FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1997                             (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
            VIRGINIA AGREES TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS AT
              INSTITUTION FOR THE MENTALLY DISABLED 

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Under an agreement reached today with
the Department of Justice, the Commonwealth of Virginia will
upgrade conditions at a state-run institution for the mentally
disabled to ensure quality care and safety for its residents.

     Today's settlement, filed together with a complaint in U.S.
District Court in Alexandria, was reached under the Civil Rights
of Institutionalized Persons Act of 1980 (CRIPA).  The agreement
outlines steps the state will take to improve care for persons
with psychiatric disabilities housed at the Northern Virginia
Mental Health Institute (NVMHI) in Falls Church.  

     "Through the efforts of the federal government and Virginia,
the lives of mentally disabled residents in the state will be
better protected," said Isabelle Katz Pinzler, Acting Assistant
Attorney General for Civil Rights. 

     The agreement resolves an investigation of the NVMHI begun
in July, 1994.  Justice Department investigators and experts had
found that the 174-bed facility had unsanitary living conditions,
lacked adequate medical care and mental health treatment, failed
to protect patients from harm, and had inappropriate seclusion
and restraint procedures.  Today's action puts an end to any
further litigation in the matter, barring non-compliance.

     Under the agreements, the Commonwealth will:

     *    provide adequate psychiatric and psychological 
          treatment and medical care;

     *    ensure that all living conditions are safe and that
          residents are protected from harm;

     *    implement seclusion and restraint policies that are
          consistent with appropriate professional standards;

     *    ensure an adequate mechanism to investigate allegations
          of abuse and other improper incidents; and

     *    ensure that every resident is evaluated to determine
          whether placement in the facility is appropriate.  

     The court will retain jurisdiction until the terms of the
agreement are properly implemented. The agreement specifically
outlines the procedures for Department monitoring of compliance
and final termination of the action.  The agreement also gives
the Department the authority to seek immediate court relief if an
emergency situation develops at one of the facilities.

     Congress passed CRIPA in 1980 to protect the rights of
people housed in state and local government institutions,
including psychiatric hospitals, facilities for the mentally
retarded, jails, prisons, juvenile detention facilities and
nursing homes.  The Department has the authority to bring action
against state and local governments with institutions exhibiting
a pattern or practice of violating the constitutional and
statutory rights of residents.  
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97-241