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Bill would ban blindfolds, secret midnight pickups in Maryland youth-transport industry
Summary
House Bill 497 would prohibit youth-transport companies from using blindfolds, hoods, excessive physical restraint or night-time extractions when moving minors to residential programs; survivors and advocates urged passage after describing traumatic midnight removals, while opponents asked for clarity on scope and criminal remedies.
Delegate Vaughn Stewart told the House Judiciary Committee he introduced House Bill 497 to restrict the tactics used by private youth-transport companies that move minors to residential treatment programs. The measure would bar hooding, blindfolding, excessive restraint, zip-ties and nighttime extractions during transports that originate in Maryland.
Survivors described forcible wake-ups, zip-ties, hooding and placement on flights or long van rides to out-of-state facilities. Emily Block told the committee she was taken from her bed at 16, “They put those zip ties around my wrists and brought me out of my home… I didn't see my parents again for 18 months.” Sarah Stusick…
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