Assualts At Colorado Treatment Center

[Guest guest]

Wow! Imagine that, people getting assaulted at a psychiatric

institution! Notice these kinds of articles never bring up the simple

fact that assaulting people in psychiatric institutions is part of

their job. For some reason force feeding people drugs is not seen as

assault, but it is. Hat tip: Psychbusters. -Rick

News 4 Investigates Treatment Center Assaults

Feb 22, 2004 8:12 pm US/Mountain

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (News 4) The largest private mental health

treatment center for children in Colorado is under investigation

because of what News 4 has uncovered.

News 4 found that in the last year there have been at least two dozen

assaults and sexual assaults inside the Devereux Cleo Wallace center

that have not been reported to the state. That is a serious license

violation.

During an undercover investigation, News 4 observed that even the most

basic living standards for the children are not being met.

* * *

From the outside, Devereux Cleo Wallace shows off a beautiful,

sprawling, state-of-the-art facility.

But inside, News 4's hidden camera images showed kids sleeping on the

floor or sleeping on beds without sheets and a cement block room

called the " quiet room " where patients go when they are in trouble.

Current and former employees News 4 talked to paint an even darker

picture.

" There is a lot of abuse, neglect, " said one worker who didn't want

News 4 to show his face because he is afraid of retaliation.

" These kids, Molly, no one really wants to deal with them, " he told

News 4's Molly .

* * *

The majority of the children come to Devereux Cleo Wallace facility in

Westminster from the child welfare system. They have suffered some

form of serious neglect or abuse. They've been taken away from their

families or have no family at all.

Colorado taxpayer dollars pay for the children to come from all over

the country.

The children are at the facility to get psychiatric care in hopes of

one day returning to society.

There are laws and regulations to make sure the children are getting

the protection they need, but during a 10-month investigation, News 4

uncovered serious violations.

Last year, News 4 found police called to the facility 126 times for

serious incidents like sexual assaults, assaults, suicide attempts,

overdoses and illegal drug use.

Gallegos is head of the state division that monitors

residential treatment centers like Devereux Cleo Wallace.

" Those items you listed there are in our definition, are in our

minimum rules as items that need to be reported to us. " Gallegos said.

" We're very concerned. "

" We found that at least 25 were not reported to the state of Colorado

in one year, is that a concern to you? " News 4 asked Gallegos.

" That would be very concerning, " Gallegos said.

Police reports reviewed by News 4 reveal disturbing allegations,

including a child being sexually assaulted in a classroom by another

student and fondling, groping and forced oral sex between children.

News 4 found several cases of other assaults, including staffers being

attacked by children.

In one case, a therapist told police she was violently attacked by a

child wearing a cast and beaten over the head 15 times.

According to the police report, the therapist said she was told by

staff at Devereux Cleo Wallace not to go to police, but she did

anyway.

State records show a hospitalization on that day, but News 4 records

show no mention of an assault. The state did not know that just a few

weeks ago a lawsuit was filed by the therapist against the facility.

The state says not being notified of a lawsuit is yet another

violation.

" I don't know how many cases have not been reported, but if it was

reported and the police were called on all these cases, I don't think

we would be open, " said the anonymous worker.

The executive director of the facility denied News 4's request for an

interview but told News 4 over the phone:

" To the best of my knowledge there are no critical incident reports,

or very few, that would not be reported to the appropriate

authorities. "

News 4 took the findings to the authorities, and they are promising a

full investigation.

" I'm deeply concerned, " Gallegos said. " I think we have some

additional work to do. "

That additional work will include making sure the children at the

facility are getting the protection the state requires.

" If you could see a warehouse, you have stock in that warehouse that

just sits and sits until you have to get rid of it, " the anonymous

worker told News 4. " That's what this is like. "

The Colorado Department of Human Services issues licenses to treatment

centers like Devereux Cleo Wallace, and it has the power to take them

away.

After News 4 took its findings to the state, the state immediately

launched an investigation, and News 4 has been informed that a letter

is being sent to state lawmakers notifying them that this

investigation is now under way.

News 4 will continue to follow this story in the days and months

ahead.

(Copyright 2004 by news4colorado.com. All rights reserved.)

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted material the use of

which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright

owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of

ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific,

moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that

this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as

provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance

with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without

profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in

receiving similar information for research and educational purposes.

For more information go to:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use

copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair

use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

[Guest guest]

Wow! Imagine that, people getting assaulted at a psychiatric

institution! Notice these kinds of articles never bring up the simple

fact that assaulting people in psychiatric institutions is part of

their job. For some reason force feeding people drugs is not seen as

assault, but it is. Hat tip: Psychbusters. -Rick

News 4 Investigates Treatment Center Assaults

Feb 22, 2004 8:12 pm US/Mountain

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (News 4) The largest private mental health

treatment center for children in Colorado is under investigation

because of what News 4 has uncovered.

News 4 found that in the last year there have been at least two dozen

assaults and sexual assaults inside the Devereux Cleo Wallace center

that have not been reported to the state. That is a serious license

violation.

During an undercover investigation, News 4 observed that even the most

basic living standards for the children are not being met.

* * *

From the outside, Devereux Cleo Wallace shows off a beautiful,

sprawling, state-of-the-art facility.

But inside, News 4's hidden camera images showed kids sleeping on the

floor or sleeping on beds without sheets and a cement block room

called the " quiet room " where patients go when they are in trouble.

Current and former employees News 4 talked to paint an even darker

picture.

" There is a lot of abuse, neglect, " said one worker who didn't want

News 4 to show his face because he is afraid of retaliation.

" These kids, Molly, no one really wants to deal with them, " he told

News 4's Molly .

* * *

The majority of the children come to Devereux Cleo Wallace facility in

Westminster from the child welfare system. They have suffered some

form of serious neglect or abuse. They've been taken away from their

families or have no family at all.

Colorado taxpayer dollars pay for the children to come from all over

the country.

The children are at the facility to get psychiatric care in hopes of

one day returning to society.

There are laws and regulations to make sure the children are getting

the protection they need, but during a 10-month investigation, News 4

uncovered serious violations.

Last year, News 4 found police called to the facility 126 times for

serious incidents like sexual assaults, assaults, suicide attempts,

overdoses and illegal drug use.

Gallegos is head of the state division that monitors

residential treatment centers like Devereux Cleo Wallace.

" Those items you listed there are in our definition, are in our

minimum rules as items that need to be reported to us. " Gallegos said.

" We're very concerned. "

" We found that at least 25 were not reported to the state of Colorado

in one year, is that a concern to you? " News 4 asked Gallegos.

" That would be very concerning, " Gallegos said.

Police reports reviewed by News 4 reveal disturbing allegations,

including a child being sexually assaulted in a classroom by another

student and fondling, groping and forced oral sex between children.

News 4 found several cases of other assaults, including staffers being

attacked by children.

In one case, a therapist told police she was violently attacked by a

child wearing a cast and beaten over the head 15 times.

According to the police report, the therapist said she was told by

staff at Devereux Cleo Wallace not to go to police, but she did

anyway.

State records show a hospitalization on that day, but News 4 records

show no mention of an assault. The state did not know that just a few

weeks ago a lawsuit was filed by the therapist against the facility.

The state says not being notified of a lawsuit is yet another

violation.

" I don't know how many cases have not been reported, but if it was

reported and the police were called on all these cases, I don't think

we would be open, " said the anonymous worker.

The executive director of the facility denied News 4's request for an

interview but told News 4 over the phone:

" To the best of my knowledge there are no critical incident reports,

or very few, that would not be reported to the appropriate

authorities. "

News 4 took the findings to the authorities, and they are promising a

full investigation.

" I'm deeply concerned, " Gallegos said. " I think we have some

additional work to do. "

That additional work will include making sure the children at the

facility are getting the protection the state requires.

" If you could see a warehouse, you have stock in that warehouse that

just sits and sits until you have to get rid of it, " the anonymous

worker told News 4. " That's what this is like. "

The Colorado Department of Human Services issues licenses to treatment

centers like Devereux Cleo Wallace, and it has the power to take them

away.

After News 4 took its findings to the state, the state immediately

launched an investigation, and News 4 has been informed that a letter

is being sent to state lawmakers notifying them that this

investigation is now under way.

News 4 will continue to follow this story in the days and months

ahead.

(Copyright 2004 by news4colorado.com. All rights reserved.)

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted material the use of

which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright

owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of

ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific,

moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that

this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as

provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance

with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without

profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in

receiving similar information for research and educational purposes.

For more information go to:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use

copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair

use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

[Guest guest]

http://news4colorado.com/investigates/local_story_053221237.html

This is so common, this is not a one time thing but going on all over the place.

I'm glad this is getting out.

Jim

Assualts At Colorado " Treatment " Center

Wow! Imagine that, people getting assaulted at a psychiatric

institution! Notice these kinds of articles never bring up the simple

fact that assaulting people in psychiatric institutions is part of

their job. For some reason force feeding people drugs is not seen as

assault, but it is. Hat tip: Psychbusters. -Rick

News 4 Investigates Treatment Center Assaults

Feb 22, 2004 8:12 pm US/Mountain

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (News 4) The largest private mental health

treatment center for children in Colorado is under investigation

because of what News 4 has uncovered.

News 4 found that in the last year there have been at least two dozen

assaults and sexual assaults inside the Devereux Cleo Wallace center

that have not been reported to the state. That is a serious license

violation.

During an undercover investigation, News 4 observed that even the most

basic living standards for the children are not being met.

* * *

From the outside, Devereux Cleo Wallace shows off a beautiful,

sprawling, state-of-the-art facility.

But inside, News 4's hidden camera images showed kids sleeping on the

floor or sleeping on beds without sheets and a cement block room

called the " quiet room " where patients go when they are in trouble.

Current and former employees News 4 talked to paint an even darker

picture.

" There is a lot of abuse, neglect, " said one worker who didn't want

News 4 to show his face because he is afraid of retaliation.

" These kids, Molly, no one really wants to deal with them, " he told

News 4's Molly .

* * *

The majority of the children come to Devereux Cleo Wallace facility in

Westminster from the child welfare system. They have suffered some

form of serious neglect or abuse. They've been taken away from their

families or have no family at all.

Colorado taxpayer dollars pay for the children to come from all over

the country.

The children are at the facility to get psychiatric care in hopes of

one day returning to society.

There are laws and regulations to make sure the children are getting

the protection they need, but during a 10-month investigation, News 4

uncovered serious violations.

Last year, News 4 found police called to the facility 126 times for

serious incidents like sexual assaults, assaults, suicide attempts,

overdoses and illegal drug use.

Gallegos is head of the state division that monitors

residential treatment centers like Devereux Cleo Wallace.

" Those items you listed there are in our definition, are in our

minimum rules as items that need to be reported to us. " Gallegos said.

" We're very concerned. "

" We found that at least 25 were not reported to the state of Colorado

in one year, is that a concern to you? " News 4 asked Gallegos.

" That would be very concerning, " Gallegos said.

Police reports reviewed by News 4 reveal disturbing allegations,

including a child being sexually assaulted in a classroom by another

student and fondling, groping and forced oral sex between children.

News 4 found several cases of other assaults, including staffers being

attacked by children.

In one case, a therapist told police she was violently attacked by a

child wearing a cast and beaten over the head 15 times.

According to the police report, the therapist said she was told by

staff at Devereux Cleo Wallace not to go to police, but she did

anyway.

State records show a hospitalization on that day, but News 4 records

show no mention of an assault. The state did not know that just a few

weeks ago a lawsuit was filed by the therapist against the facility.

The state says not being notified of a lawsuit is yet another

violation.

" I don't know how many cases have not been reported, but if it was

reported and the police were called on all these cases, I don't think

we would be open, " said the anonymous worker.

The executive director of the facility denied News 4's request for an

interview but told News 4 over the phone:

" To the best of my knowledge there are no critical incident reports,

or very few, that would not be reported to the appropriate

authorities. "

News 4 took the findings to the authorities, and they are promising a

full investigation.

" I'm deeply concerned, " Gallegos said. " I think we have some

additional work to do. "

That additional work will include making sure the children at the

facility are getting the protection the state requires.

" If you could see a warehouse, you have stock in that warehouse that

just sits and sits until you have to get rid of it, " the anonymous

worker told News 4. " That's what this is like. "

The Colorado Department of Human Services issues licenses to treatment

centers like Devereux Cleo Wallace, and it has the power to take them

away.

After News 4 took its findings to the state, the state immediately

launched an investigation, and News 4 has been informed that a letter

is being sent to state lawmakers notifying them that this

investigation is now under way.

News 4 will continue to follow this story in the days and months

ahead.

(Copyright 2004 by news4colorado.com. All rights reserved.)

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted material the use of

which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright

owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of

ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific,

moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that

this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as

provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance

with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without

profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in

receiving similar information for research and educational purposes.

For more information go to:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use

copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair

use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

http://news4colorado.com/investigates/local_story_053221237.html

This is so common, this is not a one time thing but going on all over the place.

I'm glad this is getting out.

Jim

Assualts At Colorado " Treatment " Center

Wow! Imagine that, people getting assaulted at a psychiatric

institution! Notice these kinds of articles never bring up the simple

fact that assaulting people in psychiatric institutions is part of

their job. For some reason force feeding people drugs is not seen as

assault, but it is. Hat tip: Psychbusters. -Rick

News 4 Investigates Treatment Center Assaults

Feb 22, 2004 8:12 pm US/Mountain

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (News 4) The largest private mental health

treatment center for children in Colorado is under investigation

because of what News 4 has uncovered.

News 4 found that in the last year there have been at least two dozen

assaults and sexual assaults inside the Devereux Cleo Wallace center

that have not been reported to the state. That is a serious license

violation.

During an undercover investigation, News 4 observed that even the most

basic living standards for the children are not being met.

* * *

From the outside, Devereux Cleo Wallace shows off a beautiful,

sprawling, state-of-the-art facility.

But inside, News 4's hidden camera images showed kids sleeping on the

floor or sleeping on beds without sheets and a cement block room

called the " quiet room " where patients go when they are in trouble.

Current and former employees News 4 talked to paint an even darker

picture.

" There is a lot of abuse, neglect, " said one worker who didn't want

News 4 to show his face because he is afraid of retaliation.

" These kids, Molly, no one really wants to deal with them, " he told

News 4's Molly .

* * *

The majority of the children come to Devereux Cleo Wallace facility in

Westminster from the child welfare system. They have suffered some

form of serious neglect or abuse. They've been taken away from their

families or have no family at all.

Colorado taxpayer dollars pay for the children to come from all over

the country.

The children are at the facility to get psychiatric care in hopes of

one day returning to society.

There are laws and regulations to make sure the children are getting

the protection they need, but during a 10-month investigation, News 4

uncovered serious violations.

Last year, News 4 found police called to the facility 126 times for

serious incidents like sexual assaults, assaults, suicide attempts,

overdoses and illegal drug use.

Gallegos is head of the state division that monitors

residential treatment centers like Devereux Cleo Wallace.

" Those items you listed there are in our definition, are in our

minimum rules as items that need to be reported to us. " Gallegos said.

" We're very concerned. "

" We found that at least 25 were not reported to the state of Colorado

in one year, is that a concern to you? " News 4 asked Gallegos.

" That would be very concerning, " Gallegos said.

Police reports reviewed by News 4 reveal disturbing allegations,

including a child being sexually assaulted in a classroom by another

student and fondling, groping and forced oral sex between children.

News 4 found several cases of other assaults, including staffers being

attacked by children.

In one case, a therapist told police she was violently attacked by a

child wearing a cast and beaten over the head 15 times.

According to the police report, the therapist said she was told by

staff at Devereux Cleo Wallace not to go to police, but she did

anyway.

State records show a hospitalization on that day, but News 4 records

show no mention of an assault. The state did not know that just a few

weeks ago a lawsuit was filed by the therapist against the facility.

The state says not being notified of a lawsuit is yet another

violation.

" I don't know how many cases have not been reported, but if it was

reported and the police were called on all these cases, I don't think

we would be open, " said the anonymous worker.

The executive director of the facility denied News 4's request for an

interview but told News 4 over the phone:

" To the best of my knowledge there are no critical incident reports,

or very few, that would not be reported to the appropriate

authorities. "

News 4 took the findings to the authorities, and they are promising a

full investigation.

" I'm deeply concerned, " Gallegos said. " I think we have some

additional work to do. "

That additional work will include making sure the children at the

facility are getting the protection the state requires.

" If you could see a warehouse, you have stock in that warehouse that

just sits and sits until you have to get rid of it, " the anonymous

worker told News 4. " That's what this is like. "

The Colorado Department of Human Services issues licenses to treatment

centers like Devereux Cleo Wallace, and it has the power to take them

away.

After News 4 took its findings to the state, the state immediately

launched an investigation, and News 4 has been informed that a letter

is being sent to state lawmakers notifying them that this

investigation is now under way.

News 4 will continue to follow this story in the days and months

ahead.

(Copyright 2004 by news4colorado.com. All rights reserved.)

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted material the use of

which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright

owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of

ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific,

moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that

this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as

provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance

with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without

profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in

receiving similar information for research and educational purposes.

For more information go to:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use

copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair

use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------