La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § I-6923

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section 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.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-6923

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of the Secretary, Division of Licensing and Certification, LR 13:246 (April 1987).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 46:51, 46:1401-1424.