Non-profit news org California Watch reports that a special police force created to protect the state’s most vulnerable residents routinely fails to properly investigate cases of possible abuse and even murder.
Reports of abuse and unexplained injuries increased 10-fold between 2006 and 2010 at California’s five institutions for those with severe mental disabilities. But of the hundreds of abuse cases reported in that time frame – from choking to shoving to sexual asssaults – California Watch could find just two in which the police department had made an arrest. Many on the force formerly worked at the institutions, and some have minimal law-enforcement training.
The report featured the case of a severely autistic 50-year-old man found with his neck broken and spinal cord crushed. Police officials failed to secure the man’s room, waited too long to collect forensic evidence, and even after learning the extent of his injuries, did not begin interviewing witnesses for five days, the story reported.
California lawmakers have called for a state audit into the department’s practices.
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One Response to Investigative Reporting Best of the Week: Unsolved Cases of Abuse Against Institutionalized Disabled
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A mother of severely autistic son wrote on her blog: “no justice for severely-autistic adult in california” highlighting this sad case. She brings up the point these facilities need survellience cameras to protect those who can’t protect themselves. California’s idiotic privacy laws for disabled fail to see the most severely disabled are at greatest risk of abuse. Cameras should be mandated in every facility, says this mother and many agree. There are too many stories of abuse in these types of settings. enough is enough!