Judge Rules Against Shackling Youth

Judge Rules Against Shackling Youth

A State Supreme Court judge yesterday ruled that the state's juvenile prison system is violating state law by routinely shackling children being transported to court. Youth are only to be restrained as a last resort, but the system has had a policy of doing so irregardless of risk since 1996. The civil suit stems from a case brought on behalf of a 14-year-old with no record of violent crime who was shackled so tightly for over 14 hours that he could not reach his food. The ruling is another blemish on a system widely criticized as failing to meet the needs of juvenile offenders. For more, see Law Links in the News.