Documented Abuse of Patients at State Institutions

A report by California Watch has raised questions about the level of care for 1800 Californians with cerebral palsy, mental disabilities and severe autism. It found 850 documented cases in the past three years of patient abuse or unexplained injuries at five so-called "Development Centers" run by the state. In three years, there were only two related arrests. In one incident, an autistic man died after his neck was broken and his spinal cord was crushed and disfigured. Internal investigators failed to protect evidence and waited five days to interview witnesses.