In April 1982, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated an investigation of conditions at Enid State School and Paul's Valley State School in Oklahoma pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. §1997.
The DOJ investigation ...
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In April 1982, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated an investigation of conditions at Enid State School and Paul's Valley State School in Oklahoma pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. §1997.
The DOJ investigation consisted of tours of Enid and Paul's Valley State Schools ("ESS" and "PVSS") by a physician, an educational psychologist, and DOJ personnel.
In May 1983, the DOJ issued its findings letter regarding the conditions at ESS and PVSS. The letter indicated that the DOJ believed that a pattern or practice of egregious and flagrant conditions causing grievous harm to the residents existed at both institutions. The DOJ cited the following deficiencies: inadequate medical services, lack minimally adequate training to enable residents to live in a reasonably safe environment free of undue bodily, numerous incidents of physical abuse of residents by staff, inadequate environmental conditions and lack of community placement. The DOJ outlined remedial action to be taken at both institutions.
On July 31, 1984, the DOJ met with representatives from the State Department of Human Services to review corrective action taken at ESS and PVSS. The DOJ also retoured both facilities. Thereafter, additional corrective measures were taken and the DOJ formally closed its investigation in January of 1985.
On September 17, 1985, the DOJ notified the State that conditions at PVSS still needed improvement. Those areas included: 1) minimally adequate training to ensure that PVSS residents are free from undue risks to their personal safety; (2) a sufficient number of competent and qualified staff to provide adequate care and necessary medical attention to the PVSS residents; and 3) prescription and review of behavior management drugs.
In May 1986, the DOJ notified the State that it was closing its investigation as it determined that PVSS had undertaken sufficient remedial efforts to eliminate the areas of concern.
Dan Dalton - 03/15/2007
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