Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is reportedly on suicide watch while awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, according to People.

Sources told the outlet that Combs was placed under enhanced surveillance following his arrest at a Manhattan hotel on Monday evening, September 16. His indictment charged him with several counts, including sex trafficking, organized crime and trafficking individuals for the purpose of prostitution.

He is accused of organizing and forcing victims to participate in “freak-offs,” which prosecutors described as “elaborate and staged sex performances.”

Diddy’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo confirmed on Wednesday that the music mogul is being held in a special facility with “additional security.”

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What is Suicide Watch?

Suicide Watch, also known as SW, is a strict monitoring protocol designed to deter individuals from attempting suicide. This measure is typically implemented in correctional facilities, hospitals, psychiatric clinics, or military bases and is taken when an individual exhibits warning signs that indicate they may be at risk of self-harm or suicide.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Corrections defines Suicide Watch as “supervision measures for inmates at risk of suicide that require frequent observation.”

On September 17, Combs was transferred to MDC after pleading not guilty to the charges and being denied bail twice during the week. Although it remains unclear whether Combs is actively suicidal, People reported that the suicide watch was a preventive measure introduced due to his state of shock following his two bail refusal and uncertainty regarding his mental health.

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Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide in August 2019

Most notably, notorious and disgraced pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was initially placed on suicide watch in a New York prison. But in August 2019, despite his previous suicide attempt, he was left alone in his cell with a surplus of bedding. Most of the security cameras in his unit were not recording, and a single worker was on duty 24/7.

In 2023, the Justice Department’s oversight agency reported that negligence, misconduct, and poor job performance by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and New York City prison staff led to Epstein’s suicide in August 2019.

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Meanwhile, Combs’ attorney requested that the music producer be transferred to a prison in Essex County, New Jersey, citing concerns about conditions at the MDC. He stated that “several courts in this county have recognized that the conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center are not suitable for pretrial detention,” and noted that “at least four inmates have committed suicide there in the last three years.”