Sec.17a-16-10. Use of restraint

(a) A child or youth may be put in mechanical restraints under one or more of the following circumstances:

(1) there is reasonable cause to believe that the child or youth may inflict physical injury on himself or others;

(2) as a precaution against escape where there is reasonable cause to believe that the child or youth may run away while being transported from one location to another within or without the institution or facility.

(b) The staff member who authorized the use of restraint shall file a written report with the head of the institution or facility setting forth the circumstances of the action, the type of restraint used, the time period during which the restraint was used, and the reasons for the use of restraint. A copy of this report shall be placed in the child's or youth's permanent clinical record.

(c) No restraint shall be used in excess of one (1) hour or the duration of one continuous trip. If continued use of restraint is necessary, authorization must be obtained from the head of the institution or facility, or his designee. This authorization shall be noted in writing with the reason(s) therefore, signed by the head of the institution or facility, and made a part of the child's or youth's permanent clinical record.

(Effective February 1, 1994)