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On December 20, 1996, the U.S. Department of Justice notified the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of its intention to investigate the Hammond Developmental Center, a state-run facility for individuals with developmental disabilities, in Hammond, Louisiana, pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1997 et seq. The Department of Justice suspected that the conditions of confinement at Hammond violated the residents' constitutional rights, and it asked the Health and Human Services officials for any complaints of abuse, neglect, and inappropriate use of restraints they may have received.
The investigation was initiated upon the recommendation of the Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice on October 16, 1996. That division had received calls from Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals describing abuse, neglect, and the use of chemical and physical restraints in lieu of adequate behavioral treatment; the Special Litigation Division had also separately received reports from residents' families containing similar details.
We have only the Department of Justice's letters in the file, so we have no further information about the outcome of the investigation or what actions, if any, the institution took to address the concerns.
Summary Authors
Laura Uberti (7/21/2006)
Patrick, Deval L. (District of Columbia)
Peabody, Arthur E. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:47 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Louisiana
Case Type(s):
Intellectual Disability (Facility)
Key Dates
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States Department of Justice
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Hammond Developmental Center (Hammond), State
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)
Disability and Disability Rights:
Developmental disability without intellectual disability
Type of Facility: