On July 7, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Marc Smith was held in contempt of court for the 12th since January.
The latest motion was filed by a Cook County Juvenile Court Judge because the Department has kept a 15-year-old girl in a psychiatric hospital even though she has been ready for discharge since Jan. 14.
According to the order, Marc Smith in his capacity as director of DCSF is held in contempt of court for ignoring a February court ruling that ordered Smith and the Department to place the girl by March 5. Instead of complying with that order, DCFS stated that it would place the girl by June 15, which it also failed to do.
The girl has now been in a psychiatric hospital for more than 170 days since she could’ve been discharged, which led the Cook County Judge to place Smith under contempt of court and ordering him to pay $1,000 per day fine beginning July 28 unless the girl is placed.
These hefty fines could potentially cost taxpayers thousands of dollars if Smith fails to comply with the judge’s order. Despite the contempt orders and potential fines, Gov. JB Pritzker has continually backed Director Smith who he appointed to the position in 2019.