most frequently, a resident would land in a time-out room after an unsuccessful attempt to flee the school, at which time staff ensured public awareness through wailing sirens and intrusive ward searches. the dehumanizing effect of the time-out rooms allowed staff to handle residents with derogatory and senseless conduct, ultimately depriving them of their human rights and dignity. time-out rooms served as a powerful method of "physical and psychological, reactive and proactive control".