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| Officials: N.Y. Jail Was Understaffed When Inmate Killed Himself |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/17/2003 |
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The Madison County (N.Y.) jail was understaffed the night an 18-year-old inmate killed himself last year, according to a report released by the state Commission of Correction. Correction officers also failed to document the suicide of Richard Schara in the required log book, the report said. On June 1, the Canastota teen was found hanging from a pipe in his cell by a shoelace 17 hours after he arrived at the jail, according to the report. Although Schara told officers that he had a history of mental illness and that he thought of killing himself the previous day, officers did not consider him a suicide risk, the report said. But he was placed in a unit for inmates with disciplinary, medical or mental health problems. The unit must be 'continually occupied,' and officers must check on inmates every 15 minutes, the report said. But the officer in charge of the unit, who was also assigned to another unit, left his post to another officer on duty, the report said. No criminal charges were filed. The report stopped short of recommending the officer be fired, but it asked Sheriff Ronald Cary to 'reiterate and reinforce' the department's policy to comply with minimum security and supervision standards. |
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