BOP Program Statement 6031.06 § 39

The HSA will develop a Death Procedures Institution Supplement that describes local

procedures for legally pronouncing death and notifying the coroner or medical examiner. When

an inmate is pronounced dead, the Warden or designee will also notify the U.S. Attorney’s

Office and, in the case of a pretrial inmate, the committing court. Refer to the Program

Statements Escapes/Deaths Notifications and Pretrial Inmates for additional information

regarding death notifications.

a. Resuscitative Efforts.

 CPR is not indicated if signs of irreversible death are present:

 Rigor mortis – stiffness of the limbs and body that develops two to four hours after

death and may take up to 12 hours to fully develop

 Dependent lividity – reddish-blue discoloration of the skin resulting from the

gravitational pooling of blood in the lower lying parts of the body in the position of

death

 Decapitation – separation of the head from the body

 Transection – division by cutting across the body

 Decomposition – decay

 If CPR is initiated and any of the above indications of irreversible death are present as

determined by a Bureau RN, APP, or physician, CPR may be stopped. Immediately

notify the institution CD or physician and Lieutenant for further action.

 CPR is to be initiated and continued in all other circumstances until Emergency Medical

Services (EMS [i.e., community EMT or paramedic]) arrive on scene.

 Upon pronouncement of death by community EMS or a Bureau physician, all

resuscitative efforts are to immediately stop.

6031.06 6/22/2026 PROPERTY OF US GOVERNMENT 55

b. Pronouncement of death in accordance with state law. In the Bureau, only a physician is

authorized to pronounce death after an in-person physical exam. When an inmate is found

pulseless or without signs of life, community EMS must be activated. After resuscitation efforts

are attempted and fail, responding EMS personnel are also authorized to pronounce death, after

communication with their medical command.

Whether the death occurred onsite, or at an outside hospital or medical center, the CD or

designee will write a final EHR administrative note, that will detail a brief inmate medical

history, the circumstances leading up to the death, and emergency response. This note is in

addition to the final clinical encounter documenting the actual emergency response if it involved

health services clinicians.

c. Notification. The HSA and CD will be responsible for notifying the Warden and submitting

the 24-hour Death Notification. The components of the 24-hour death report are detailed in

Program Statement Health Services Quality Improvement.

 The Warden or their designee will notify the inmate’s next of kin within 24 hours

utilizing form BP-A0408, Acknowledgment of Inmate, Part 3 & 4. This

responsibility may default to the Institution Duty Officer after the regular workday,

as well as on weekends and holidays. If no contact information for next of kin is

available, Unit Management will proceed with appropriate next steps in the

notification process as outlined in the Program Statement Escapes/Death

Notifications.

 Notification will be made to the coroner or medical examiner in accordance with the

Program Statement Autopsies. The HSA or designee will develop standard procedures

describing when to contact the local coroner or medical examiner regarding:

 Performing an autopsy

 Who will perform the autopsy

 Obtaining state-issued death certification

 Local transportation of the body

d. Autopsies/post-mortem testing. For information regarding authorization for autopsies

and/or post-mortem pathology/toxicology, see Program Statement Autopsies. Institutions will be

familiar with and adhere to state laws on this topic. Where issues are identified in coordinating

these services with local experts (coroners/medical examiners), the institution will seek input

from local or regional Bureau counsel to ensure both compliance with state laws and protection

of federal interests.