RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Effects of a State Law on Rates of Restraint on a Child and Adolescent Unit JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law SP 165 OP 169 VO 17 IS 2 A1 Chester Swett, Jr. A1 Alisa S. Michaels A1 Jonathan O. Cole YR 1989 UL http://jaapl.org/content/17/2/165.abstract AB Rates of restraint and seclusion on a child and adolescent unit were evaluated before and after the implementation of a restrictive state law which was designed to reduce the monthly rates of restraint. Overall, the total number of hours in restraint, corrected for mean daily census, decreased significantly. The average number of patients in chemical restraint stayed about the same. There was a significant increase in number of patients, number of episodes, and hours of mechanical restraint as expected. Rates of seclusion dropped to zero as mandated. A new category of physical restraint was defined by law and was used to limited extent.