The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that any death of a woman’s child, while the child is living in prison, is lawfully confirmed, and that activities are carried out within the law and with respect for the spiritual, religious and cultural beliefs of the child’s mother.
The following guidelines must be followed in the event of the death of a child who has been residing in a self-care unit:
Staff are to make every effort to maintain life prior to confirmation that the child is dead by a certified medical practitioner, unless there are obvious signs that the child has been dead for some time and that attempts to resuscitate would be futile.
At the time the incident comes to the attention of a prison staff member, the most senior officer on site and the prison doctor (or after hours the on-call nurse) must be notified. The regional clinical director should also be notified.
The most senior officer must immediately call emergency medical services, the child’s general practitioner and the Police to the scene.
The most senior officers must ensure that immediately following the death the incident area is secured to ensure the preservation of the scene and prevent interference with any material. The child’s mother and one support person may remain with the deceased child under custodial supervision.
The prison director is responsible for ensuring adequate emotional, cultural and/or religious support is given to the mother. The mother should also be given access to a telephone to inform her family / whānau of the death. This includes the potential for the approved family / whānau members to visit the prison and spend time with the woman and child.
Counselling and support must be offered to a woman who has suffered the death of a child. This can be provided by the counsellor and/or social worker employed by Corrections, or by external provided as necessary.
The prison director is responsible for offering the woman the opportunity for any cultural or religious support. If requested arrange for appropriate cultural and/or religious rites to be carried out in consultation with the child’s mother and her family / whānau, prison chaplain and cultural adviser. This includes the potential for the family / whānau to participate in a blessing of the deceased’s unit with the other prisoners and staff.
If the woman does not request any religious or cultural support the prison director is responsible for ensuring any necessary religious and/or cultural rites are carried out once the child’s body has been removed from the prison (for example karakia or blessing the facility). This may be at the request of staff or other prisoners.
The prison director must ensure the child’s death is recorded and reported with the requirements of the POM Incident response and reporting procedures. Staff must maintain a time log from when the incident is first reported. The log is to list pertinent times and occurrences from the time that staff first come upon the incident scene to when the child’s body is removed from the incident scene.
The child’s body can only be removed after a member of the Police or Coroner has authorised the removal of the child’s body. This should be done with due consideration for the mother who may want to spend some further time with her child before the body is taken away.
The prison director must also ensure that all staff involved in the incident are offered support from PIRT team or another person with appropriate training.
