A new federal lawsuit alleges children at Vermont's juvenile detention center are being held in conditions that are "physically and emotionally harmful."
Court documents say children at Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center are held in dangerous restraints and long-term isolation and don't receive adequate mental health treatment.
, filed by Disability Rights Vermont, asks for Woodside to stop these practices and develop new policies.
A.J. Ruben, supervising attorney at DRV, said the Department for Children and Families, which runs Woodside, has been aware of the concerns but failed to address them.
鈥淪o we're hopeful getting a federal court involved will spur us to a place where we won't have these concerns about the kids in DCF custody,鈥� he said.
In response to a request for comment, DCF issued VPR a written statement:
"We are in the process of reviewing this lawsuit. Woodside has been working in collaboration with interested stakeholders, including Disability Rights Vermont, on an ongoing basis to review its practices and improve them when appropriate. This includes consulting with an expert to assess de-escalation and restraint practices. We expect the expert鈥檚 report and recommendations in the next few weeks.鈥�
The DRV lawsuit isn鈥檛 the first time the Woodside鈥檚 restraint techniques and use-of-force policies have raised concerns. earlier this year also described incidents where staff used restraint techniques that violated a regulation prohibiting 鈥渃ruel, severe, unusual or unnecessary practices.鈥�
The Defender General鈥檚 office sued Woodside in April, accusing staffers of using 鈥渄angerous and painful restraint鈥� techniques. That lawsuit, filed on behalf of an unnamed 17-year old, was dismissed after the juvenile was discharged from Woodside.
