>> if we have children endangered in the federal government custody it is our responsibility to immediately begin investigations. >> reporter: in virginia, which holds teens accused of being violent, one child wrote of physically restrained and physically abused by staffers. they handcuffed me and put a white bag on my head, took off all my clothes and put me into a restraint chair. they left me naked and attached to that chair for two and a half days. this punishment chair was described in at least five other declarations from children. shenandoah would not comment to cnn but in court documents denied any assault of residents but did acknowledge stafferers use an emergency restraint chair as a last step of progressive response to aggressive behavior. some of the complaints and allegations stem from a long running lawsuit challenging the legality of the u.s. locking up or detaining any underage