Reports

From Navigation to Transformation: Addressing Inequities in California’s Regional Center System Through Community-Led Solutions
This policy brief makes the case for community-led solutions to address longstanding racial and ethnic disparities in California’s regional center system and offers four key strategies to make the system more equitable for disabled people of color.
Immigrant Detention in California: Opportunities for Accountability Policy Brief
The brief includes an overview of immigrant detention in California, a survey from detained individuals across multiple facilities, and policy recommendations for California officials.
Evaluation of Limitations of Subminimum Wage Employment Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
Disability Rights California (DRC) releases a new report, “Evaluation of Limitations of Subminimum Wage Employment Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.”
Otay Mesa Detention Center: Inhumane Conditions and the Harsh Realities of ICE’s Civil Detention System
This report shines a much-needed light on the inadequate conditions of Otay Mesa Detention Center (“Otay Mesa”), located in San Diego, California after, a year-long investigation.
The Cruel and Unusual Use of Restraint Chairs in California Jails - A Call to Action
DRC’s report shines a much-needed light on the current practice of inadequate supervision and standards that lead to increased risk of death or injury from restraint chair use.
Protect Children’s Safety and Dignity: Recommendations on Restraint and Seclusion in Schools
California has a responsibility to its children, to ensure they are protected from abuse, treated with dignity, and attend safe schools. We must do more to protect them and bring California in line with federal recommendations and best practices as outlined in this report.
The Detention of Immigrant Children with Disabilities in California: A Snapshot
The number of unaccompanied immigrant children in United States custody is at an all-time high, surpassing 14,000 as of November 2018. These children are placed into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.
There is No Safety Here: The Dangers for People with Mental Illness and Other Disabilities at Adelanto Detention Center
DRC has investigated conditions at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. DRC looked at the treatment of immigration detainees with mental health needs and other disabilities. We toured the facility, talked to detainees and staff, and reviewed records. We found problems and wrote a report about what we learned. Below you will find more information about our work.
Suicides in San Diego County Jail: A System Failing People with Mental Illness
DRC visited the San Diego County Jail, talked to prisoners and staff, and looked at records. DRC found problems with the way prisoners with disabilities were treated. DRC wrote a report about what we learned. Below you will find more information about this work.
Victimized Twice: Abuse of Nursing Home Residents, No Criminal Accountability for Perpetrators
This report tells you about 12 cases of physical and sexual abuse. The people lived in nursing homes. The abuse was by staff. DRC looked at how the abuse response and criminal justice systems handled the cases. The report has our findings and suggestions.
Failure to Protect Residents--Report of Napa State Hospital's Failure to Protect Residents from Abusive Seclusion and Restraint Practices and to Properly Investigate Related Potential Criminal Acts by Staff
This report presents Protection & Advocacy, Inc.'s (PAI's) investigation into the circumstances surrounding a pattern of abusive seclusion and restraint practices at Napa State Hospital (NSH).
Death of Woman with a Psychiatric Disability and High Doses of Anticholinergic
Susan F., a 33-year-old woman with a psychiatric disability, was admitted to an acute psychiatric hospital in Northern California on December 11, 1997, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150.
Lethal Hazard of Prone Restraint: Positional Asphyxiation
Prone restraint is dangerous. This report talks about the dangers. It asks people to stop using it. We want to make people safer.
Abuse and Neglect of Adults with Developmental Disabilities: A Public Health Priority for the State of California
This report talks about how people with disabilities have a higher chance of being victims of abuse. The report explains why this problem is a challenge for the whole state.
Psychiatric Polypharmacy: A Word of Caution
This report talks about the risks of drugs to treat mental health disabilities. These drugs can be dangerous. When doctors give several at the same time, they are very dangerous. We ask doctors to put safeguards in place to protect patients.
A Series of Suspicious Genital Lacerations at One Developmental Center: Did DDS Respond Properly?
The report looks at how the Department of Developmental Services responded to cases of abuse. This report talks about people who had injuries to their private parts and gives the reader details on what happened in each case.
Law Enforcement's Response to the Sexual Assault of Daniel Sharp
People with developmental disabilities are at disproportionately high risk of abuse, neglect, and criminal victimization. While there are few studies regarding the incidence of victimization, based upon surveys and limited research studies, experts conservatively estimate that people with disabilities are at least four times more likely to be victimized than people without disabilities.
Restraint & Seclusion in California Schools: A Failing Grade
This report talks about seclusion and restraint in schools. It talks about needed changes. We want seclusion stopped. We want restraint used only when necessary. We want agencies to make sure schools use them correctly.
The Deadly Failure of a Hospital to Follow a Patient's Decisions about his Medical Care
This report describes what happened when a hospital ignored a patient’s treatment wishes. When the patient was unconscious, they stopped his treatment. As a result, he died. The pub gives options for handling this kind of situation in the future.
Keep Nursing Home Residents Safe: The State Must Hold Nursing Homes Accountable for Resident Deaths
This report lists our findings about licensing citations when people die in nursing homes. We found that licensing gave lower fines when staff contributed to the deaths.