A juvenile facility in Galesburg, Illinois, continues to struggle with meeting state standards regarding the confinement of minors. For the third consecutive year, the Mary Davis Home has been flagged by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) for noncompliance in its confinement practices. Despite acknowledging progress, the 2025 report highlights significant lapses in logging confinement incidents and adhering to legal limits. Furthermore, allegations of prolonged illegal confinement have surfaced through interviews with teens at the facility, raising concerns about systemic issues. The ACLU’s lawsuit against the facility adds legal pressure, accusing it of confining children for extended periods and withholding mental health treatment.

The practice of daily confinement during shift changes persists despite improved staffing levels. Although the facility attributes this to staffing constraints, evidence suggests otherwise. This ongoing issue underscores broader challenges in reforming confinement practices, even as the IDJJ criticizes these methods. Legal proceedings initiated by the ACLU remain unresolved, complicating efforts to address these concerns effectively.

Ongoing Noncompliance in Confinement Practices

For three consecutive years, the Mary Davis Home has faced scrutiny from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice due to its failure to comply with state regulations on juvenile confinement. Despite documented progress, the facility has consistently fallen short in accurately recording confinement instances. According to the latest report, multiple unreported confinement cases were identified, violating Illinois law that mandates reevaluation every 15 minutes and thorough documentation. In one instance, investigators uncovered four confinement events in June 2024 that were not logged, contradicting claims made by facility administrators.

This pattern of noncompliance extends further when examining testimonies from confined teenagers. Interviews revealed additional undisclosed confinement incidents, including a case where a teen was allegedly confined for an entire day. While video evidence adjusted this claim to approximately four hours, it remains evident that there was no documented justification in shift logs or behavior reports. These findings align with accusations presented in the ACLU's lawsuit, which alleges severe violations, including weeks-long confinements and restricted access to mental health care for those under "suicide watch." Although the IDJJ report does not fully corroborate these extreme claims, it confirms a recurring trend of illegal confinement over the past three years.

Persistent Daily Confinement Amid Staffing Improvements

Beyond punitive measures, the facility employs confinement as part of its operational routine, particularly during shift changes. Despite previous criticisms from the IDJJ regarding this practice, the Mary Davis Home maintains that staffing shortages necessitate such actions. However, recent data indicates the facility is operating with its best staffing ratios in over two years while maintaining a consistent population cap of 12 inmates. Despite these improvements, the practice of daily confinement persists irrespective of individual behavior, suggesting deeper structural issues within the facility's management protocols.

This habitual use of confinement raises questions about the effectiveness of current reforms and adherence to recommended guidelines. Even with enhanced staffing capabilities, the facility continues to prioritize confinement as a standard procedure, potentially undermining efforts to rehabilitate juveniles. The IDJJ has expressed concern over this ongoing practice, emphasizing the need for alternative strategies that focus on positive reinforcement rather than punitive measures. Meanwhile, the ACLU's pending litigation casts a shadow over the facility's operations, awaiting judicial decisions on class-action status and an injunction to halt confinement practices altogether. As legal proceedings unfold, the Mary Davis Home faces mounting pressure to reassess its approach to juvenile confinement and implement meaningful changes aligned with state and federal standards.