Abuse and Neglect

Abuse, Neglect & Harm in Institutions

As the designated Protection and Advocacy agency for the State of Maryland, part of MDLC's core mission is to make sure people with disabilities living in institutions are protected from harm.

State Residential Centers for people with developmental disabilities

On January 15, 2008, Governor O'Malley announced the closure of Rosewood State Residential Center.  The remaining residents will move to homes within the community over the next 18 months.
         Governor's press release
         Governor's Executive Order

In February 2007, MDLC issued a public report titled “Rosewood Center: A Demand for Closure”, documenting violations of rights, inadequate treatment, illegal use of restraint and seclusion, failure to protect from harm, continued illegal segregation of persons with intellectual disabilities, the failed mission within the forensic program (including individuals determined “incompetent to stand trial”) and unjustifiable institutional costs. MDLC made recommendations for closing the institution and taking advantage of new federal money to transfer individuals to the community.

Psychiatric Institutions 

MDLC produced a documentary entitled “Behind Closed Doors: Trauma Survivors and the Psychiatric System” that has garnered high praise in several film festivals.  MDLC Managing Attorney Laura Cain, who co-directed, wrote and produced the film, was prominently featured in a lead story in the Baltimore Sun October 10, 2007, which hailed the film as a “testament to human resilience.”  Behind Closed Doors was selected by Women’s Independent Cinema for its “DVD of the Month Club” for distribution to its members as a monthly feature. 

Since the final DVD became available in July 2007, MDLC has distributed over 700 copies across the country, Canada and New Zealand.  The film has been incorporated into the National Technical Assistance Center’s trauma-informed care trainings, which are given nationally and internationally on a regular, ongoing basis.  Requests have poured in from a variety of settings and professionals, including state mental health, juvenile services, corrections and social services agencies; public and private psychiatric hospitals; courts; parole and probation; community programs for mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness, and abused children; and Schools of Nursing and Social Work.

MDLC has presented the film at a number of conferences, together with a presentation by one or more of the women featured in the film.  This arrangement has proven to have a powerful impact upon audiences.  We presented it twice to Maryland state psychiatric hospital staff, and followed the screenings with panel discussions with the women, which generated honest and unprecedented dialogue between ex-patients and staff about psychiatric treatment and the need to address/understand trauma.  Most recently, MDLC was invited by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to present it at the “Mental Health Transformation” state grantee meeting.  

Contact MDLC for more information about this exciting project at:  410.727.6352.