History of Abuse and Neglect in Developmental Centers

There is a documented history of abuse and neglect in Louisiana’s developmental centers.  In the civil service commission case of Stephanie Riley v. DHH, Pinecrest Developmental Center it was found that on June 18, 1988 an employee of Pinecrest Developmental Center abused Client # 6328 by “attempting to force her from under the bed by poking or striking her with a broom handle, resulting in injury to the client.”  Pinecrest, along with Hammond Developmental Center, was also the subject of a 2004 U.S. Justice Department lawsuit over allegations of staff mistreatment of residents.  The lawsuit was dismissed in 2007.  However, there were allegations of abuse at Pinecrest Developmental Center as recently as October 2008, when five employees were arrested on a total of forty charges of cruelty to the infirm.  In addition, the Advocacy Center’s 2009 report Beyond Repair details cases of abuse at Northeast Supports and Services Center (formerly Ruston Developmental Center).  Unfortunately, the cases outlined in the report are not isolated events.  For each documented case of abuse, one must wonder how many cases of abuse are occurring that will never be reported?

• Click here to watch Kyle Everett describing incidents he witnessed that indicate the lack of safety and oversight in large institutions.