Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_90-cv-00520/USCOURTS-caed-2_90-cv-00520-456/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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26 The special master’s report was filed on September 27, 2010. 1

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RALPH COLEMAN, et al.,

Plaintiffs, No. 2:-90-cv-0520-LKK-JFM (PC)

vs.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER,

et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

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Pursuant to an order of this court filed April 14, 2010, the special master has filed

a report and recommendations on defendants’ review of their suicide prevention policies,

practices and procedures. By order filed October 5, 2010, the parties were granted a period of 1

thirty days in which to file and serve responses to the special master’s report and

recommendations and fifteen days thereafter in which to reply to any responses filed. On

November 4, 2010, defendants filed an objection to one of the special master’s

recommendations. Plaintiffs interposed no objections to any of the recommendations. The time

for plaintiffs to reply to defendants’ objection runs through November 19, 2010. 

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Case 2:90-cv-00520-KJM-SCR Document 3954 Filed 11/18/10 Page 1 of 3
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As the court noted in the April 14, 2010 order, defendants must “take all steps

necessary to reduce both the inmate suicide rate and the inadequacies in assessment, treatment

and intervention found in an unacceptably high percentage of completed suicides.” Order filed

April 14, 2010, at 6-7. In his September 27, 2010 report, the special master finds, inter alia, that 

the data for 2010 so far is not showing improvement in suicide

prevention. . . . The need for vigilance in solving this problem

continues. The goal is now to encourage the focus of resources on

the implementation of these various new strategies and any needed

refinement thereof, as may become apparent in the review process. 

The sooner this process is begun, the better.

Special Master’s Report on Defendants’ Review of Suicide Prevention Policies, Practices, and

Procedures, filed September 27, 2010, at 32. To that end, the special master’s first, second, third

and fifth recommendations, to which no objections have been interposed, will be adopted in full

and made orders of this court. The special master’s fourth recommendation, to which defendants

have objected, will be addressed in a subsequent order.

In accordance with the above and good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY

ORDERED that:

1. Recommendations 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the Special Master’s Report on Defendants’

Review of Suicide Prevention, Policies, Practices, and Procedures, filed September 27, 2010, are

adopted in full.

2. Defendants’ proposed Program Guide revisions and suicide prevention

strategies presented in their Report of August 25, 2010 shall be implemented forthwith.

3. Defendants shall consult with the special master’s experts regarding the use of,

and clinical practices within, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)

outpatient housing units (OHUs), and any related proposed changes to the Coleman Program

Guide concerning OHUs.

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4. Not later than sixty days from the date of this order defendants shall submit to

the special master their proposal for improvement of clinical competency levels of current CDCR

clinicians with administration of the suicide risk evaluation.

5. Defendants shall implement the SharePoint website system and the systemgenerated alert for high acute suicide risk inmates on MHTS.net as soon as possible, and not later

than sixty days from the date of this order conduct a demonstration of said systems for the special

master and/or his designated staff at a mutually convenient time.

6. The special master’s fourth recommendation, concerning submission of a plan

to furnish suicide resistant beds in their mental health crisis bed units, shall be deemed submitted

at the conclusion of the time for filing a reply to defendants’ objection to this recommendation

and shall be addressed by subsequent order.

DATED: November 17, 2010.

Case 2:90-cv-00520-KJM-SCR Document 3954 Filed 11/18/10 Page 3 of 3