1. (1) The first security employee at the scene of a suspected adult in custody death who is not involved in any rescue or first aid efforts will secure the scene, ascertain the identities of all those present, and disperse all unauthorized individuals.

   1. (a) Identification cards of all adults in custody present and dispersed will be gathered for positive identification and for later interviews.
   2. (b) The officer-in-charge, facility contact person, and facility Health Services employees, if available, will be immediately notified of the suspected death. If Health Services employees are not on duty, the Medical Services manager will be notified. Health Services employees will notify the facility Chief Medical Officer.
2. (2) The officer-in-charge or designee will immediately ensure the emergency preparedness plan is implemented, if applicable.

3. (3) The officer-in-charge will designate an employee to maintain the security of the suspected death scene until released by State Police investigators. The death scene will be processed as a crime scene.

   1. (a) This employee will initiate a crime scene contamination log (CD 1201D).
   2. (b) The death scene will be secured and evidence preserved in accordance with the emergency preparedness plan, if applicable, and the department’s policy on Criminal and Administrative Evidence Handling (DOC Policy 70.1.3).

4. (4) Nothing within the death scene area will be moved or touched by anyone, unless the object needs to be removed because it is an immediate and ongoing threat to security, such as a weapon.

   1. (a) The object will be photographed and diagrammed with relation to the rest of the death scene prior to its removal.
   2. (b) Removal of the item will be in a manner consistent with preservation of evidence, ensuring not to destroy fingerprints, blood, and other fragment evidence that might be affixed to the item, documenting who seized the item, who maintained custody of the item, and in what manner the item was secured.
5. (5) The officer-in-charge will report the incident to the functional unit manager or designee, officer-of-the-day if applicable, the State Police, and the medical examiner.
6. (6) The State Police will determine whether they should be present at the death scene. If the State Police determine they should be present, they will take charge of the death scene upon arrival.
7. (7) The State Police will remove and secure all property from the area that may be considered evidence.
8. (8) The officer-in-charge will designate one employee as the evidence custodian responsible for the handling, marking, packing, and securing of all evidence not removed by the State Police investigator.
9. (9) Witnesses or suspects will not be interviewed by Department of Corrections employees unless directed to do so by the State Police. Any comments made by suspects or witnesses to Department of Corrections employees will be noted and reported promptly.
10. (10) The functional unit manager or designee will notify appropriate employees, such as Behavioral Health Services employees or a chaplain, to provide services for adults in custody affected by the death, as needed.
11. (11) Employees involved in an adult in custody death incident will be offered support in accordance with the department’s policy on Critical Incident Stress Management (DOC Policy 20.5.2).
12. (12) The institution Medical Services manager shall request an autopsy for all adult in custody deaths.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 179.040, 423.020, 423.030 & 423.075

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 179.040, 423.020, 423.030 & 423.075

History

DOC 18-2026, amend filed 06/08/2026, effective 06/08/2026
DOC 8-2011, f. 4-29-11, cert. ef. 5-2-11
CD 7-1994, f. 3-18-94, cert. ef. 4-1-94