Conn. rapped for oversight at Southbury school

SOUTHBURY, Conn. (AP) — Guardians of clients at Southbury Training School say the state is not sufficiently involved in investigations of abuse and neglect of intellectually disabled people.

The Republican American reports that the Southbury Training School Home and School Association says the state hands off too many investigations to nonprofit groups.

It said it obtained data from the state Department of Developmental Services showing that the state referred 41 percent of abuse and neglect cases to state-funded, nonprofit organizations that run group homes for intellectually disabled people.

David Kassel, a spokesman for the group, said the providers rely heavily on state funding and he questioned their incentive to let the state know about the most serious problems of abuse or neglect.

Spokeswoman Joan Barnish said the state's developmental services agency monitors and reviews all investigations.

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Information from: Republican-American