The Wyoming Department of Family Services says a restraint chair featured in a civil-rights lawsuit over conditions at the Wyoming Boys’ School will remain at the facility only to preserve evidence and "will be disposed of" once litigation concludes.
Allegations and evidence
Photographs filed in court this year sparked public outrage after they showed a juvenile restrained in a chair with a hood or "spit mask" over his head and a visible warning label on the device. The label reads:
"Warning: Use of the safety restraint chair without first reading and thoroughly understanding the instructions could cause injury or death. . . Do not leave detainees in this chair for more than TWO hours."
Former residents have alleged that staff at the Boys’ School kept juveniles in the chair for stretches longer than the labeled two-hour limit. Department records cited in the case indicate the chair has not been used on residents since 2022, but it remains on site near Worland while the lawsuit proceeds.
Specific incidents cited in filing
The court document names individual episodes that supporters say violate the chair’s safety guidance and amount to abusive treatment:
- A 2019 incident in which a former resident was allegedly restrained in the chair for about five hours.
- A 2021 incident in which records show a restraint from 11:50 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. approved by Dale Weber, now the school’s superintendent, who had not yet taken that position at the time.
Department response and context
In a statement provided to WyoFile, the Department of Family Services confirmed the restraint device "will be disposed of" after litigation and reiterated that the chair has not been used on current residents since 2022. The department added the chair is being retained at the school solely to preserve evidence for the lawsuit.
Department officials have described the hoods or "spit masks" as a protective measure intended to shield staff from bodily fluids or biting during restraints. The plaintiffs contend the devices and extended use of the chair amount to deprivations and harm while confined at the state-run facility, which houses delinquent boys ages 12 to 21 on a 38-acre campus near Worland.
Stakes for the county and state
The outcome of the litigation could prompt changes in how the state manages restraints, disciplinary isolation and safety equipment in juvenile facilities. For Washakie County and Wyoming, findings in the suit could lead to policy revisions, staff training mandates or oversight changes at the Boys’ School, which is overseen by the Department of Family Services. Public scrutiny has intensified following the release of the images and allegations.
| Year | Alleged restraint duration |
|---|---|
| 2019 | About 5 hours |
| 2021 | From 11:50 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (approximately 7 hours, per court filing) |
| 2022 | Department says restraint chair last used on residents |
Attorneys for the plaintiffs and representatives of the Department of Family Services did not provide additional comment for this report beyond the department’s written statement about preserving the chair as evidence and its eventual disposal. The civil-rights suit, filed in 2024 by six former residents, continues through the federal court system.
News Block will continue to monitor filings and departmental actions related to the case. Parents, local officials and state lawmakers have expressed interest in any policy changes that might follow from court findings, given the implications for juvenile corrections statewide.
