Chicago City Wire

Illinois State Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont) is criticizing Gov. JB Pritzker for failing to take action to keep children safe after the director of Illinois' Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) was issued a contempt of court citation for the ninth time this year.

DCFS Director Marc Smith's latest contempt citation centered around a 15-year-old boy who was held in a psychiatric facility for months longer than medically necessary, a recent CBS News report said. Since Smith's contempt citations are civil and not criminal, DCFS could face fines through the court for the citations, but they would be paid for using taxpayer dollars.

After Smith's eighth contempt of court citation, CBS News questioned Pritzker about the state's lack of action.

"You're ignoring all of the progress that's been made at DCFS, and so is the decision to hold the department in contempt," the governor said in reply. "The head of Department of Children and Family Services, and I, and the judge are frustrated with the challenges that we face for our most vulnerable children."

Stephens took to social media to criticize Pritzker for what he viewed as dodging the issue.

"Children in state care are suffering while the Governor continues to make excuses about the ongoing and serious issues at DCFS," Stephens said in a Monday Facebook post. "It shouldn't take contempt of court orders to ensure our children are protected."

Smith was first appointed by Pritzker to serve as acting DCFS director in 2019 and was confirmed as director last June, Smith's biography on Illinois.gov said.

Five children who were supposed to be monitored by DCFS have passed away just in the past four months, a recent Capitol News Illinois report said. The children are Damari Perry, 6, of North Chicago; Sophia Faye Davis, 1, of Dawson; Zaraz Walker, 1, of Bloomington; Tamsin Miracle Sauer, 3, of Nelson; and Navin Jones, 8, of Peoria.