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Case Name
U.S. v. New Mexico
ID-NM-0001
Docket / Court
86-09-32 ( D.N.M. )
State/Territory
New Mexico
Case Type(s)
Intellectual Disability (Facility)
Attorney Organization
NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations
Case Summary
In August 1986, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997, against the State of New Mexico. The Complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, asked the court for injunctive ...
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In August 1986, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997, against the State of New Mexico. The Complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, asked the court for injunctive relief, alleging that the State had failed to protect the constitutional rights of residents of Fort Stanton Hospital and Training School in Fort Stanton, New Mexico, a state-run facility for developmentally disabled individuals. The State failed to provide medical care, to administer medications correctly, and to use physical restraints only when appropriate.
The lawsuit was prompted by an investigation, which began in December 1984, into the conditions at Fort Stanton. Through interviews and tours, the Department found insufficient medical coverage for residents, including only one doctor on duty, an inaccurate record-keeping system, and the use of chemical restraints. The government's report, issued in December 1985, recommended the employment of a sufficient number of medical staff and the modification of medication practices to conform to professional standards.
We have only the Complaint and the December 1985 report in the file, so we have no further information on this case.
Laura Uberti - 07/18/2006
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
General
Record-keeping
Restraints : chemical
Restraints : physical
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Medical/Mental Health
Medical care, unspecified
Medication, administration of
Mental Disability
Developmental disability without intellectual disability
Intellectual/developmental disability, unspecified
Plaintiff Type
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Type of Facility
Government-run
Causes of Action
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
Fort Stanton Hospital & Training School
New Mexico Health and Environment Department
Plaintiff Description
United States Department of Justice
Indexed Lawyer Organizations
NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations
Class action status sought
No
Class action status granted
No
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Unknown
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
Unknown
Source of Relief
Unknown
Filed
08/08/1986
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
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An Analysis of CRIPA Findings Letters Issued to Jails for Constitutional Violations by the Department of Justice
Date: Apr. 15, 2016
By: Jeff Mellow, Bryce E. Peterson & Mijin Kim (John Jay College of Criminal Justice Faculty)
Citation: Am. J. Crim. Just. (April 2016)
[ Detail ]
[ External Link ]
Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
No docket sheet currently in the collection
General Documents
D.N.M.
12/24/1985
Findings Letter re: CRIPA Investigation of Fort Stanton Hosp. & Training School
ID-NM-0001-0001.pdf
|
Detail
D.N.M.
08/08/1986
Complaint
ID-NM-0001-0002.pdf
|
Detail
People
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Plaintiff's Lawyers
Joyce, Patrick M.
(District of Columbia)
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ID-NM-0001-0002
Lawrence, Paul S.
(District of Columbia)
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ID-NM-0001-0002
Meese, Edwin III
(District of Columbia)
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ID-NM-0001-0002
Peabody, Arthur E. Jr.
(District of Columbia)
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ID-NM-0001-0002
Reynolds, William Bradford
(District of Columbia)
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ID-NM-0001-0001 | ID-NM-0001-0002
Defendant's Lawyers
Lutz, William L.
(New Mexico)
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ID-NM-0001-0002
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