I
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 901
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 7, 2017
Mr. Cummings (for himself, Mrs. Love, Mr. Conyers, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Ms. Bass, and Mr. Labrador) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To place restrictions on the use of solitary confinement for juveniles in Federal custody.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Maintaining dignity and Eliminating unnecessary Restrictive Confinement of Youths Act of 2017
or the MERCY Act
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Juvenile solitary confinement
In general
Chapter 403 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
Juvenile solitary confinement
Definitions
In this section—
the term covered juvenile means—
a juvenile who—
is being proceeded against under this chapter for an alleged act of juvenile delinquency; or
has been adjudicated delinquent under this chapter; or
a juvenile who is being proceeded against as an adult in a district court of the United States for an alleged criminal offense;
the term juvenile facility means any facility where covered juveniles are—
committed pursuant to an adjudication of delinquency under this chapter; or
detained prior to disposition or conviction; and
the term room confinement means the involuntary placement of a covered juvenile alone in a cell, room, or other area for any reason.
Prohibition on room confinement in juvenile facilities
In general
The use of room confinement at a juvenile facility for discipline, punishment, retaliation, or any reason other than as a temporary response to a covered juvenile's behavior that poses a serious and immediate risk of physical harm to any individual, including the covered juvenile, is prohibited.
Juveniles posing risk of harm
Requirement to use least restrictive techniques
In general
Before a staff member of a juvenile facility places a covered juvenile in room confinement, the staff member shall attempt to use less restrictive techniques, including—
talking with the covered juvenile in an attempt to de-escalate the situation; and
permitting a qualified mental health professional, or a staff member who has received training in de-escalation techniques and trauma-informed care, to talk to the covered juvenile.
Explanation
If, after attempting to use less restrictive techniques as required under clause (i), a staff member of a juvenile facility decides to place a covered juvenile in room confinement, the staff member shall first—
explain to the covered juvenile the reasons for the room confinement; and
inform the covered juvenile that release from room confinement will occur—
immediately when the covered juvenile regains self-control, as described in subparagraph (B)(i); or
not later than after the expiration of the time period described in subclause (I) or (II) of subparagraph (B)(ii), as applicable.
Maximum period of confinement
If a covered juvenile is placed in room confinement because the covered juvenile poses a serious and immediate risk of physical harm to himself or herself, or to others, the covered juvenile shall be released—
immediately when the covered juvenile has sufficiently gained control so as to no longer engage in behavior that threatens serious and immediate risk of physical harm to himself or herself, or to others; or
if a covered juvenile does not sufficiently gain control as described in clause (i), not later than—
3 hours after being placed in room confinement, in the case of a covered juvenile who poses a serious and immediate risk of physical harm to others; or
30 minutes after being placed in room confinement, in the case of a covered juvenile who poses a serious and immediate risk of physical harm only to himself or herself.
Risk of harm after maximum period of confinement
If, after the applicable maximum period of confinement under subclause (I) or (II) of subparagraph (B)(ii) has expired, a covered juvenile continues to pose a serious and immediate risk of physical harm described in that subclause—
the covered juvenile shall be transferred immediately to another juvenile facility or internal location where services can be provided to the covered juvenile without relying on room confinement; or
if a qualified mental health professional believes the level of crisis service needed is not currently available, a staff member of the juvenile facility shall immediately transport the juvenile to—
an emergency medical facility; or
an equivalent location that can meet the needs of the covered juvenile.
Action before expiration of time limit
Nothing in subparagraph (C) shall be construed to prohibit an action described in clause (i) or (ii) of that subparagraph from being taken before the applicable maximum period of confinement under subclause (I) or (II) of subparagraph (B)(ii) has expired.
Conditions
A room used for room confinement for a juvenile shall—
have not less than 80 square feet of floor space;
have adequate lighting, heating or cooling (as applicable), and ventilation for the comfort of the juvenile;
be suicide-resistant and protrusion-free; and
have access to clean potable water, toilet facilities, and hygiene supplies.
Notice
Use of room confinement
Not later than 1 business day after the date on which a juvenile facility places a covered juvenile in room confinement, the juvenile facility shall provide notice to the attorney of record for the juvenile.
Transfer
Not later than 24 hours after a covered juvenile is transferred from a juvenile facility to another location, the juvenile facility shall provide notice to—
the attorney of record for the juvenile; and
an authorized parent or guardian of the juvenile.
Spirit and purpose
The use of consecutive periods of room confinement to evade the spirit and purpose of this subsection shall be prohibited.
Study and report
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, and each year thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report that—
contains a detailed description of the type of physical force, restraints, and room confinement used at juvenile facilities;
describes the number of instances in which physical force, restraints, or room confinement are used at juvenile facilities, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; and
contains a detailed description of steps taken, in each instance in which room confinement is used at a juvenile facility, to address and remedy the underlying issue that led to behavioral intervention resulting in the use of room confinement, including any positive or negative outcomes.
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Technical and conforming amendment
The table of sections for chapter 403 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
5043. Juvenile solitary confinement.
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