FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1996                             (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
      MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY AGREES TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS
            IN AGREEMENT WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Tennessee mental health facility
agreed to improve conditions for its patients under a settlement
reached between the Department of Justice and the state. 
     Under the agreement, filed today in U.S. District Court in
Memphis, the state and the staff of the Memphis Mental Health
Institute (MMHI) must take steps to ensure that the conditions at
the facility meet constitutional standards, including assessing
patients' needs, providing enough staff to properly care for
patients, and ensuring patients are not discharged prematurely. 
The agreement was reached in accordance with the 1980 Civil
Rights of Institutionalized Person Act (CRIPA). 
     "Individuals with mental disabilities have a right to be
safe and to be treated with adequate care,"  said Deval L.
Patrick, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.  "We are
pleased with the cooperation of Tennessee and the Memphis Mental
Health Institute in reaching this agreement." 

     Under the settlement MMHI will:
         adequately assess the mental health needs of patients
          and design and implement individualized treatment
          programs;  

         provide enough staff to ensure proper care of patients,
          especially medical and nursing care; and,  

         develop discharge plans so that patients are not
          prematurely or inappropriately discharged from the
          facility and ensure that continuing mental health care
          is available if necessary.  

     The Department began investigating the facility, which
houses persons with psychiatric disorders, in December of 1990
and has been working with the state since that time to correct
inadequate conditions.  The investigation consisted of numerous
on-site inspections, review of institutional records, and
interviews with MMHI personnel.  
     Although the state does not admit any violation of the law,
the Justice Department found that the Memphis facility lacked
adequate medical, psychiatric and nursing care and did not
provide a sufficient number of professional and direct care staff
to oversee the patients.  The investigation also found dangerous
medication practices and faulty recordkeeping.   
     MMHI has already addressed some areas of concern raised by
the Justice Department.  For example, the facility reduced the
time patients are under restraint and has taken steps to ensure
that patients aren't over-medicated.  Today's settlement
addresses remaining deficiencies.  Justice Department experts
will provide MMHI personnel with several days of technical
assistance to help the facility in meeting its obligations.
     The agreement is subject to approval by the court. If the
court accepts the agreement, the Department of Justice will
monitor conditions at MMHI through on-site inspections to ensure
that the agreement is properly carried out.  
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