Dear Ralph,

We certainly do not do Nefilas Apayim (falling on one's arm, as we do at Shacharis and Minchah). The Beis Yosef and Shulchan Aruch (OC 131:3) rule that -- for Kabalistic reasons -- we do not do Nefilas Apayim at night. There is a debate among the Poskim whether Nefilas Apayim after Chatzos ha'Lailah (midnight) is permissible (see Mishnah Berurah OC 131:18-19), but Keri'as Shema Al ha'Mitah is said often before Chatzos (and, in fact, there are Poskim that rule that the Berachah of haMapil must be said before Chatzos). Furthermore, to my knowledge, not even the verses of Tachanun are found in the Nusach of Keri'as Shema Al ha'Mitah in any Sidur. However, there are Sidurim that follow the Kisvei ha'Arizal and include Viduy ("Ashamnu...") in Keri'as Shema Al ha'Mitah (see Beis Yakov, the Sidur of Rav Yakov Emden), and most Sidurim have some kind of Bakashas Mechilah at the beginning (such as "Yehi Ratzon she'Lo Echata Od..."), but not Tachanun.

Kol Tuv,

Yonasan Sigler

This is not a Psak Halachah