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Fla. Supreme Court Bans Shackles for Juveniles in Courtroom

By "eAdvocate"

12-19-2009 Florida:The Florida Supreme Court has banned the widespread practice of shackling juvenile defendants in courtrooms, calling it "repugnant, degrading, humiliating and contrary to the state's primary purposes of the juvenile justice system."In an unsigned 6-1 opinion, the court amended the rules of judicial procedure to state a juvenile defendant cannot be placed in handcuffs, chains, irons or straitjackets unless the court finds it necessary in specific instances.In courtrooms around the state, children were being shackled by the wrists and ankles with belly chains, chained to furniture or chained to each other, the justices noted. The court suggested shackling may violate the children's due process rights.New rules state restraints are allowed only to prevent physical harm against the child or others, if they pose a substantial flight risk, they have a history of disruptive behavior in court and there are no alternatives...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sex Offender Issues, News, Recidivism and Studies on December 19, 2009 (boomark / email).