As Feds Investigate Glenwood and Woodward Resource Centers, Ernst Requests Regular, Immediate Updates

WASHINGTON – As the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigates disturbing allegations of federal rights violations at the Glenwood Resource Center (GRC) and the Woodward Resource Center (WRC), U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is requesting regular updates on the status of their investigation and that information on potential violations be provided immediately.

In a letter to Attorney General William Barr and Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Drelband today, Senator Ernst asks of DOJ:

• When did the Department of Justice first became aware of this alarming increase in reported deaths at the Glenwood Resource Center?
• What prevented the Department from initiating this investigation more quickly?

The senator goes on to write:

“It is the duty of the federal government and elected officials to protect the health and safety of our most vulnerable citizens. These troubling reports will be of upmost concern to communities across Iowa and particularly to the residents of these centers, their families, and their loved ones. I will be closely monitoring this situation and the Department’s ongoing investigation.”

Glenwood Resource Center has a history of disturbing mistreatment of its residents. In 2017, state inspectors found that the center failed to report allegations of abuse and did not address incidents of suspicious injuries and mistreatment. The Des Moines Register has also reported that 14 residents of the center died between June 2018 and April 2019, and three more residents died in just the last two months.

Click HERE for a PDF of Senator Ernst’s letter.

The full text of Senator Ernst’s letter is below:

Dear Attorney General Barr and Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Drelband:

I write regarding the Department of Justice investigation into disturbing reports of potential systematic violations of the federal rights of individuals with disabilities at the Glenwood Resource Center (GRC) and Woodward Resource Center (WRC) in Iowa.

I request that you use the full extent of your authority under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and Title H of the Americans with Disabilities Act to conduct a thorough investigation of these reports and determine any possible violations of the law.

I appreciate the Department’s attention to this situation; however, I am also concerned by the delay in initiating this course of action. As you are aware, it has been reported that 14 severely disabled residents of the Glenwood Resource Center died between June 2018 and April 2019, and three additional deaths have been reported within just the past two months. I respectfully request your response to the following questions:

• When did the Department of Justice first became aware of this alarming increase in reported deaths at the Glenwood Resource Center?
• What prevented the Department from initiating this investigation more quickly?

It is the duty of the federal government and elected officials to protect the health and safety of our most vulnerable citizens. These troubling reports will be of upmost concern to communities across Iowa and particularly to the residents of these centers, their families, and their loved ones.

I will be closely monitoring this situation and the Department’s ongoing investigation. To the extent possible, I also request that you provide consistent updates to my office on the status of this investigation. All those who may have been impacted by this situation will be looking to the Department to provide clear and concise information in order to ensure an immediate and proper response.

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