Illinois DCFS Sued For Wrongfully Incarcerating Cross System Youth Despite Court Orders For Release

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) wrongfully incarcerated hundreds of children in juvenile detention after a court ordered them to be released to their guardian, according to a class action lawsuit filed on January 19, 2023, by Cook County’s public guardian. The plaintiffs allege that DCFS has engaged in this practice for more than 30 years. Each class member was in DCFS custody due to maltreatment and then came into contact with the juvenile justice system, leading to incarceration. For the class members, DCFS failed to place the children in a safe and appropriate community setting . . .