Depending upon the jurisdiction, a person taken into custody for a criminal offense is brought either to a police holding facility or to the local jail pending the initial appearance in court.  While this stay in custody awaiting the court appearance is usually brief - in most instances less than 24 hours - it can be a vital time for a person with mental illness.  Research has shown that most suicides that occur in custody take place within the first 24 hours. ^[1]      In addition, the behavior that led to the arrest may be the manifestation of an individual experiencing a mental health crisis.

As a result, intake procedures into these facilities should screen for a risk of suicide and assess the need for emergency psychiatric evaluation.  Staff should also be trained in suicide prevention and crisis management procedures.  These screening procedures are for the purpose of providing appropriate treatment, not for gathering evidence for a criminal proceeding. Agency staff should also note that people with mental illness may need access to their medication.  Officers must follow departmental rules for verifying that any pills or capsules the person is carrying are prescribed, or to obtain the needed medication, so that they may authorize the individual to continue the prescribed treatment should they be detained.

As mentioned earlier, police officers should be aware that some medications that treat mental illness have side effects that may require attention.  For example, medications may cause tremors, nausea, extreme lethargy, confusion, dry mouth, constipation, or diarrhea.  Police officers should attend to needs for water, food, and access to toilet facilities.  It is important not to mistake these side effects as evidence of alcohol or drug abuse. (See Policy Statement 13:  Intake at County / Municipal Detention Facility, for more information on intake procedures.)