P&A formed the Death Investigation Group (DIG) to analyze existing mechanisms for death reporting and review in state-owned or -operated facilities, and to advocate for a thorough, state-wide reporting and review system. This report chronicles the results of that four-year effort. The focus population was made up of people with developmental disabilities and mental illness.

Investigation of Deaths in Facilities Owned or Operated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky 1999-2002—in PDF fomat

Correctional Psychiatric Treatment Unit Report

Issued in December, 2002

• Introduction
• Background Information
  • History
  • Description
  • Administration
  • Program
  • Schedule
  • Use of Force Criteria
• Methodology
  • Interviews
  • Review of Documents
  • Observation of Training Session
• Findings
  • Allegations of Physical and Verbal Abuse and Neglect
  • Suicide Prevention
  • "Lockdown" and C-Wing
  • Medication
  • Access to Psychiatrists
  • Cell Entries
  • Extraordinary Occurrence Reports
  • Lack of Cohesion and Role Differences between Mental Health Staff and Correction Officers
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
• Conclusive Summary

Introduction

The Correctional Psychiatric Treatment Unit (CPTU) of Kentucky State Reformatory is located in LaGrange, Kentucky. CPTU houses persons who have been adjudicated and convicted of a crime or crimes and have been diagnosed with a mental illness.

Correctional Psychiatric Treatment Unit
Follow-up Inquiry

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methodology
  • Interviews with the Director and Program Administrator
    • Staffing issues
    • Policy issues
  • Interviews with inmates
    • Staffing issues
    • Policy issues
  • Interviews with corrections officers
    • Staffing issues
    • Policy issues
  • Interviews with mental health staff
• Concerns after follow-up inquiry
• Recommendations after follow-up inquiry
• Conclusive summary

Abstract

The Correctional Psychiatric Treatment Unit (CPTU) of Kentucky State Reformatory is located in LaGrange, Kentucky. CPTU houses persons who have been adjudicated and convicted of a crime or crimes and have been diagnosed with a mental illness.

On April 17, 2003, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) received a report alleging the misuse of PRN (as needed) medications with children and youth on the Caritas Three South Unit. The report was received from a licensed practical nurse formerly employed by Caritas Peace Center. Because of that report, P&A initiated an investigation over a four-month period, speaking with children and staff on Three South, and reviewing medical records.

Investigation of Caritas Peace Center For Alleged Misuse of Medications With Youth—in PDF

This report presents the Commonwealth of Kentucky Protection and Advocacy Division’s (P&A) investigation into abuse and neglect allegations at Oakwood Intermediate Care Facility for persons with Mental Retardation located in Somerset, Kentucky. P&A releases this report in an ongoing effort to address issues of abuse and neglect within the state for persons in facilities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In addition, P&A wishes to address issues regarding Active Treatment and the failure of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to provide community options.

Report of On-Going Abuse and Neglect at Oakwood—main section—PDF

Preliminary Report of Findings
Regarding Kentucky Youth Academy (KYA) and Central Kentucky Youth Academy (CKYA)

Report date

February 9, 2001

Visit dates

KYA 1/10/01, CKYA 1/12/01

Staff involved

KYA-Bill Morrison and Susan Farra , CKYA - Bill Morrison and Melissa Bowman

Primary concerns of visit

Several articles appeared in December 2000 in the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader alleging that these facilities were using grouping and reporting alleged abuse of residents by staff. Youth who are former residents of the KYA facility also reported allegations of grouping, staff abuse, and forced religious practice to Department of Public Advocacy Juvenile Post-Dispositional Branch attorneys. It is thought that grouping was banned in Kentucky in the late 1970s due to two deaths that occurred during the process. Although the Juvenile Division of DPA represents children committed to Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and placed in state-run facilities the consent decree that established this program does not authorize representation of children in private facilities under contract with DJJ. Therefore, the Kentucky Division of Protection and Advocacy (P&A) has undertaken investigation of these complaints.

In 2003, Protection and Advocacy visited facilities and programs throughout River Valley Community Mental Health Region (Region III), interviewing 155 individuals receiving services and 96 staff providing services. The purpose was to monitor compliance with regard to rights and safety issues, and to provide rights training and information about P&A services. Throughout Region III, P&A staff toured facilities and programs, randomly chose individuals and staff to interview, and reviewed Statements of Deficiencies about the facilities from the Office of Inspector General.

Protection and Advocacy 2003 Facility Visits in the River Valley Community Mental Health Region in Word format