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State auditor’s office faults Department of Developmental Services for delayed response to abuse, neglect claims

A new report details that for nearly 20% of complaints, the agency failed to complete an investigation on time.

HARTFORD, Conn — The State Auditor’s Office in Hartford has released a new report that found nearly 1 in 5 of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) investigations into reports of abuse/neglect of intellectually disabled people had faced delays.

The audit reviewed deficiencies that occurred between fiscal year 2021-2022.

Typically, the department must complete an investigation within 60 days of a complaint. 

The investigations that were completed late ranged anywhere from just one day overdue to 439 days. The report says those delays, at times, put people at risk.

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Additionally, the report found that the DDS has a sizable backlog of mortality reviews. 

DDS has a committee that is supposed to review the deaths of all those it serves within 90 days. The audit report says that during its review, 66 mortality reports were conducted, and none were completed on time.

The State Auditor’s office's primary recommendations to the DDS to address these shortcomings include ensuring adequate staffing and increasing its security checks.

Advocates say these are the same kinds of issues that have recently been found within Connecticut’s Special Education Services.

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Kaelee Collins is a multimedia journalist for FOX61 News. She can be reached at kcollins@fox61.com. Follow her on X, and Instagram

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