Washington D.C. – The Justice Department has asked a federal court to dismiss the injunction against Saint Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C., citing significant improvements in care and treatment of patients with mental health conditions.
According to the Justice Department, the District of Columbia and the Department of Behavioral Health have made substantial progress in implementing reforms at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, which is the district’s facility for treating individuals with mental health conditions. The reforms, which were implemented following requirements under a court order, have ensured that persons at Saint Elizabeths Hospital are discharged to the community with adequate supports to live in integrated settings.
In a joint motion for final dismissal with notice, the Justice Department stated that the district had achieved and maintained substantial compliance with all required remedial measures by replacing a dangerous facility through the construction of a new hospital and increasing clinical staff as well as reforming the discharge planning and community placement process.
The district had also lowered the population at Saint Elizabeths Hospital by nearly 50 percent, the Justice Department said.
The leadership of the Department of Behavioral Health and of Saint Elizabeths Hospital have made significant and often difficult decisions to change the clinical culture at Saint Elizabeths Hospital and ensure that persons confined to hospital were appropriately discharged and integrated into the community with adequate supports, said Molly Moran, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.
The Justice Department initiated the investigation of Saint Elizabeths Hospital under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which give the Justice Department authority to protect the constitutional and federal statutory rights of individuals with mental health conditions confined to mental health hospitals.
The district will continue its partnership with the local protection and advocacy group, University Legal Services, after dismissal of the lawsuit. The parties have filed a notice with the court detailing the ongoing monitoring that will be conducted by University Legal Services.
Related Federal Cases
- James Battles Trump’s Education Department Gutting · Washington
- Justice Delayed: Exposing the Dark Side of America’s Courts · Washington
- Georgia Lawyer Gets 18 Months for Jan. 6 Riot · Washington
- Florida Man Gets 18 Months for Jan. 6 Capitol Riot · Washington
- Ohio Man Faces Charges in Jan. 6 Capitol Riot · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption