Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 418 § 418.523 — Permissible use of restraint or involuntary seclusion of child in care
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 418 ·
Oregon Code § 418.523·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Permissible use of restraint or involuntary seclusion of child in care.
(1) Except as otherwise provided
in this section, a child-caring agency, proctor foster home or developmental
disabilities residential facility may only place a child in care in a restraint
or involuntary seclusion if the child in cares behavior poses a reasonable
risk of imminent serious bodily injury to the child in care or others and less
restrictive interventions would not effectively reduce that risk.
(2) A certified
foster home may not place a child in care in a restraint or involuntary
seclusion.
(3)
Notwithstanding subsection (1) or (2) of this section, a child-caring agency,
proctor foster home, certified foster home or developmental disabilities
residential facility may use the following types of restraints on a child in
care:
(a) Holding the
child in cares hand or arm to escort the child in care safely and without the
use of force from one area to another;
(b) Assisting the
child in care to complete a task if the child in care does not resist the
physical contact; or
(c) Using a
physical intervention if:
(A) The
intervention is necessary to break up a physical fight or to effectively
protect a person from an assault, serious bodily injury or sexual contact;
(B) The
intervention uses the least amount of physical force and contact possible; and
(C) The
intervention is not a prohibited restraint described in ORS 418.521 (2).
(4)
Notwithstanding ORS 418.521 (2):
(a) The restraint
described in ORS 418.521 (2)(e) may be used if the restraint is necessary to
gain control of a weapon.
(b) The restraint
described in ORS 418.521 (2)(g) may be used if the restraint is necessary for
the purpose of extracting a body part from a bite.
(c) If a program
is a secure childrens inpatient treatment program or secure adolescent
inpatient treatment program, the program may place a child in care in a
restraint described in ORS 418.521 (2)(d) or (e) only if:
(A) The child in
care is currently admitted to the program;
(B) The restraint
is authorized by an order written at the time of and specifically for the
current situation by a licensed medical practitioner or a licensed childrens
emergency safety intervention specialist;
(C) The restraint
is used only as long as needed to prevent serious physical injury, as defined
in ORS 161.015, and while no other intervention or form of restraint is
possible;
(D) A licensed
medical practitioner, childrens emergency safety intervention specialist or
qualified mental health professional, who is certified in the use of the type
of restraint used, continuously monitors the use of the restraint and the
physical and psychological well-being of the child in care at all times while
the restraint is being used;
(E) Each
individual placing the child in care in the restraint is certified as described
in ORS 418.529 in the use of the type of restraint used and the individuals
training is current;
(F) One or more
individuals with current cardiopulmonary resuscitation training are present for
the duration of the restraint;
(G) The program
has written policies that require a licensed childrens emergency safety
intervention specialist or other licensed practitioner to evaluate and document
the physical, psychological and emotional well-being of the child in care
immediately following the use of the restraint; and
(H) The program
is in compliance with any other requirements under ORS 418.519 to 418.532, and
the use of the restraint does not otherwise violate any applicable contract
requirements or any state or federal law related to the use of restraints.
(5) In addition
to the restraints described in subsection (3) of this section, a program may
place a child in care in a restraint or involuntary seclusion if:
(a) The restraint
or involuntary seclusion is used only for as long as the child in cares
behavior poses a reasonable risk of imminent serious bodily injury;
(b) The
individuals placing the child in care in the restraint or involuntary seclusion
are certified as described in ORS 418.529 in the use of the type of restraint
used or are trained, as required by the department by rule, in the use of the
involuntary seclusion used;
(c) The program
staff continuously monitor the child in care for the duration of the restraint
or involuntary seclusion; and
(d) The restraint
or involuntary seclusion is performed in a manner that is safe, proportionate
and appropriate, taking into consideration the child in cares chronological
and developmental age, size, gender identity, physical, medical and psychiatric
condition and personal history, including any history of physical or sexual
abuse.
(6) In addition
to the requirements described in subsection (5) of this section, if a program
places a child in care in a restraint or involuntary seclusion for more than 10
minutes:
(a) The program
must provide the child in care with adequate access to the bathroom an
Plain English Explanation
This Oregon statute addresses Permissible use of restraint or involuntary seclusion of child in care. AI-powered analysis coming soon.
Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 418.523
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
Frequently Asked Questions
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