On February 7, 1997, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation under the Civil Rights for Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997, into conditions at the Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco, California. On May 6, 1998, the Department issued a report on its findings. The officials found, upon review of medical records, interviews, and on-site surveys, that the Center's conditions violated the residents' constitutional rights. The Center provided inadequate health care services, particularly nursing and specialized rehabilitative services, and inadequate activities and stimulation for residents. The findings also concluded that the Center also made inappropriate use of physical restraints; failed to protect residents from harm; and failed to provide a safe and adequate living environment. Finally, the Center failed to serve residents in the most integrated setting suitable to their needs.

The report recommended changes, including improved supervision and management programs, especially regarding abuse and neglect; and enhanced health care access. Furthermore, the report recommended additional activities and stimulation; increased number of staff and better training for them; and the termination of use of bedrails except where ordered by physicians.

On June 13, 2008, DOJ entered into a comprehensive settlement agreement with the City of San Francisco to addressing outstanding deficiencies at the Center. The agreement required the City to address the DOJ's findings, in part, by developing a rich network of community homes and programs that serve hundreds of former residents of the Center as well as an unquantifiable number of persons who likely who have have been admitted to an institutional setting like the Center but for the newly-established community network.

According to a spreadsheet on CRIPA matters shared by the DOJ, the matter was finally closed in the summer of 2011; the city matter on July 18, the state matter on August 12.

Laura Uberti - 06/18/2006
Jessica Kincaid - 03/29/2015


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