Kane County Reporter

Illinois State Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) has criticized how the state is handling children in its custody after Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Marc Smith was held in contempt of court for the ninth time in 2022.

The 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.

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

CBS News previously questioned Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) about the state's lack of action following Smith's eighth contempt of court citation. Pritzker answered by stating the news agency was "ignoring all of the progress that's been made at DCFS"; adding also that he, Smith and the judge were frustrated because of the challenges children in state care have to deal with.

Five children who were supposed to be monitored by DCFS have passed away just in the past four months, a recent Capitol News 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. 

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.