How should you verify an inmate's identity before administering medication?

Verifying an inmate's identity before administering medication is vital for ensuring their safety and receiving the correct treatment. Checking their armband is a reliable method because armbands typically display essential identification information that ties the inmate to their medical records. These records often include the inmate's name, identification number, and sometimes their prescribed medications.

This method minimizes the risk of errors that could arise from miscommunication or misinformation. While asking for their name or looking up their record may seem appropriate, these options rely on self-reporting or additional steps that could introduce opportunities for mistakes. Inquiring from another officer also does not provide direct verification of the inmate's identity. Thus, checking the armband serves as a direct and efficient means of ensuring that the correct individual is receiving the medication they are prescribed.