Abuse on the rise in California's "Developmental Centers"

by The Madeleine Brand Show

23695 full — Troubling reports find that disabled adults living in California's "Developmental Centers" are at an increased risk of abuse. Alisha Vargas/Flickr

Michael Montgomery investigates reports of rising abuse at California's "Developmental Centers." Some 1,800 of California’s most vulnerable citizens live in these special facilities run by the state. They are men and women with cerebral palsy, severe autism and other developmental disabilities.

The state’s five “Developmental Centers” have their own unique internal police force to solve cases of patient abuse. But an investigation with California Watch has found troubling flaws in their police work.

With official reports of abuse on the rise, hundreds of cases remain unsolved, even when patients die under suspicious circumstances.

About The Madeleine Brand Show

The Madeleine Brand Show, exclusively on 89.3 KPCC, 89.1 KUOR and 90.3 KVLA, captures the spirit of the West in a conversational, informal, witty style and examines the cultural issues people are buzzing about. Hosted by Madeleine Brand, and produced by Kristen Muller, Steve Proffitt and Sanden Totten, the show includes regular segments like Weird L.A. - highlighting a person, place or thing that you've never heard about, but probably should; Parenting on the Edge - a weekly discussion on the challenges and pitfalls of raising kids; as well as regular contributors like Luke Burbank, Rico Gagliano, Brendan Newnam and John Moe to help dissect culture, technology and business news.