Juvenile confinement reporting changes considered

The Judiciary Committee heard testimony Feb. 15 on a bill that would change certain reporting requirements for room confinement of juveniles in Nebraska detention facilities.

Current state law requires a juvenile facility to report room confinements that last for more than one hour. LB60, introduced by Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh, would require that all incidents of room confinements be reported. The bill also would make other minor reporting changes and require submission of an annual summary report to the Legislature.

Cavanaugh said room confinement incidents of less than an hour currently are documented by juvenile detention facilities but are not required to be reported. This creates an incomplete picture of room confinement that may understate the frequency of confinement while overstating its duration, he said.

“Changing this requirement will give a more complete picture of the use of room confinement,” Cavanaugh said.

Jennifer Carter, Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare, testified in support of the bill. Improving data collection and reporting requirements will provide a more accurate understanding of juvenile room confinement and help to reduce its use, she said.

Also in support was Anahí Salazar, representing Voices for Children in Nebraska. Teenagers need healthy social environments to grow into well-adjusted adults, she said, and extended segregation from their peers is linked to increased mental health concerns and suicide rates.

“Through facility reporting, we have seen facilities reduce their use of room confinement and we know it can be done safely and effectively,” Salazar said. “LB60 is the right next step for Nebraska to continue on the path of full elimination of this practice.”

No one testified in opposition and the committee took no immediate action on the bill.