South Carolina warehoused thousands of adults with mental illness in group homes instead of letting them live in the community, DOJ found.
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What happened
A July 6, 2023 DOJ Civil Rights Division findings letter concluded South Carolina violates Title II of the ADA by failing to provide enough community-based mental health services, leaving thousands of adults with serious mental illness segregated for years in Community Residential Care Facilities (adult care homes) with little contact with the outside world. After the state failed to fix the problem, DOJ sued South Carolina on December 9, 2024. On December 18, 2025, the two sides settled: South Carolina agreed to expand assertive community treatment teams, supportive housing, peer support, supported employment and statewide mobile crisis response, under multi-year federal court oversight and an independent monitor, while denying wrongdoing.
By the numbers (1)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Roles
1 source
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs (press release 23-727) — U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs (press release 23-727)Document
The Justice Department determined that there is reasonable cause to believe South Carolina violates the ADA by failing to provide sufficient community-based services
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Response
Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.
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What happened next (0)
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