On May 26, 1993, the Department of Justice sent a letter to the Governor of Illinois detailing findings from an investigation of conditions in the Chicago-Read Mental Health Center pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutional Persons Act (CRIPA). The investigation was conducted in November of 1992. The findings letter indicated that conditions at Chicago-Read violated the constitutional rights of its patients to adequate medical care and reasonable safety. Inadequate conditions included the absence of professionally based psychiatric programs for patients, overuse and misuse of physical restraints, and building hazards. The letter described remedial measures the Department recommended be taken to remedy the deficiencies. These included modifying restraint and seclusion practices and enhancing staff training.

We have no further record of correspondence between the Department of Justice and Illinois regarding these conditions.

Angela Heverling - 03/21/2007


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