immediate attention. In some cases, JMET may determine the inmate is not suitable to remain in a general population setting. In such cases, a Behavioral Observation and Mental Health Referral form shall be completed and arrangements made to transfer the inmate to the Inmate Reception Center (IRC) for a more intensive medical health evaluation, and placement in an appropriate level of mental health housing.

These may include:

- TTCF, Tower I (male inmates),

- TTCF, Tower II (female inmates),

- TTCF, Medical Services Building (MSB) Forensic In-Patient Program (FIP).



Transportation of an inmate to TTCF mental health housing shall be provided by the facility from which the inmate is being transported. JMET members may accompany the transporting facility deputy if it is apparent that the presence of JMET will reduce the risk of violent or self-injurious behavior on the part of the inmate.



Staff members may refer an inmate to JMET who may not be in need of mental health housing. In those situations, JMET will determine if further mental health intervention is needed.



MEDICAL SERVICES

JMET referrals are brought to the originating facility's clinic for evaluation prior to transfer. JMET referrals shall be prioritized by Medical Services personnel. These inmates shall be medically cleared to determine if they are appropriate for transfer to mental health housing at TTCF. JMET shall recommend the appropriate housing location at TTCF based on their initial assessment of the inmate. The watch commander, in conjunction with Medical Services personnel, shall make the final determination for immediate or routine transportation of the inmate. Alternate transportation shall be arranged if the inmate's condition decompensates and warrants any urgency as determined by JMET.



NOTE: It is the intent of this policy that all inmates referred by JMET receive a medical evaluation prior to their transport to TTCF, however, no inmate should be unduly delayed in this process. If the watch commander of the originating facility determines that a medical evaluation will cause an unnecessary delay in the movement of the inmate, then the watch commander may authorize the immediate transport of the inmate to the IRC main clinic, where a medical evaluation shall occur. The name of the watch commander making this authorization shall be noted on the Behavioral Observation and Mental Health Referral (BOMHR) form (SH-J-407).



The medical section of the original Behavioral Observation and Mental Health Referral (BOMHR) form shall be completed and identified as a JMET referral. The words "JMET Referral" shall be stamped or handwritten across the top in red ink with the recommended housing location clearly visible in the upper right hand corner.



The following documents shall be given to the escorting deputy in a sealed envelope with the name of the facility, the inmate's name, booking number, and the name of the handling medical staff printed legibly on the outside of the envelope:



Original Behavioral Observation and Mental Health Referral (BOMHR) form, Medical chart and/or relevant medical documents, JRC.



Medical Services shall notify the following by facsimile of the Behavioral Observation and Mental Health Referral (BOMHR) form, to ensure appropriate housing and handling of the inmate:



JAIL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, IRC MEDICAL SERVICES CLINIC.

Facsimile copies of the BOMHR forms sent to the IRC Clinic shall be collected by that shift's supervising nurse who shall retain them pending the inmate's arrival. The supervising nurse shall also take delivery of the medical chart when it arrives, and ensure that the chart is delivered to Health Information Management Services for appropriate disposition.



TRANSPORTING DEPUTY

The transporting facility deputy shall ensure that the appropriate paperwork accompanies the inmate to IRC. Upon arrival at IRC, the inmate and paperwork shall be delivered to the IRC Clinic.



CONFIDENTIALITY

Custody Division Jail Mental Evaluation Team personnel shall maintain the confidentiality of all JMET referrals pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code, Article 7, section 5328, "Legal and Civil Rights of Persons Involuntarily Detained." Additionally, all JMET members shall have a signed Oath of Confidentiality on file at Twin Towers Correctional Facility. This oath mandates that an inmate's mental health history as well as current information obtained from a JMET contact is considered confidential.



For additional information, please see information:

'My Family Member Has Been Arrested - What Do I Do?'

http://shq.lasdnews.net/pages/PageDetail.aspx?id=1721