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livesinthebalance.bsky.social
800 people have filed complaints against juvenile detention centers in Illinois, alleging they were sexually abused by employees.

"This system was nothing more than a pipeline for suffering." #ChangeThisPicture

Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNE8...

Read: apnews.com/article/laws...
Illinois juvenile detention abuse allegations: Hundreds of more lawsuits filed
YouTube video by FOX 32 Chicago
www.youtube.com
February 14, 2025 at 9:01 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
A report from the Minnesota Department of Corrections shows children's rights were violated at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center.

Children have been locked alone in their rooms for extended periods of time.

#ChangeThisPicture

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qD2...
Report: Children's rights violated at Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center
YouTube video by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
www.youtube.com
December 6, 2024 at 10:58 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
NEW ZEALAND- It is a legal requirement to record 'use of force' and 'secure care' (restraint and seclusion). But, not enough data was being collected to determine whether the practices were justified or being overused.

#ChangeThisPicture

www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...
Insufficient data on restraint and seclusion of children in Oranga Tamariki facilities, watchdogs say
The Independent Children's Monitor says it cannot determine if there have been improvements since a 2020 report found both practices were used inappropriately.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 26, 2024 at 12:06 AM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
#1: Tajikistan and Laos banned corporal punishment of children, joining 65 other countries. Five countries—Burundi, the Czech Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, & Uganda—pledged to enact legislation prohibiting corporal punishment. @hrw.org

#ChangeThisPicture

www.hrw.org/news/2024/12...
10 Good News Stories for Kids in 2024
From strengthening children’s access to education to better protecting kids during wartime, here's some of the human rights progress made for children in 2024.
www.hrw.org
December 13, 2024 at 11:37 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
SICAA is ONE signature away! 🎉

The House voted to protect vulnerable kids in treatment facilities! This is critical for holding the Troubled Teen Industry accountable. #ChangeThisPicture

Our amazing advocators—thank you for sending hundreds of emails to Congress!

www.cbsnews.com/news/paris-h...
Paris Hilton's bill to protect minors at residential treatment facilities heads to president's desk
The 43-year-old heiress and actor has testified about her own experience as a teenager at treatment facilities.
www.cbsnews.com
December 18, 2024 at 10:38 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
Krystal Emerson’s son was restrained or secluded at least 18 times in 7 months—in 2nd grade.

Now, Maine lawmakers are considering rolling back protections.

Her message: “It broke me. It broke him.”

#ChangeThisPicture

mainemorningstar.com/2025/04/24/p...
Proposed rollback of restraint and seclusion rules pits staff safety against student rights • Maine Morning Star
When he was in second grade, Krystal Emerson’s son was physically restrained by a staff member or put in a small, isolated room at least 18 times over seven months during the 2023-24 school year at El...
mainemorningstar.com
April 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
Sen. Tuberville’s comment about treating ADHD with “the belt” is drawing ire from those living with the condition.

Research shows corporal punishment to be ineffective & harmful to kids’ mental health.

#ChangeThisPicture

www.additudemag.com/rfk-hearing-tommy-tuberville-adhd-physical-discipline/
“ADHD Is an Actual Condition. You Can’t Beat It Out of a Child.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville’s recent comment about treating ADHD with “the belt” is drawing ire from those living with the condition. Research has found spanking and other forms of corporal punishment to...
www.additudemag.com
February 6, 2025 at 12:18 AM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
“If all we’re doing is teaching schools to deescalate & restrain kids, this problem will be around forever,” said Dr. Ross Greene.

Maine just rolled back regulations on restraint & seclusion.

Read more here, featuring LITB! wgme.com/news/i-team/...

#changethispicture
Maine teachers regain authority to remove students per restraint and seclusion rules
When a student starts to get out of hand in class this school year, teachers in Maine have more authority to remove them.
wgme.com
September 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
Scotland- In the R&S guidance, the edu secretary says “prevention and early intervention must be our primary approach.”

At LITB, we know a thing or two about proactive, collaborative approaches. livesinthebalance.org

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www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Restraint and seclusion ‘should not be routine practice in schools’
Guidance on restraint and seclusion in Scottish schools focuses on prevention - but union says teachers and school leaders will ‘despair’ at lack of practical guidance
www.tes.com
November 26, 2024 at 12:04 AM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
MICHIGAN- The investigation revealed that restraint and seclusion were used as a punishment for normal classroom issues.

Parents expect that the schools they entrust with their children do not instead punish their children for having a disability. #ChangeThisPicture

www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...
Justice Department Secures Agreement Reforming Michigan School District’s Seclusion and Restraint Practices
Today, the Justice Department announced that it reached an agreement with a Michigan school district to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities, in...
www.justice.gov
July 7, 2025 at 5:40 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
“I have lost faith in the review of the guidelines and am extremely concerned about the delay and lack of progress...,” -Ms Gillespie, whose daughter was left with PTSD after being restrained 158 times. @icarszoey.bsky.social @icarsbecky.bsky.social

#ChangeThisPicture

inews.co.uk/news/educati...
Pupils traumatised by restraint in schools failed by 'wishy washy' guidance
Campaigners have 'lost faith' with DfE after revised teacher guidelines are hit by years of delay, false starts and a suggestion that restraint in schools is 'rare'
inews.co.uk
January 6, 2025 at 10:58 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
The seclusion rooms that have been constructed cost roughly $4K each, and there are plans to set aside funding in the next school budget to build more rooms.

There are existing seclusion rooms in half of the district's school buildings.

#ChangeThisPicture

www.stamfordadvocate.com/journalinqui...
Critics call seclusion rooms ‘prisons for kids.’ A Connecticut school district wants to add more.
The Enfield school district wants funding in the budget to build more seclusion rooms, which one Board of Education member called "prisons for kids."
www.stamfordadvocate.com
December 13, 2024 at 11:55 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
In 2021, Maine ranked worst for student restraint and held the country's second-highest rate of seclusion.

Then, reform limited R&S.

Now, that progress is at risk.

If we only look to crisis management, we’ll keep repeating history. #ChangeThisPicture

mainemorningstar.com/2025/04/23/l...
Legislation would make it easier to restrain and forcibly move Maine students • Maine Morning Star
Driven by increasing reports of misbehavior, some Maine teachers and administrators want to make it easier for staff to physically restrain students.
mainemorningstar.com
April 24, 2025 at 10:13 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
Over 3 years, 98% of the 3K students restrained/secluded had disabilities. One child was secluded 99 times. Black students faced discriminatory discipline.

Regulations help, but we believe in intervention before the heat of the moment. #ChangeThisPicture

www.kansas.com/news/local/e...
Wichita schools change restraint, seclusion policy for students. Why, what it means
Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice found that disabled and Black students were disproportionately punished from 2020-2023.
www.kansas.com
February 14, 2025 at 8:44 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
“In many of the cases we have documented restraints are prolonged, repeated, deeply traumatic and cause significant physical and psychological harm to disabled children."

This is a must-read article about restraint in UK schools.

#ChangeThisPicture
icarszoey.bsky.social ICARS Zoey @icarszoey.bsky.social · Jan 3
Every child deserves safety, dignity, and care. Restraint and seclusion practices in schools are harming vulnerable disabled children. Read to understand the issue, please share to raise awareness. Together, we can protect our children. #AgainstRestraint
@kijcooper1973.bsky.social
againstrestraint.com ICARS - International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion @againstrestraint.com · Jan 3
Becky Gillespie, heads the UK division of ICARS and said it had been contacted by increasing numbers of parents about restraints “endured by their children”. Please repost and share with your networks. inews.co.uk/news/restrai... #AgainstRestraint
January 3, 2025 at 9:46 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
In the last 20 years in New Brunswick, school designs have changed to incorporate seclusion rooms.

"I think it is safe to say that for children, it can be quite devastating," Lamrock said. "It's a trust breaker." #ChangeThisPicture

atlantic.ctvnews.ca/n-b-advocate...
N.B. child and youth advocate raises alarm about use of seclusion rooms in schools
The practice of teachers putting misbehaving children in small, windowless "seclusion rooms" should be used only as a last resort to ensure safety, New Brunswick's child and youth advocate says in a r...
atlantic.ctvnews.ca
December 10, 2024 at 1:50 AM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
As the nation’s schools continue to grapple with how to keep students safe, a careful review of the research shows that school police officers may not be the answer.

#ChangeThisPicture

theconversation.com/why-school-p...
Why school police officers may not be the most effective way to prevent violence
The presence of police in schools has grown in the past 30 years. But research shows that these officers may not be the most effective method for deterring violence.
theconversation.com
November 25, 2024 at 11:57 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
Cheers to Oklahoma! 🌹

A bill to ban corporal punishment of students with disabilities has finally made it to the Governor's desk.

House✅
Senate✅

Oklahomans - Tell Governor Stitt to sign SB 364 into law at our Action Center!

Hitting isn't helping kids! #changethispicture

▶️ bit.ly/3uSAktc
TAKE ACTION – LIVES IN THE BALANCE
bit.ly
May 2, 2025 at 4:50 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
Kids in youth detention face abuse & unintended solitary confinement—sometimes without staff available to walk them to a bathroom. @nbcnews.com

This isn’t rehabilitation. It’s harm. #ChangeThisPicture

Content Advisory: this is hard to watch- includes restraint.

www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news...
Growing crisis at youth detention centers nationwide
NBC News investigates a growing crisis at youth detention centers across the country. Many are understaffed, putting the guards and those in custody at risk. NBC News' Steve Patterson reports.
www.nbcnews.com
February 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
WASHINGTON- Green Hill School houses about 240 people, but the safe capacity is 180.

The overcrowding is unsustainable and young people are not able to access needed programs or support.
@opb.bsky.social

These are the kids we lose.

#ChangeThisPicture

cashmerevalleyrecord.com/stories/wa-a...
WA agency seeks funding for new juvenile detention center as overcrowding persists - Cashmere Valley Record
OLYMPIA - With overcrowding at Washington’s two juvenile detention centers, the Department of Children, Youth and Families is asking state lawmakers for money to open a new facility.  …
cashmerevalleyrecord.com
November 26, 2024 at 1:28 AM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
His recs include “immediate legislative amendments” defining the limits for seclusion room use, involvement of clinical experts, parents and disability advocates, and improved reporting on the use of the rooms. @globalnews.ca.web.brid.gy

#ChangeThisPicture

globalnews.ca/news/1090874...
N.B. child and youth advocate raises alarm about use of seclusion rooms in schools - New Brunswick | Globalnews.ca
New Brunswick’s child and youth advocate says seclusion rooms — small, windowless areas where teachers can place children if they misbehave — should be used only as a last resort.
globalnews.ca
December 11, 2024 at 10:55 PM
sfedalliance.bsky.social
Black students with disabilities need SUPPORT, not suspension!

#ChangeThisPicture
August 5, 2025 at 11:58 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
Loudoun County Public Schools has officially BANNED seclusion! Thanks to the champions for kids in Virginia who made this happen. ✊ @againstrestraint.com

We were proud to share our work in nearby Fairfax County- seclusion is simply unnecessary and kids deserve better! #ChangeThisPicture
February 26, 2025 at 11:29 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
"Before the law was passed, schools would sometimes drag students to seclusion rooms without classifying the action as a restraint."

- (our own) Ben Jones, Director of Legal and Policy Initiatives at Lives in the Balance

#ChangeThisPicture with us www.livesinthebalance.org
April 24, 2025 at 10:28 PM
livesinthebalance.bsky.social
Black children account for almost 50% of public preschool suspensions but less than one-fifth of all preschoolers.

Children with disabilities are also more likely to be suspended. @kare11.bsky.social

#ChangeThisPicture

www.kare11.com/article/news...
Expulsion and suspension rates rising in preschools nationwide
Studies show 49% of preschool teachers say they suspended a kid in the past year.
www.kare11.com
November 26, 2024 at 12:03 AM