Lawsuit alleges abuses at state-run youth centers

A lawsuit filed in federal court this week alleges teens at state-run Youth Development Centers are suffering physical and emotional abuse at the hands of staff.

Children as young as 12 years old are placed in the centers through the juvenile justice system with the aim of “rehabilitation and treatment,” according to the lawsuit, brought by nonprofit disability advocacy group Disability Rights Pennsylvania. The centers are operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

The litigation cites 11 examples of alleged abuses by staff at the Loysville Youth Development Center in Perry County, North Central Secure Treatment Unit in Montour County, and South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit in Franklin County.

The lawsuit centers on the use of restraints, which are prohibited under state law “unless a youth is in danger of harming himself or herself or others,” the litigation states. “[S]taff are required to use all less restrictive methods to calm and deescalate the situation” before using restraints, according to the complaint.

“Despite the clarity of state law and DHS policy on these issues, YDC staff routinely engage in illegal and violent physical restraints against children with disabilities, including against youth for minor misconduct, having a bad attitude, not following directions or fidgeting.”

The unnamed youths were from Allegheny, Bradford, Bucks, Erie, Fayette, Lehigh, Philadelphia and York counties. Currently, 23 youths from Allegheny County are at the three centers, which have a combined total capacity of 271.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and names Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller and a number of DHS Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services officials as defendants.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services said the agency is reviewing the complaint and couldn’t comment further.