The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Rhode Island has found the Department of Children, Youth and Families to be in violation of civil rights laws.
According to the multi-year investigation, the DCYF routinely and unnecessarily segregated children with mental health or developmental disabilities at Bradley Hospital.
Inpatient admissions at the acute-care psychiatric hospital are designed to last only one to two weeks, but investigators found some children were forced to remain in the hospital for weeks, months or more than a year.
U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha says it's nothing short of appalling that the state chose to warehouse children in a psychiatric institution rather than providing the community care, support, and services the kids need, and the law requires.
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