Custodial Facilities/Expert Testimony
TWO OF HIS THREE DEGREES IN THE FIELD OF CRIMINOLOGY INVOLVED AN EMPHASIS ON THE STUDY OF PROBLEMS IN CUSTODIAL FACILITIES AND HIS MASTER’S THESIS, WRITTEN WHILE HE WAS A COUNSELOR AT SOLEDAD STATE PRISON, DEALT WITH SEXUAL ASSAULTS BY INMATES. Dr. Kirkham and he has been through a major riot at one of the nation’s most violent prisons, where his supervisor was murdered in a cellblock.
DR. KIRKHAM HAS BEEN CALLED UPON MANY TIMES BY PLAINTIFFS AND DEFENDANTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION TO EVALUATE AND PROVIDE EXPERT TESTIMONY IN CIVIL ACTIONS ARISING FROM INCIDENTS IN JAILS AND PRISONS. AS A CRIMINOLOGIST, HIS EXPERIENCE INCLUDES HAVING WORKED IN BOTH PRISON AND JAIL SETTINGS.
HIS LITIGATION EXPERIENCE RELATIVE TO JAILS AND PRISONS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SUBJECT AREAS:
• INTAKE AND SCREENING OF INMATES.
• CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES.
• IDENTIFYING AND SEGREGATING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INMATES FROM THE “MAINLINE” POPULATION OF PRISONERS.
• SAFE TRANSPORTATION AND SUPERVISION OF INMATES.
• CELLING, HOUSING AND ASSIGNMENT OF INMATES.
• USE OF CELL-EXTRACTION TEAMS.
• CONTROL OF CONTRABAND IN JAILS AND PRISONS (E.G., NARCOTICS, “SHANKS” AND OTHER WEAPONS). • IDENTIFICATION OF AND APPROPRIATE REACTION TO EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED PERSONS (EDP’S) IN JAILS AND PRISONS.
• USE OF “SAFE CELLS” AND RESTRAINT CHAIRS.
• NEGLIGENT SELECTION, RETENTION, SUPERVISION AND TRAINING OF CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL.
• USE OF FORCE BY CUSTODIAL OFFICERS (INCLUDING, E.G., HANDCUFFS, “HOGTYING,” CHEMICAL SPRAY, BATONS, TASERS).
• ESCAPE PREVENTION.
• CRITERIA FOR PLACEMENT OF INMATES ON WORK FURLOUGH PROGRAMS.
• PREVENTION OF SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ASSAULTS BY INMATES.
• SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN JAILS AND PRISONS.
• PREVENTION OF INMATE HOMICIDES
• SUICIDE PREVENTION IN JAILS AND PRISONS.
• USE OF CCTV AND ACOUSTICAL MONITORING IN JAILS AND PRISONS.
• PROPER HANDLING OF MEDICAL EMERGENCIES (E.G., ADMINISTRATION OF CPR, USE OF AEDS AND SECURING PROMPT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SICK OR INJURED INMATES).
• INSTITUTIONAL ADJUSTMENT PROJECTIONS BASED ON ANALYSIS OF INMATE CRIMINAL AND CUSTODIAL FACILITY HISTORY.
• “SUDDEN DEATH IN CUSTODY SYNDROME,” POSITIONAL ASPHYXIA” AND EXCITED DELIRIUM IN INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS.
• WRITTEN REGULATIONS AND STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES IN JAILS AND PRISONS.
• SPECIAL ISSUES INVOLVING FEMALE INMATES.
• JAIL AND PRISON OVERCROWDING.
• INDICATED NEED FOR INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFERS (E.G., TO CLOSER CUSTODY OR MINIMUM SECURITY FACILITIES).
• OPERATION, SUPERVISION AND STAFFING OF “ADJUSTMENT CENTERS” OR DISCIPLINARY SEGREGATION UNITS.
• STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE FIELD OF CUSTODIAL INSTITUTIONS (E.G., AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION (ACA), NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE, ETC.).