La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-6923 - Discipline
A. Written rules of
conduct prohibited within the facility and a schedule of appropriate
disciplinary action to be taken for infractions shall be developed for each
detention facility. They shall be made available for the detained children to
read and for inspection by appropriate persons who have the responsibility for
monitoring the facility. All staff members with authority to discipline the
detained children shall be required to strictly adhere to these
regulations.
B. Written policy and
procedure shall insure that prior to privilege suspension the juvenile has the
reason for the restriction explained to him/ her, and is afforded an
opportunity to explain the behavior leading to suspension.
C. Each disciplinary action which results in
a loss of privileges for a juvenile shall be recorded preferably in a log, and
in the affected child's record. Such record shall be monitored by the
administrator.
D. Corporal
punishment, defined as slapping, kicking, hitting, arm twisting, hair pulling
or and other act intended to cause physical pain to the child, shall not be
used. Only the minimum force needed to subdue a child who is out of control
shall be used.
E. Isolation,
defined as removal from peer contact by sight and sound, shall be used only
when other alternatives have failed, when he/she is a threat to him/herself or
others, when the child continually refuses to obey reasonable rules, or upon
return from escape.
1. Room confinement by
staff members should be for the minimum amount of time to effect control or a
change of attitude and in no case shall be for more than 24 hours including
sleeping time, in a 48 hour period, and only then when severe discipline
appears to be warranted. The detention home administrator may extend the
isolation period in extreme circumstance.
2. If the child is in an emotional state,
he/she shall be observed at least each half hour. In other instances when
isolation is used, a child shall be observed at least every hour. A record of
the staff member's observation shall be kept.
3. Any room used for isolation shall be
lighted, safe, and comfortable with a means for outside communication in case
of need.
F. Under no
condition shall a child be deprived of any necessities, such as meals, sleep,
bedding, medical attention, bathroom accessibility, or clothes for purposes of
discipline.
G. Under no condition
shall a staff member be allowed to use violent, profane, threatening, or
abusive language toward a detained child.
H. No child shall have any authority over
other children.
Notes
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No prior version found.