Illinois State representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) received an award at the American Civil Liberties Union annual Legislator Awards, held at the ACLU’s Illinois headquarters in Chicago December 14. The award recognizes representative Kifowit’s unwavering commitment to civil liberties, specifically her sponsorship and advocacy of SB 2323 in 2021, which ended the use of restraints to transport youth in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.
“This award serves as a testament to the power of advocacy and collaboration in creating positive change, and I deeply honored to receive it,” said Kifowit. “I remain steadfast in my dedication to championing the rights of every individual, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in our care.”
Working in partnership with Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), who sponsored the bill in the Illinois State Senate, Representative Kifowit passed SB 2323 in response to news reports that contractors for the Department of Children and Family Services sometimes resorted to shacking children during transport. The legislation marked a significant stride towards ensuring the safety, dignity, and respect of youth in the care of DCFS by prohibiting the use of chemical, manual, and mechanical restraints during transportation services.
“We appreciate representative Kifowit’s leadership as a champion of civil liberties, and we are grateful for the partnership of all the Legislators who sponsored ACLU-led initiatives over the past three legislative sessions,” said a representative from the ACLU of Illinois.
This recognition underscores representative Kifowit’s long commitment to the fight for civil liberties, especially the rights of vulnerable youth in the DCFS system. SB 2323, now law, not only prohibits the use of restraints during pre-arranged transports but also requires any violation of the prohibition to be reported immediately to the Department’s Office of Inspector General.
The ACLU Legislator Awards recognized 11 State senators and nine State representatives for their legislative achievements. The event was the first in-person ACLU Legislator Awards since 2019 due to pandemic precautions. The full list of awardees can be viewed at www.aclu-il.org/en/news/2023-legislator-awards
—Office of Illinois State representative Stephanie Kifowit