At State-Run Homes, Abuse and Impunity

The New York Times ^ | March 12, 2011 | Danny Hakim

[OddLane]

Nearly 40 years after New York emptied its scandal-ridden warehouses for the developmentally disabled, the far-flung network of small group homes that replaced them operates with scant oversight and few consequences for employees who abuse the vulnerable population. A New York Times investigation over the past year has found widespread problems in the more than 2,000 state-run homes. In hundreds of cases reviewed by The Times, employees who sexually abused, beat or taunted residents were rarely fired, even after repeated offenses, and in many cases, were simply transferred to other group homes run by the state. And, despite a state law requiring that incidents in which a crime may have been committed be reported to law enforcement, such referrals are rare: State records show that of some 13,000 allegations of abuse in 2009 within state-operated and licensed homes, fewer than 5 percent were referred to law enforcement. The hundreds of files examined by The Times contained shocking examples of abuse of residents with conditions like Down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy.

[babygene]

Thanks for posting this.

[mlocher]

I expect to see a spate of articles from the NYT like this one. The overarching message will be something like, "There are horrible things in the state of NY that the state government simply cannot deal with. It is all because of the TEA Party Movement that is limiting state revenue. More money is needed to protect poor, innocent people who are unable to protect themselves."

More money instead of prosecuting the offenders -- works for me. sarc.

[OddLane]

The article is very interesting.

It explores the obstruction of the CSEA, which is largely to blame for the fact that these abusers go undisciplined.

[headstamp 2]

“It explores the obstruction of the CSEA, which is largely to blame for the fact that these abusers go undisciplined. “

Exactly, as soon as I read people were not fired you have to look into public union obstruction.

[holyscroller]

This is tragic! I would gladly pay my taxes to care for the developmentally disabled, but instead we underfund them, subject them to rape an torture and at the same time let the pimps and welfare queens live high on the hog on welfare, and breed like pigs. I would cut ALL welfare for the able-bodied ad give it only to those who truly need it.

[mlocher]

This is tragic!

Yes indeed, it is tragic!

I suggest that faith based initiatives, where the Holy Spirit is somehow present, would be a much better solution for people like the ones mentioned in this article, than subjecting them to an aetheistic government for care.

[Volunteer]

Here in WI we have no fewer than 3 State Agencies to provide oversight.

Sadly, they contradict each other at every turn.

[OddLane]

Most of the child welfare agencies in this area are almost as badly run.

It's scandalous what agents of the government and bureaucrats are allowed to get away with.

[kelly4c]

My grandfather developed alzheimers and ended up in a nursing home in Wisconsin several years ago. My Aunt has photos showing his body was covered in bruises one day and when they tried to figure out who beat him they got their answer when he put his arms up over his face and cringed away when they spotted a particular Mexican orderly. He died about 6 months after that. I’m sure there would have been a lawsuit had my grandmother not also passed on 3 months later which left the family in no mood to be talking to lawyers. Now the guy is long gone and the hospital can’t/won’t give his name or whereabouts.

[skr]

Exactly.

[OddLane]

You don't have to tell me about nursing home neglect/abuse.

My father was not even sixty when he died, and he spent over two years in some of the worst nursing homes and hospitals in NYC.

[TheWriterTX]

Sadly, this is not new. I did some extensive ghost-writing for a nurse who was rendered permanently handicapped because she was blowing the whistle at a NY State run agency. The other staff locked her in a room with a severely aggressive patient off his meds and let him beat her within an inch of her life.

We were not able to sell the book, but did get royalties on the screen rights.

I decided I would rather lick toilets for a living than ever leave one of my family members in an institution, that's how bad it was in there.

[kelly4c]

So sorry about your dad. I really don’t understand why there is not more oversight with these homes. Even if there were inspections every couple of months, the “inspectors” do not do anything about what they find apparently!

[OddLane]

Something really needs to be done about them.