The Justice Department has launched an investigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act into whether Michigan is “unnecessarily institutionalizing adults with serious mental illness” in psychiatric hospitals.

Why is DOJ investigating Michigan psychiatric hospitals?

Officials will investigate whether the state is failing to provide mental health services to help residents transition from state psychiatric hospitals to stable community living once they are ready to go home.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people’s right to receive mental health services in the community rather than remaining in hospitals when they are ready to go home,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. Justice. “This investigation will assess whether Michigan is honoring the ADA’s promise that people with disabilities be served in the most appropriately integrated setting. The Civil Rights Division will continue to advocate for states to provide people with disabilities the services they need to avoid unnecessary institutionalization.”

The Department of Justice notified the office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services before announcing this investigation.

“Our office is committed to investing the necessary resources to investigate these claims, as we will never tire of ensuring that every citizen is afforded the full protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the District of east of Michigan. .

The department has not yet reached any conclusions in this investigation.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Department of Justice at [email protected], 888-392-5415 or through the Civil Rights Division’s civil rights portal at civilrights.justice.gov/.

How many psychiatric hospitals does Michigan have?

The state operates four psychiatric hospitals serving adults, according to its website, and they include:

• Caro Psychiatric Hospital (Caro)

• Forensic Psychology Center (saline)

• Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital (Kalamazoo)

• Walter Reuther Psychiatric Hospital (Westland)

The state’s only psychiatric hospital for adolescents and children was the Hawthorn Center in Northville, but patients were transferred to Walter Reuther Hospital while a a new facility is being built on the site of the Hawthorn Centre.

Recent Concerns About Michigan Psychiatric Hospitals

In recent years, lawmakers and other officials have done so expressed concern about how these state psychiatric hospitals are driven.

The Hawthorn center made headlines after the year unannounced active shooter exercise occurred inside the facility on December 21, 2022.

The exercise prompted panicked 911 calls to law enforcement officials, who were also not notified of the exercise in advance. Police response it added to the panic because it led those who initially thought it might be a drill to believe it was real.

This led to a $13 million collective bargaining agreement against the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and raised concerns from lawmakers about how Michigan’s psychiatric hospitals are operated.

Senate Bills 1048 and 1049 were introduced in October that would have experts from outside advocacy groups oversee decision-making for patients in state psychiatric facilities.

There was also a lawsuit against the state earlier this year after staff at Walter Reuther, which currently houses children, allegedly “encouraged” a girl to assault a 10-year-old boy.