DOJ sued Maine for unnecessarily placing children with behavioral health disabilities in institutions, including a juvenile jail; the state settled in November 2024 and agreed to expand in-home services.
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What happened
After a public letter of findings, the US Justice Department sued Maine in September 2024, alleging the state violates Title II of the ADA and the Olmstead decision by unnecessarily segregating children with behavioral health disabilities in psychiatric hospitals, residential facilities and the state-operated Long Creek juvenile detention facility because families could not get in-home and community services. On 26 November 2024 DOJ announced a settlement resolving the allegations, requiring Maine to help hundreds of children remain with or return to their families with services, help children move out of institutions including Long Creek where appropriate, address provider workforce shortages, and accept an independent reviewer evaluating compliance, with the federal district court retaining jurisdiction. Governor Mills's office said the settlement confirms Maine's compliance with Title II.
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Response
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What happened next (1)
On 24 November 2025 the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine declined a joint request by Maine and the Justice Department to modify the November 2024 settlement, leaving the Independent Reviewer in place, according to the ACLU of Maine (an amicus party). Source ↗