(1) GENERAL. Staff may use mechanical
restraints only in accordance with this section.
(2) REASONS FOR USING MECHANICAL RESTRAINTS.
Mechanical restraints may be used for any of the following purposes:
(a) To stop a youth in the act of
escaping.
(b) To transport a youth
who has escaped and been apprehended.
(c) To temporarily restrain youth until the
youth can be transported to a secure detention facility, a mental health or
medical facility or a type 1 secured correctional facility.
(3) LIMITATIONS ON USE. Mechanical
restraints may not be used in any of the following ways:
(a) As a method of punishment.
(b) About the head or neck of a
youth.
(c) In a way that causes
undue physical discomfort, inflicts physical pain or restricts the blood
circulation or breathing of a youth.
(d) To secure a youth to a motor
vehicle.
(4) MECHANICAL
RESTRAINT PROCEDURES.
(a)
Custody and
transportation. When staff place a youth in mechanical restraints to
take the youth into custody and transport the youth after an escape or an
attempted escape, staff shall promptly transport the youth to a detention
facility, a mental health or medical facility or a type 1 secured correctional
facility.
(b)
Observation. Staff shall remain with a youth placed in
mechanical restraints at all times until the restraints are removed or until
the youth is admitted to a place of secure confinement or is taken into custody
by law enforcement authorities.
(c)
Services and privileges. A youth shall be released from
mechanical restraints to perform bodily functions and for meals, unless it is
unsafe to do so. When it is unsafe to release a youth from restraints, a person
shall feed the youth and a person of the same gender shall assist the youth to
perform necessary bodily functions.
(d)
Check for injury. When
staff use mechanical restraints, staff shall check the youth for injury as soon
as the restraints are removed. If the youth has been injured, staff shall
immediately seek appropriate medical treatment for the youth. A supervisor
shall be notified immediately of any injury to a youth.
(e)
Record. When staff use
mechanical restraints to take a youth into physical custody, staff shall
promptly notify a supervisor. The staff shall promptly notify the department no
later than 24 hours after the occurrence. A written report describing the
incident shall be submitted by staff to a supervisor within 24 hours and
included in the youth's file. The report shall include all of the following:
1. The youth's full name, date, time and
place the youth was placed in mechanical restraints.
2. The name of staff who placed the youth in
restraints.
3. All relevant facts
related to the incident that required the use of restraints.
4. The reason for placing the youth in
restraints and a description of the restraints used.
5. A statement indicating when and under what
circumstances the restraints were removed.
(5) EQUIPMENT. Staff shall only use
mechanical restraints approved by the department. Staff shall examine the
supply of mechanical restraints at least every 6 months. Any mechanical
restraints which are excessively worn or which become defective through use
shall be delivered to a supervisor to be destroyed.
(6) ANNUAL REPORT. Each regional chief shall
submit an annual report to the administrator describing all incidents involving
the use of mechanical restraints by program staff.