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MORE ON: Office of Protective 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: 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, Public Safety

State disability center forfeits funding over abuse

January 18, 2013, 5:17 PM
California's largest board-and-care center for the developmentally disabled will surrender more than $1 million a month in federal funding for failures to protect patients from abuse and provide quality medical care, state officials announced today. In December, state regulators cited the... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

State threatens to shut down disability center amid patient abuse

December 12, 2012, 7:12 PM
The state's largest board-and-care center for the severely disabled lost its primary license to operate today, after repeatedly exposing patients to abuse and shoddy medical care. State regulators cited the Sonoma Developmental Center, which houses more than 500 patients, for dozens of... + 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

Brown signs bills on developmental center abuse

September 28, 2012, 12:32 PM
UPDATE, Sept. 28, 2012: This story updates to include comment from the Department of Developmental Services. Gov. Jerry Brown signed two bills yesterday to require California’s developmental centers to alert outside police and a disability protection organization when patients die... + read more
Daily Report: Health and Welfare, Public Safety

Release of uncensored developmental center citations ordered

September 19, 2012, 6:46 PM
A state court today ordered the California Department of Public Health to disclose uncensored copies of dozens of patient abuse cases at institutions for the developmentally disabled. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Center for Investigative Reporting in Sacramento County Superior... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Attorney general files charges in police overtime case

August 31, 2012, 12:05 AM
The California attorney general’s office filed criminal charges this week against two former officials at the state developmental centers’ in-house police force for allegedly embezzling more than $100,000 in overtime pay. The charges stem from more than 2,500 overtime hours... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Report slams state institution for neglect, weak oversight

August 23, 2012, 12:05 AM
California’s largest institution for the developmentally disabled risks losing millions of dollars in federal funding because of poor medical care and widespread failures to prevent abuse and thoroughly investigate when patients are harmed, state officials said in a confidential report. ... + read more
Daily Report: Public Safety

Developmental centers seek new police chief

August 16, 2012, 12:05 AM
The in-house police force at California’s institutions for the developmentally disabled is searching for a new chief as scrutiny of its work on criminal investigations intensifies. After two years in the top job, Corey Smith received a demotion to second-in-command for the force, the... + 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
Daily Report: Public Safety

State inquiry sought on Taser abuse against disabled patients

August 3, 2012, 12:05 AM
A prominent advocacy group for the disabled and parents of Sonoma Developmental Center patients are calling for an outside investigation into stun gun assaults last fall against a dozen patients at the institution. The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy in California distributed an open letter to... + read more
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