SPRINGFIELD – On Saturday, the Illinois Senate approved State Senator Sara Feigenholtz’s measure that would restrict the use of restraints on children in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services during transfers.
“Children at DCFS are our state’s most vulnerable population,” said Feigenholtz. “They have had enough trauma. We need to ensure shackling them will never happen.”
Over the past few years, there have been several reported instances of shackles and other hard restraints being used during the transport of youth under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services. Feigenholtz’s measure ensures that DCFS treat youth in their care with dignity at all times, which would effectively ban the use of restraints during transportation.
The legislation also requires DCFS to develop individual trauma-sensitive transfer plans for children in care.
Senate Bill 2323 passed the Senate unanimously. It has now passed both chambers of the General Assembly and will be sent to the governor.
