DOJ SAYS 2010 gEORGIA SETTLEMENT aGREEMENT TEMPLATE FOR EnFORCEMENT EFFORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Excerpts from Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Regarding the State of Georgia's Mental Health and Developmental Disability System

October 19, 2010

More than a decade ago, in the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision, the Supreme Court determined it was illegal to unnecessarily segregate in institutions people with disabilities who could appropriately receive services in community-based settings.

Unfortunately, in Georgia, where the Olmstead case originated, and in many other states, the promise of the decision has not been fully realized.

Today's settlement will change that. It is the most comprehensive settlement that the Department has ever reached in an Olmstead case, and we will use it as a template for our enforcement efforts across the country.

In addition, also by July 1, 2015, Georgia has agreed to provide services in community settings for 9,000 individuals with mental illness who currently receive services in the state hospitals, are frequently readmitted to state hospitals, are frequently seen in emergency rooms, are chronically homeless or are being released from jails or prisons. 

We will continue to aggressively enforce the law, and we hope other states will follow Georgia's example and work with us to protect the civil and constitutional rights of people with disabilities. 

St. Francis Center

http://www.ada.gov/olmstead/tp_georgia_remarks.htm