DENVER (AP) — Colorado's child protection ombudsman has called for more oversight and transparency in youth correctional facilities after discovering a form of full-body restraint is still used on juveniles.
The Denver Post reported Wednesday that a report by ombudsman Stephanie Villafuerte highlighted the restraint procedures as an example that the juvenile detention system is "opaque, inconsistent and inaccessible" with its policies.
According to the report, the state Division of Youth Services introduced the new restraint method months after vowing to ban a form that involved putting juveniles in handcuffs, ankle straps and helmets.
In response to the report, the state Department of Human Services, which oversees the division, has agreed to make several changes aimed at making the policy process more transparent.
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Information from: The Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com
