Prisoner facing deportation had lack of care plan

A prisoner put into segregation for 30 days had no mental health care plan before taking his own life, a report says

A prisoner facing deportation to Lithuania was segregated for 52 days with no care plan before his suicide, an investigation found.

Karolis Baltrunas, 31, was found to have taken his own life on 27 August 2020 at HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Prisons & Probation Ombudsman Adrian Usher said in his report that he was left “extremely shocked” by details of some elements of the care that Mr Baltrunas received.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "We’ve noted the ombudsman’s findings and have taken action to improve the mental health support provided to vulnerable prisoners."

The report said Baltrunas was moved to HMP The Mount, in Bovingdon, after being sentenced to three years and four months in prison for conspiracy to steal motor vehicles.

Baltrunas refused to move to an immigration centre on 3 July 2020, four days before he was put into a segregation unit “for threatening two officers”.

He remained in the segregation unit but there were plans to move him to a new cell after he damaged his cell on 24 August.

The report said: "Mr Baltrunas was noted to be aggressive and non-compliant."

Bodycam footage from 24 August showed Baltrunas had cuts to parts of his body, which a nurse declared to be “self-inflicted” to a debrief group.

Three days later officers found Baltrunas dead in his cell at around 08:00 GMT.

Karolis Baltrunas was facing deportation to Lithuania while being held at HMP The Mount near Hemel Hempstead

The ombudsman concluded that the nurse who looked at Baltrunas’ injuries "did not start Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) procedures because Mr Baltrunas had no history of self-harm".

He wrote: “We are very concerned that none of the prison staff thought it necessary to begin ACCT procedures."

Mr Usher said they understood why the prison decided to keep Baltrunas in a segregation unit until he was deported, as he "was clearly resistant to the plans for his deportation".

But he was “very concerned that when Mr Baltrunas passed 30 days in segregation, no care plan was created for him to support his mental health".

The ombudsman said prison leaders should allocate a designated officer to each prisoner in segregation. He also said senior leaders should start ACCT processes "following all acts of self-harm", and provide a translation service when discussing complex matters.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with Mr Baltrunas’ friends and family.

"We’ve noted the ombudsman’s findings and have taken action to improve the mental health support provided to vulnerable prisoners.

"Segregation is an absolute last resort for those deemed a danger to themselves or others."