Date Published: August 03, 2007
The Palm Beach County Public Defender has lost a fight to remove shackles from teens charged with crimes in juvenile court.
In a short order, the Fourth District Court of Appeal denied a petition from the public defender asking judges to end the automatic restraint of juveniles.
Teens held in Palm Beach County's juvenile detention center continue to appear for court hearings wearing handcuffs chained to their waists.
The county's public defenders joined others around the state in a campaign against the practice, saying that it is cruel and unfair.
They pointed out that adults charged with crimes including murder are allowed to attend court hearings without restraint.
Though judges in other counties agreed to take shackles off teens without a history of violence or escape, juvenile court judges in Palm Beach County balked at the request. The judges said the shackles have helped prevent dangerous outbursts from teens, who tend to be more impulsive and have bolted for the door, turned over tables or lunged at courtroom deputies.
In February, Palm Beach County's four juvenile court judges agreed that attorneys for the Public Defender did not prove that the shackles cause psychological damage to children.
Though Gov. Charlie Crist said he does not support indiscriminate shackling of teens, bills that would have ended the practice died in committee last legislative session.
KATHLEEN CHAPMAN
Palm Beach Post
August 03, 2007