Warrenville youth center installs suicide-resistent furniture
The state is spending $750,000 to install suicide-resistant fixtures and furniture at Illinois Youth Center Warrenville after four suicide attempts by residents in the final months of 2012, the agency that runs the center says.
Early this year, the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice sought bids for new fixtures “as a result of recent suicide attempts,” a document announcing the bids says.
Suicide-resistant beds, toilets and sinks have rounded corners and no place to tie things to.
Agency spokeswoman Jennifer Florent says the facility for young female offenders saw four suicide attempts between September and December of 2012, which sparked the emergency request for updated furniture. There has been one attempt this year. There were no attempts in 2011, she said.
“None of the four girls were hospitalized after these attempts,” Florent said in a statement. “All four were assessed by medical and mental health staff at the facility; one was taken to the emergency room but not admitted.”
Florent said the girl who attempted suicide this year was assessed and was not injured.
“The installation of suicide resistant furnishings at IYC-Warrenville has been completed in three of the four buildings,” Florent said. “DJJ is seeking to utilize (this fiscal year’s) funds to complete the upgrade of the fourth building, which is often unoccupied based on population at the facility.”
The department’s website says the average daily population of the Warrenville center is 78.
Suicide-resistant beds became an issue at the suburbs’ other youth center, in St. Charles.
A prison watchdog group found the agency hadn’t installed special beds in cells where youth on suicide watch were held two years after a 16-year-old resident killed himself in 2009.
The St. Charles facility later installed suicide-resistant beds.