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Culture of Cruelty

Inside Illinois’ Mental Health System

State-run facilities in Illinois are supposed to care for people with mental and developmental disabilities. But patients have been subjected to abuse, neglect and staff misconduct for decades, despite calls for change.

Featured Posts in this Series

Impact of Our Reporting

We Found Widespread Abuse of Disabled Patients at an Illinois Facility. The DOJ Is Investigating.

by Beth Hundsdorfer and Molly Parker, Capitol News Illinois

Choate Director Replaced as New Report Says Abuse at the Facility Hasn’t Stopped

by Beth Hundsdorfer and Molly Parker, Capitol News Illinois

Health Care Workers Who Cover Up Patient Abuse Face Stiffer Penalties Under New Illinois Law

by Molly Parker, Lee Enterprises Midwest, and Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois

Illinois to Relocate at Least Half of Residents in Facility Plagued by Abuse and Cover-Ups

by Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois, and Molly Parker, Lee Enterprises Midwest

Legislators Demand Hearings on Illinois Mental Health Facility Where Staff Abused Patients and Covered It Up

by Molly Parker, Lee Enterprises Midwest, and Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois

Watchdog Seeks Harsher Penalties in Wake of Abuse at Illinois Mental Health Center

by Molly Parker, Lee Enterprises Midwest, and Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois

Illinois Governor Calls for Changes After “Awful” Reports of Abuse at Developmental Center

by Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois, and Molly Parker and Brenden Moore, Lee Enterprises Midwest

19 stories published since 2022