The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused Kentucky of violating the civil rights of its residents by unnecessarily segregating adults with serious mental illness in psychiatric hospitals in the Louisville area, instead of providing care in community settings. The DOJ released a report on August 27, alleging that the state is failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not offering access to community-based mental health services.
The DOJ’s inquiry, which began in 2022, discovered flaws in Louisville’s emergency response system and partially blamed the Louisville Metro Government for these issues. It is estimated that around 15,500 adults in Louisville are living with significant mental illness, and Seven Counties Services—a community mental health center—assists approximately 6,000 individuals each year.
In its report, the DOJ provided several recommendations for reform and expressed its hope to work cooperatively with Kentucky to find a resolution. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, the department warned that it may take legal action against the state to ensure compliance with ADA regulations.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division stated that individuals with serious mental illnesses in Louisville are trapped in an unacceptable cycle of repeated hospitalizations because they lack access to community-based care. The department aims to collaborate with Kentucky so that appropriate mental health services can be implemented and ADA requirements can be met.
While acknowledging some efforts made by the state to expand access to services such as crisis response initiatives and housing and employment support, the Justice Department emphasized that more needs to be done.
Governor Andy Beshear’s office expressed surprise at the report’s findings and stated their intention to thoroughly review each conclusion. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for Kentucky’s Western District highlighted not only violations but also stressed recognizing every individual’s dignity and potential despite their mental illness.
The research conducted by DOJ shed light on how mishandled psychiatric hospital admissions can have traumatic effects on patients. It revealed that thousands of people from Louisville are admitted annually into these institutions, resulting in over 1,000 individuals requiring readmissions within a year—with some spending more than a month there.
Accordingly, while acknowledging certain improvements made by Kentucky regarding access to mental health resources like housing assistance and crisis response efforts—the state still falls short when it comes providing adequate community-based services for those suffering from serious mental illnesses within Louisville Metro area.