OHIO — The U.S. Department of Justice today sought a temporarily restraining order against the Department of Youth Services from putting boys with mental health needs in its juvenile correction facilities, according to prosecutors.
The court order claims that Youth Services’ practice violates the constitutional rights of boys in custody, authorities said.
The department sought to also expand its existing complaint against another facility, the Scioto Juvenile Correction Facility, to include claims of doing the same thing.
“The facts in this case reveal a serious disregard for the rights of young people with mental health needs in Ohio’s custody,” said U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach for the Northern District of Ohio. “The Ohio Department of Youth Services has a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of these young people, including providing appropriate mental health treatment, so that they can overcome challenging behaviors and return to the community to become successful adults.”
The department detailed the state’s excessive use of seclusion, including the following information:
- · In the second half of 2013, the state imposed a total of almost 60,000 hours of seclusion on 229 boys with mental health needs.
- · One boy spent 1,964 hours in seclusion over six months; the state gave another boy 21 straight days of seclusion.
- · Ten boys at one facility spent over 10 percent of their time in custody in seclusion.
- · While secluded, several boys were on suicide watch, had suicidal thoughts or hurt themselves.
The Justice Department issued findings in May 2007 detailing significant constitutional deficiencies regarding use of physical force, grievance investigation and processing and use of seclusion, officials said.
The Justice Department issued findings in May 2007 detailing significant constitutional deficiencies regarding use of physical force, grievance investigation and processing and use of seclusion.
In June 2008, the department entered into a consent decree with the state to correct these deficiencies at the Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility.
However, Youth Services continued to unlawfully seclude boys with mental health needs at Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility and had moved boys to other facilities also using unlawful seclusion.
This resulted in the Justice Department to seek the temporary restraining order today.