Case: CRIPA Investigation, Silver Spring (MD)

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Case Summary

On December 26, 1990, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a report to the State of Maryland on its investigation of the conditions of confinement at Great Oaks Center, a facility for people with intellectual disabilities in Silver Spring, Maryland. The investigation, conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997, began November 18, 1986, and it included tours, interviews, and document reviews. It revealed violations of the residents' constitutio…

On December 26, 1990, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a report to the State of Maryland on its investigation of the conditions of confinement at Great Oaks Center, a facility for people with intellectual disabilities in Silver Spring, Maryland. The investigation, conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997, began November 18, 1986, and it included tours, interviews, and document reviews. It revealed violations of the residents' constitutional rights, including the state's failure to provide sufficient numbers of trained staff; to protect residents from injury; to provide physical therapy services; and to maintain accurate records.

The Department recommended several improvements, including professionally designed training programs for residents in order to reduce risks to their personal safety; individual physical therapy programs; increasing the number of staff; and implementation of a standard recordkeeping system.

We have only the Department's report in the file and so we have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Laura Uberti (7/21/2006)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Astrue, Michael J. (District of Columbia)

Dunne, John R. (District of Columbia)

Willcox, Breckinridge L. (Maryland)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Curran, John Joseph Jr. (Maryland)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Findings Letter re: Great Oaks Center, Silver Spring, Maryland

CRIPA Investigation

Dec. 26, 1990

Dec. 26, 1990

Findings Letter/Report

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:47 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Maryland

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

State of Maryland, State

Great Oaks Center (Silver Spring), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

None of the above

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Unknown

Issues

General:

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Habilitation (training/treatment)

Disability and Disability Rights:

Intellectual/developmental disability, unspecified

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run