MORE ON: Department of Developmental Services

Spotlight: Public Safety

CIR’s California Watch again named finalist for Pulitzer Prize

April 15, 2013, 12:05 PM
Broken Shield investigation that exposed patient abuse at state developmental centers a top contender for journalism's highest honor. + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare

Lawmakers mull next steps for developmental centers

April 11, 2013, 7:09 PM
SACRAMENTO – State lawmakers weighed today whether to appoint an inspector general to oversee state centers for the developmentally disabled and close a center in Sonoma where patients suffered the worst instances of abuse, neglect and sexual assaults. During a daylong hearing, members... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare

Independent oversight proposed for developmental centers

April 10, 2013, 5:19 PM
The state’s influential legislative analyst is recommending that the California Legislature create an independent Office of Inspector General to monitor state developmental centers where police failed to properly investigate patient deaths, abuse, sexual assault and neglect. The proposal... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare

Join our discussion on Pomona's developmental center

March 25, 2013, 6:20 PM
California Watch invites you to share your insights and experiences regarding the Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona. On April 3, reporter Ryan Gabrielson, who has covered the state’s developmental centers in his series Broken Shield, will participate in a discussion on topics ranging... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare, Public Safety

New director to take over troubled Sonoma disability center

March 7, 2013, 5:38 PM
A former employee of the Sonoma Developmental Center has been tapped to head California’s largest full-time care facility for the severely disabled, at a time when the institution is struggling to reinvent itself in the wake of patient abuse scandals. The Department of Developmental... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

CIR’s California Watch wins Polk award for second straight year

February 18, 2013, 12:05 AM
We are proud to write today that the Center for Investigative Reporting’s California Watch has won the George Polk Award for our series exposing flaws in the way a special state police force handles crimes against the developmentally disabled. It is the second consecutive year that... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare

Sonoma disability center staff weighs in on abuse claims

January 31, 2013, 11:09 AM
SONOMA – California’s largest full-time care center for the severely disabled needs more staff and accountability to correct major internal breakdowns that led to dozens of cases of alleged patient abuse, staff members said Wednesday at a public forum. The Sonoma Developmental... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Calls grow for local police to take cases at developmental centers

December 3, 2012, 12:05 AM
Sonoma County’s top prosecutor has joined with advocates for the developmentally disabled in calling for local police to take charge of criminal investigations of patient abuse at California’s board-and-care institutions. Cases involving reported assault and negligence have long... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

State lawmakers order audit of developmental center police

August 9, 2012, 12:05 AM
Lawmakers directed the California State Auditor yesterday to examine the in-house police force at the state’s board-and-care institutions for the severely developmentally disabled. The force, called the Office of Protective Services, is responsible for protecting roughly 1,700 patients... + read more
Spotlight: Public Safety

Questions surround handling of Taser assaults on disabled patients

July 31, 2012, 11:05 PM
With a suspect from the start, the Sonoma Developmental Center’s in-house police force made no arrest in a dozen patient assaults, choosing to handle the case administratively.  + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Lawmaker calls for full audit of developmental center police

July 11, 2012, 12:05 AM
The state Assembly’s Republican leader yesterday called for an exhaustive audit of the police force at California’s board-and-care institutions for the severely developmentally disabled. In a letter to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Assemblywoman Connie Conway, R-Tulare,... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Bills aim to alert local police to developmental center injuries

April 20, 2012, 5:50 PM
State lawmakers have introduced two bills to increase the number of agencies alerted about injuries and alleged crimes against patients at California’s institutions for the developmentally disabled. The law now requires developmental center officials to report patient deaths and serious... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare, Public Safety

Developmental centers' police need immediate fixes, state officials say

March 13, 2012, 6:16 PM
SACRAMENTO – Investigations of patient abuse by in-house police at California’s institutions for the developmentally disabled have been unacceptably poor for years and must be fixed immediately, state officials and patient advocates agreed during a hearing today. At a hearing of... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Hearings sought to examine handling of patient abuse cases

February 24, 2012, 6:32 PM
California lawmakers said they would hold public hearings and conduct on-site investigations into a police force charged with probing patient deaths and suspicious injuries at the state's institutions for the developmentally disabled. The calls for hearings came in response to a California... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare, Money and Politics

Audit of regional centers finds nepotism, fear of retaliation

August 25, 2010, 12:05 AM
A nonprofit executive awarded state funds to her sister even though the service was available at a lower cost. A chief executive breached a confidential police tipline. And workers spent $900,000 on transportation - purposely spiking the budget to ensure more money the next year. Those were... + read more
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