THE FAMILY of a man who hanged himself in his prison cell are calling for better assessment of prisoners' mental states.
Scott Fisher, 24, was found hanged in his prison cell in Durham Prison after creating his own ligature on June 26.
The inquest, held at County Hall last Wednesday, heard how Mr Fisher had first entered prison on June 3 on remand. He was given the usual health screening which did not reveal anything of concern.
He was released but was taken back to prison two weeks later for breaching bail conditions requiring him to stay at a particular address because his accommodation arrangements fell through.
On his return, prison officer David Mounsey conducted an induction interview where Mr Fisher told him he did not feel suicidal.
Within 24 hours, Mr Mounsey found him hanging in his cell.
Richard Phelan, one of the prison governors, told the inquest that Mr Fisher's cell-mate had prevented him attempting committing suicide on an earlier occasion but staff were not informed. His cell mates had been discharged on the day of his suicide.
North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle asked Mr Phelan why Mr Fisher had not been given a full health screening on his return to prison. Mr Phelan replied it was because he had returned to prison on the same charge, so his previous records were used.
The jury returned a verdict of suicide.
Mr Fisher's family are now calling for more thorough health checks on inmates. They say contact with his GP would have revealed he had been on a methadone programme for some time, even though he chose not to tell them himself.
Speaking after the inquest, a member of the family, who did not wish to be named, said as a result Mr Fisher, from Penrith in Cumbria, suffered withdrawal symptoms in prison.
"He was desperately trying to get off heroin. If he had continued his methadone programme when he went into prison on June 3 he wouldn't have got into such a low, low state."
The family say he was also very depressed when he returned to prison for the second time and a proper health assessment would have revealed this.
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