The Justice Department has launched an investigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to see if Michigan “unnecessarily institutionalizes adults with serious mental illnesses” in psychiatric hospitals.
Why is the DOJ investigating Michigan psychiatric hospitals?
Officials will investigate if the state fails to provide mental health services that help residents make the transition from state psychiatric hospitals to living stable in the community 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 Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This investigation will assess whether Michigan is honoring the ADA’s promise that people with disabilities be served in the most integrated setting appropriate. The Civil Rights Division will continue to advocate for states to provide people with disabilities the services they need to avoid unnecessary institutionalization.”
The Justice Department notified Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Office and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services before announcing this investigation.
“Our office is committed to investing the resources necessary to investigate these claims because 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 Eastern District of Michigan.
The department hasn’t reached any conclusions as part of this investigation yet.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Justice Department at Community.Michigan@usdoj.gov, 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 that serve adults, according to its website, and include:
- Caro Psychiatric Hospital (Caro)
- Center for Forensic Psychology (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 the Walter Reuther hospital while a new facility is built at the site of the Hawthorn Center.
Recent concerns over Michigan psychiatric hospitals
In recent years, lawmakers and other officials have expressed concerns over how these state psychiatric hospitals are run.
The Hawthorn Center made headlines after an unannounced active shooter drill happened inside the facility on Dec. 21, 2022.
The drill caused panicked 911 calls to law enforcement officials, who also weren’t notified about the drill in advance. The police response furthered the panic because it caused those who initially thought it might be a drill, to believe it was real.
This led to a $13 million class action settlement against the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and raised concerns from lawmakers about how the psychiatric hospitals in Michigan are being operated.
Senate Bills 1048 and 1049 were introduced in October, which would have experts from outside advocacy groups oversee decision-making for patients at state psychiatric facilities.
There was also a lawsuit filed 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.
