An interview with Illinois State Representative Jonathan Carroll about the use of restraint and seclusion

Back in November an investigation by ProPublica and Chicago Tribune exposed what seclusion and restraint is like for students in Illinois Public Schools. Over a period of a school year and half prone restraint was used on 1,300 students in Illinois public schools. As you likely know, prone restraint is when a person is held face down on the floor or ground just as was done with Max Benson, George Floyd, Cornelius Fredrick, and a number of other children and adults who have also lost their lives from this practice. It’s recorded that 30 IL school students complained “I can’t breathe” yet the restraint went on. One student said “your gonna get me dead.” Over two dozen times injuries were severe enough that an ambulance had to be called. The US Dept of education has given guidance that “prone restraints… should neve be used because they can cause serious injury or death.” Even one instance of physical restraint can cause traumatization. The majority of the students subjected to seclusion and restraint have behavioral or intellectual disabilities. 

The ISBE acted fast after the investigation was published in an article titled Quiet Rooms, and emergency rules were put into place banning the use of isolated seclusion and prone-restraint.

Jonathan Carroll is serving his second term as the state representative for Illinois’ 57th House District. He decided to serve because the Representative cares about his community. Jonathan wants to ensure that his children see the better side of politics and learn to love the state as much as he does. In addition to his work as a state representative, Jonathan helps individuals with various cognitive challenges like ADHD meet personal, professional and educational goals. As a certified Special Education teacher, Jonathan has been helping individuals his whole career. The Representative is a lifelong resident of Illinois. Jonathan’s passions reflect the community: creating jobs, reducing Illinois’ massive property tax burden, ensuring great schools, sensible gun control, consolidating redundant layers of government and protecting a woman’s right to choose. Jonathan received a B.A. in Communications from DePaul University in Chicago and a M.A. in Learning Disabilities from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. Jonathan lives with his wife Katrina and two children in Northbrook, Illinois.

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