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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:  Tatum A. Pritchard, tprichard@dlc-ma.org

Disability Law Center Reiterates Call for Bridgewater State Hospital to Transfer to Department of Mental Health Control 

September 2, 2026 

Boston, MA – The Disability Law Center (DLC) has publicly released a new report covering findings from its monitoring and investigative activities at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) during the first half of 2026. As Massachusetts’ Protection and Advocacy agency for people with disabilities, DLC has been engaged in these activities and advocating for the health, safety, and rights of BSH patients since 2014. 

BSH is a state prison under the authority of the Department of Correction (DOC) and is not licensed or accredited as a hospital. BSH exists as an outlier in the nation. Massachusetts is the only state that still permits its correctional agency, rather than its mental health agency, to operate an ostensible forensic psychiatric hospital.  

Consistent with previous reports, DLC found that illegal practices, abuse, barriers to treatment, deficient staff training and oversight, and countertherapeutic conditions are fixtures at BSH under DOC oversight. Systemic noncompliance with Massachusetts law concerning restraint, seclusion, and involuntary medication persists. Change efforts by DOC and its Contracted Provider to address serious issues that DLC has repeatedly identified, when undertaken, is incremental and comes far too slowly. Most importantly, these efforts cannot address the incongruity of DOC’s control of a facility that serves people with some of the highest mental health needs in the state.   

DLC again calls upon the Commonwealth to heed the evidence presented by over a decade of public and private reports and immediately place BSH operations under the authority of DMH to facilitate BSH patient access to trauma-informed, person-centered mental health treatment. Without a transfer to DMH, BSH patients will remain unprotected by DMH regulations, policies, and standards that require compliance with the law and guard against abuse. Further, given the volume of BSH patients each year, failure to improve care will continue to have a significant negative impact on persons with disabilities, our mental health and court systems, and our communities.  

“Transferring oversight of Bridgewater State Hospital to the Department of Mental Health is long overdue. The Commonwealth has a responsibility to take action to end the troubling legacy of illegal practices and abuse against people with disabilities under its care,” said Barbara L’Italien, Executive Director of DLC. 

As the designated Protection and Advocacy agency, DLC is authorized under federal law to investigate incidents of abuse, neglect, and death of individuals with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth. Line Item #8900-0001 of the FY 2025 Budget provides DLC funding and enhanced legislative authority to monitor the efficacy of service delivery reforms, physical plant, and continuity of care at BSH. 

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Pine Street Inn and Disability Law Center Partner to Enhance Accessibility in Shelter

The Disability Law Center and Pine Street Inn are pleased to announce the completion of a joint effort to enhance accessibility and services for vulnerable populations in congregate shelter settings. The Disability Law Center (DLC), a non-profit designated as Massachusetts’ Protection and Advocacy agency for individuals with disabilities, engaged with Pine Street Inn (PSI), the largest homeless services provider in New England, to pursue a vision to support homeless people who live with disabilities.

These collaborative efforts made meaningful changes in three key areas: enhancing physical accessibility and safety; updating PSI policy and practice; and supplementing trauma informed staff training. Physical accessibility and safety improvements over several years have included changes to intake areas, restrooms, and living quarters as well as updating emergency action plans to address and inform shelter guests who may have a disability and need additional support vacating the premises in an emergency. PSI retained Safety, Hope & Healing Counseling and Consulting (SHH) to provide recommendations concerning ways to make policies and practices more trauma-informed.  DLC and PSI also worked together to review and update shelter policies and practices, including those concerning reasonable accommodations on the basis of disability.

Homelessness is a very traumatic experience. Many people who come to shelter have a history of trauma and identify as a person with a disability. PSI’s expanded, trauma informed offerings of accessible supportive services have enhanced the shelter experience for individuals with disabilities at PSI.  PSI and DLC appreciate this joint effort.

“Pine Street Inn was pleased to collaborate with the Disability Law Center to enhance our guests’ experience,” said Lyndia Downie, President and Executive Director of PSI.

“We applaud Pine Street Inn’s efforts to engage with DLC in identifying and addressing the needs of and barriers faced by shelter guests with disabilities,” said Barbara L’Italien, Executive Director of DLC.

For Immediate Release

March 16, 2026

Massachusetts Disability Organizations Sue City of Worcester for Discriminating Against People with Mental Health Disabilities in its 911 Program

Worcester –  Three mental health organizations—the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Central Massachusetts, NAMI-Massachusetts, and the Parent-Professional Advocacy League—filed a lawsuit today alleging that the City of Worcester discriminates against children, youth and adults with mental health disabilities by denying them equal access to appropriate emergency services through its 911 program.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court in Massachusetts, states that Worcester dispatches armed police officers for individuals experiencing mental health emergencies even though it sends qualified health care professionals, such as EMTs and paramedics, for individuals experiencing physical health emergencies like heart attacks.  As a result, thousands of people in Worcester with mental health disabilities are denied appropriate emergency mental health care and are at risk of harm and injury.  The presence of armed officers often escalates a mental health crisis, resulting in the unnecessary use of force and injury to people with mental health disabilities.  This unequal response discriminates against people with mental health disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. “We value our longstanding partnerships with law enforcement. At the same time, we recognize that the City’ response to individuals with mental health conditions in crisis is not equitable, effective, or adequate. The Americans with Disabilities Act is built on the simple belief that people with disabilities deserve dignity, equity, and meaningful access to the support they need,” said Eliza Williamson, Executive Director, NAMI Massachusetts. 

The Worcester Police Department has acknowledged that over 25% of its 911 calls “are from people who are experiencing some sort of mental health crisis.” Nevertheless, as the complaint states, “[n]one of the City’s policies, procedures or practices provides for mental health professionals to be first responders to mental health emergency calls.”

“The current system leaves people in Worcester feeling that there is no available help for individuals experiencing mental health emergencies.  We have hope that this lawsuit will bring about positive change,” said Robin Bahr Casey, President, Board of Directors, NAMI Central Mass.  “It is not a crime to experience a mental health crisis, and the City should not respond by sending armed police to mental health emergencies.  People with mental health disabilities deserve better,” said Steven Schwartz, Special Counsel at the Center for Public Representation.

Children, youth and adults with mental health disabilities in Worcester are entitled under the law to timely, effective, and appropriate unarmed response, just like people experiencing other types of health emergencies.  The City can remedy this discrimination by ensuring that mental health professionals respond to mental health emergencies in a timely and effective manner.  “There are trained professional First Responders for fire.  Trained professional First Responders for crime.  Trained professional First Responders for medical emergencies.  Where are the trained professional First Responders for mental health?  There are none.  Our children and youth deserve equal treatment,”  said Pam Sager, Executive Director, Parent Professional Advocacy League.

The lawsuit seeks to require Worcester to provide equally effective responses to physical and mental health emergencies by ensuring that, in appropriate cases, trained and qualified mental health professionals will be the first responders to mental health emergencies, similar to physical health emergency calls.  “Like people in medical crisis, people with disabilities in mental health crisis require an appropriate emergency health response that prioritizes de-escalation and treatment. The City’s public safety response often leads to escalation, and heightens the risk of violence, involuntary commitment, and arrest,” said Tatum A. Pritchard, Legal Director at the Disability Law Center.

Today, the disability organizations also reached out to City officials, once again, asking to meet to discuss an acceptable alternative response program.

 “Under the ADA and Section 504, discrimination is unlawful, and the City is affirmatively required to provide equal access to programs and services that are fully and equally effective for all children, youth and adults with disabilities.  We brought this lawsuit because the City’s 911 program does not,” said Melissa Nott Davis, partner in Nelson Mullins’ Boston office.

NAMI Central Mass, NAMI Massachusetts and PPAL are represented by the Center for Public Representation, a national disability rights law firm in Easthampton, Massachusetts, the Disability Law Center, the designated Protection and Advocacy for people with disabilities in Massachusetts, and the law firm of Nelson Mullins.

For more information, contact;

Center for Public Representation

Steven J. Schwartz, Esq.

sschwartz@cpr-ma.org

617-285-4666

For more information on CPR, see https://www.centerforpublicrep.org/

Disability Law Center

Tatum A. Pritchard, Esq.

tpritchard@dlc-ma.org

617-315-4612

For more information on the Disability Law Center, see https://www.dlc-ma.org/

Nelson Mullins

Melissa Nott Davis, Esq.

melissa.davis@nelsonmullins.com

617-217-4608

For more information on Nelson Mullins, see https://www.nelsonmullins.com/

Read the complaint:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Tatum A. Pritchard

tprichard@dlc-ma.org

Disability Law Center Finds Unlawful Practices, Deficient Treatment, and Poor Conditions Persist at Bridgewater State Hospital

March 2, 2026 

Boston, MA – The Disability Law Center (DLC), Massachusetts’ Protection and Advocacy agency for people with disabilities, has released a public report detailing findings from its monitoring and investigative activities Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) during the second half of 2025. DLC provided the report to legislators on February 28. DLC again recommends, as a matter of urgency, that the Commonwealth transfer oversight of the BSH population to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and construct a new psychiatric hospital to serve the BSH population.     

BSH is a medium security state prison that is not licensed or accredited as a hospital. Massachusetts is the only state in the nation that permits its correctional agency to operate a so-called forensic psychiatric hospital. DLC maintains that the poor conditions, treatment, and illegal practices within BSH have a significant negative impact on people with disabilities, our mental health and judicial systems, and public safety. DLC’s findings during this reporting period include:    

1. BSH continued to use restraint and seclusion on patients at alarmingly high rates, with an increase in overall use.  
2. BSH providers continued to order and apply involuntary medication, restraint, and seclusion on patients in violation of clear limits established by the law.  
3. BSH staff, guided by DOC regulations and norms, continued to engage in regular uses of force, use of correctional gear, and violence against patients when applying restraints and administering involuntary medication.  
4. BSH patients experienced barriers to access to justice, including obstacles to access to counsel and the court and an unreliable grievance process.  
5. The BSH physical plant remained antitherapeutic and deteriorating. Long term concerns about mold contamination, and high heat and humidity in the summer months, and correctional infrastructure persist while new issues arose implicating patient safety – e.g., unaddressed ligature risks.  
6. BSH patients experienced continuity of care issues and, in some circumstances, troubling treatment when transferred to and from DMH hospitals and other correctional facilities.  

“Over a decade of Disability Law Center engagement and public reports have established that Massachusetts must transfer authority over Bridgewater State Hospital to the Department of Mental Health and commit to closing the facility. This report provides further evidence that both actions are overdue,” said Barbara L’Italien, Executive Director of DLC. 

As the designated Protection and Advocacy agency for Massachusetts, DLC is authorized under federal law to investigate incidents of abuse, neglect, and death of individuals with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth. Line Item #8900-0001 of the FY 2025 Budget provides DLC funding and enhanced legislative authority to monitor the efficacy of service delivery reforms, physical plant, and continuity of care at BSH. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Tatum A. Pritchard

tprichard@dlc-ma.org

The Disability Law Center Urges the Commonwealth to Prioritize the Rights, Health, and Safety of Individuals with Disabilities at Bridgewater State Hospital

 September 2, 2025

Boston, MA – The Disability Law Center (DLC) has released a public report detailing its findings from monitoring and investigative activities conducted at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) during the first half of 2025. DLC again calls upon the Commonwealth to take action to protect the needs of people with disabilities at BSH and implement the organization’s two long-standing recommendations:

• Immediately transfer oversight of BSH from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health; and
• Construct a modern psychiatric hospital to serve the BSH population.

The August 2025 report is the latest of more than fifteen reports DLC has released concerning BSH since 2014 that have documented the poor care and conditions within the state prison and persistent unlawful restraint, seclusion, and involuntary medication practices sanctioned by the Department of Correction and its contracted medical and mental health provider. Included in this report are temperature and humidity readings DLC took during a site visit this summer that showed heat indices between 85 and 97 degrees inside BSH units, illustrating the unsafe conditions for BSH patients, many of whom take psychiatric medications that amplify heat-related illness. As the report states, with roughly 1,000 individuals admitted to BSH for evaluation and treatment every year, “[t]he negative impact that the failings within BSH have on the Commonwealth’s disability population, the mental health and judicial systems, and public safety cannot be overstated.”

“Faced with over a decade of DLC reports detailing continuing legal violations and serious health and safety risks to the individuals with disabilities involuntarily committed to Bridgewater State Hospital, the Commonwealth must act by transferring oversight to the Department of Mental Health and closing the facility,” said Barbara L’Italien, Executive Director of DLC.

As the designated Protection and Advocacy agency for Massachusetts, DLC is authorized under federal law to monitor facilities where people with disabilities live and receive services and investigate incidents of abuse, neglect, and death throughout the Commonwealth. Line Item #8900-0001 of the FY 2025 Budget provides DLC funding and enhanced legislative authority to monitor the efficacy of service delivery reforms, physical plant, and continuity of care at BSH.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:  Tatum A. Pritchard 

tprichard@dlc-ma.org  

Disability Law Center Finds Unlawful, Violent Practices and Unsafe Environmental Conditions Persist at Bridgewater State Hospital  

February 6, 2025 

Boston, MA – The Disability Law Center (DLC), Massachusetts’ Protection and Advocacy agency for people with disabilities, today released a public report detailing its findings from monitoring activities Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) during the latter half of 2024. Informed by over a decade of onsite presence and intensive advocacy, DLC repeats its urgent call for the Commonwealth to transfer oversight of the BSH population to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and to construct a new psychiatric hospital.     

The report highlights the troubling disparity between the care, treatment, and conditions the state provides to the people involuntarily committed to BSH for mental health evaluation and treatment and acceptable standards for those committed to DMH hospitals. Among the topics covered, DLC examines BSH’s continuing unlawful restraint, seclusion, and involuntary medication practices, along with the correctional use of force protocols that BSH regularly employs to administer medication restraint and other forms of involuntary medication. The report details expert findings confirming, once again, widespread presence of mold growth and environmental contamination in BSH that threatens the health of everyone who lives and works in the facility. DLC also discusses several physical features of the state prison facility that are incompatible with the provision of psychiatric hospital level of care and issues related to continuity of care for people discharged from BSH.    

“DLC again urges the Commonwealth to transfer oversight of Bridgewater State Hospital to the Department of Mental Health and commit to closing the facility. These overdue measures are essential to address the continuing rights violations and serious health and safety risks to the individuals with disabilities who are involuntarily committed for psychiatric care and treatment to the aging state prison facility,” said Barbara L’Italien, Executive Director of DLC. 

As the designated Protection and Advocacy agency for Massachusetts, DLC is authorized under federal law to investigate incidents of abuse, neglect, and death of individuals with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth. Line Item #8900-0001 of the FY 2025 Budget provides DLC funding and enhanced legislative authority to monitor the efficacy of service delivery reforms, physical plant, and continuity of care at BSH. 

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We would like to thank Rick Glassman for his many years

of service at the Disability Law Center,

and for his lifetime commitment to the rights

for all people with disabilities.

Below is a Joint Resolution read before the Massachusetts Legislature on

December 10, 2024.

TO:  ENGROSSING

RE.:  JOINT RESO INITIATED IN THE HOUSE

SPONSORS:  REP. GARBALLEY AND REP. ROGERS (HOUSE LEADS) AND SEN. FRIEDMAN (SEN. LEAD)

DATE: 12-10-24

CONGRATULATING RICK GLASSMAN ON HIS RETIREMENT AFTER A LIFETIME OF ADVOCACY FOR THE DISABILITY LAW CENTER

WHEREAS, RICK GLASSMAN OF THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON WILL RETIRE AS THE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY FOR THE DISABILITY LAW CENTER [BH1] ON DECEMBER 31, 2024, FOLLOWING 10 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP IN THIS ROLE AND A LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO THE COMMONWEALTH; AND

WHEREAS, RICK ATTENDED COLGATE UNIVERSITY AND NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW AS WELL AS THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; AND

WHEREAS, RICK ARRIVED AT THE DISABILITY LAW CENTER IN JULY 2006 WHERE HE SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION, WHERE HE SUPERVISED ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES HANDLING INVESTIGATIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, UNTIL FEBRUARY 2014 AND HAS SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY SINCE THEN, ENGAGING IN LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOACY AND PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES ON A RANGE OF ISSUES AS WELL AS MONITORING AND INVESTIGATING ABUSE AND NEGLECT; AND

WHEREAS, RICK’S EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF STATUTES, REGULATIONS, SUB-REGULATORY DIRECTIVES, CASE LAW, AND STATE DISCRIMATION LAWS HAS BENEFITTED THE DISABILITY LAW CENTER, AS WELL AS COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS, LEGISLATORS, AND GRASS-ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS WHO RELIED ON HIS LEGAL MIND; AND

WHEREAS, RICK WAS CRUCIAL TO THE PASSAGE OF NICKY’S LAW WHICH ESTABLISHED A MECHANISM TO TRACK INSTANCES OF WORKER ABUSE PERPETRATED ON PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, AND HIS COLLABATIVE ADVOCACY WORK WITH THE CHILDREN AND LAW DIVISON OF CPCS AND DCF BROUGHT ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE TO END THE PRACTICE AT DCF OF SWEEPING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEGFITS INTO THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL FUND, AND DURING HIS TIME AT DLC, HE HAS BEEN A SUPERVISOR, SENIOR MANAGER, AND MENTOR TO MANY SUMMER LAW INTERNS AND LAW FELLOW;  THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL COURT HEREBY CONGRATULATES RICK GLASSMAN ON HIS RETIREMENT AS DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY FOR THE DISABILITY LAW CENTER, EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE COMMONWEALTH AND EXTENDS TO HIM ITS BEST WISHES IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS, AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THESE RESOLUTIONS BE FORWARDED BY THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO RICK GLASSMAN.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tatum Pritchard
tpritchard@dlc-ma.org

Disability Law Center Report Calls for Transfer of Bridgewater State Hospital to the Department of Mental Health Immediately

July 30, 2024

Today, the Disability Law Center (DLC) released a public report discussing findings and recommendations from its intensive monitoring of Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) from January to June 2024. As Massachusetts’ Protection and Advocacy agency, DLC has federal authority to monitor facility conditions and investigate abuse and neglect of the persons with disabilities committed to BSH. DLC issued a private report to select government officials on July 23.

In the report, DLC offers two critical recommendations: (1) the Commonwealth must immediately transfer authority over BSH to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) from the Department of Correction (DOC) and (2) the Commonwealth must urgently construct a new DMH hospital to serve the BSH population.

After a decade of onsite presence, extensive document review, and regular contact with BSH patients, staff, and administrators revealing persistent legal violations, abuse, and subpar care within BSH, it is clear that no other actions will protect the rights and health of the BSH population. Moreover, application of DMH rules and regulations to all individuals receiving forensic mental health evaluations and treatment is a necessary step toward health equity. It is time to recognize and begin addressing the undeniable link between the systemic racism in our mental health and criminal systems and the significant overrepresentation of Black and African American individuals at BSH.

Addressing a broad range of topics, the report offers important updates about continuing violations of Massachusetts restraint law in BSH restraint and seclusion practices – notable among them, a discussion about the over 900,000 undocumented seclusion hours individuals endure locked in prison cells each year due to its status as a DOC prison, rather than a DMH hospital. Other sections include discussions about the lack of clarity in the “strict security” standard permitting determinations grounded in bias; the dangerous hot and humid conditions within BSH this summer; continuing mold contamination; issues with access to medications for opioid use disorder and medical care; and continuity of care for people discharged from BSH.

“Stopping the illegal and inhumane practices detailed in repeated DLC reports and lawsuits over the last ten years requires transferring care of the BSH population to DMH,” said Tatum A. Pritchard, Director of Litigation of DLC. “While DLC understands that the transition between agencies will be difficult, the individuals with mental health disabilities who are involuntarily committed to BSH cannot and should not have to wait any longer.”

“DLC urges the Commonwealth to take immediate action to ensure that the BSH population can access appropriate psychiatric services in facility run by our state mental health authority.” said Barbara L’Italien, Executive Director of DLC.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE – A Proposed Settlement May Affect Your Rights

Marsters v. Healey – NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT 

Six individuals with disabilities who are living in nursing facilities filed a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, claiming that they could return to the community, but needed support from the State to do so. This Settlement Agreement will expand the resources available in Massachusetts for individuals such as the plaintiffs and thousands of people like them (called “class members”), allowing many nursing facility residents to receive residential services and supports provided in the community instead of in a nursing facility. The Court must approve the Settlement Agreement before it is final. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dominic Slowey | 781-710-0014
dslowey@sloweymcmanus.com

Disability Law Center Finds Inadequate Access to Treatment,
Mold Contamination, and Unlawful Restraint Practices
at Bridgewater State Hospital Persist

The Disability Law Center (DLC), the Commonwealth’s Protection and Advocacy system, today released a public report regarding its monitoring efforts at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) and findings from the latter half of 2023. DLC issued a private, unredacted version of the report on February 29, 2024 to select government officials. The report marks ten years of intensive DLC advocacy to protect the rights of and improve care for individuals involuntarily held in BSH, a Department of Correction (DOC) facility. DLC repeats its urgent call for the Commonwealth to transfer oversight of the BSH population to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and to construct a new psychiatric hospital.

Covering a range of topics, the report provides updates about recurring unlawful and violent BSH restraint practices, significant mold contamination, and inadequate access to appropriate medical care. In addition, for the first time, the report explores medical expert findings that Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) prescribing practices at BSH fail to comport with the medical standard of care and the troubling conditions and limited access to treatment that new admissions to BSH face.

Over the course of this monitoring period, DLC conducted weekly onsite visits, met with individuals held at BSH, met with BSH staff and administrators, reviewed extensive records, regularly corresponded with DOC and its contracted provider, Wellpath, and engaged two highly qualified experts – Gordon Mycology, an expert with 27 years of professional mold and air quality inspection experience, and Dr. Evan Gale, a dual board-certified internal medicine and addiction medicine physician who serves as the Associate Medical Director of the Addiction Consult Team and Director of Inpatient Training of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“It is clear that neither the care that DOC and Wellpath offer, nor the deteriorating prison facility meet the needs of the BSH population. DLC’s monitoring efforts reveal persistent legal violations, abuse, inadequate medical and mental health treatment, and mold contamination at BSH. Transfer of oversight to DMH is long overdue,” stated Tatum A. Pritchard, Director of Litigation of DLC. “Failure to prioritize appropriate, stabilizing care and protect individuals with mental health disabilities at BSH from compounding trauma has real consequences for those individuals, their loved ones, and the Commonwealth’s larger mental health and criminal justice systems.”

“DLC urges the Commonwealth to take action to ensure that all individuals with mental health disabilities who are involuntarily committed for psychiatric evaluation and treatment in our state have access to appropriate services in a therapeutic environment. This cannot be true while BSH remains open,” said Barbara L’Italien, Executive Director of DLC.

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