Southbury Training School

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Southbury Training School is a large residential facility in the town of Southbury, Connecticut. It was built in the 1930's as a large state funded and operated residential and habilitative facility for adults with mental retardation. It is comprised of 125 buildings situated on a campus of 1,600 acres. It independently operates its own power, heat, sewage treatment, water, laundry, fire, ambulance, public safety, building maintenance, transportation and dietary services. It is run by the Connecticut Department of Mental Retardation.^[1]

1 History
2 Conditions
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

Southbury Training School was built in the 1930's as a place to house the mentally retarded. It is and was self sufficient from the town of Southbury.^[2]

In 1986, admissions to STS were closed. There was a current population of 1,111. The Department of Mental Retardation was directed to attempt to place residents in group homes and other such settings.

In 1997, STS was prohibited from accepting any new residents. STS had 782 residents remaining.

As of 2000, STS maintained a staff of 1,700 people. STS had 696 residents remaining.^[3]

As of 2001, STS had 639 residents remaining. The average age was 55, and the average resident had been at STS for 43 years. The State intends to continue decreasing the number of residents through placement in other settings and through the death of residents.^[4]

[edit] Conditions

In 1984, the first major lawsuit regarding the conditions at STS was filed by the United States of America against the State of Connecticut. A consent decree settled the suit in 1986, requiring that the State increase the conditions of both the care and the facilities.

In 1996, the United States District Court for the District of New Haven held the State in contempt of the consent decree.^[5]

In 1997, an order was issued and a special master appointed to oversee the School. Controversy arose in 2005 when it was discovered that in 1997, the Special Master, David Ferleger, had his Pennsylvania license to practice law suspended, and was then later censored by the Bar Commission of that state for practicing law without a license during the suspension. Pursuant to this, Governor Rell requested his removal, also using the opportunity to request the removal of special masters as a whole.^[6]

IN 2006, STS was released from judicial oversight.^[7]