There’s a new push to protect vulnerable patients in Michigan’s five mental health hospitals.
Legislation will be introduced this week that addresses specific problems discovered in a state audit.
The Investigators at Local 4 have been following this story closely since first exposing issues at the Hawthorn Facility in Northville -- that’s the state’s only psychiatric hospital for children. The goal of this legislation is to better protect children.
---> Find full coverage of the Hawthorn Center here.
In 2022, Local 4 uncovered that an active shooter drill was held at the Hawthorn Center without warning patients or employees. Many people believed there was a real gunman, and several called 911 fearing for their lives.
Since then, the facility has closed, has been torn down, and a new facility is being built in its place. The new Hawthorn Center is expected to open this fall.
Michigan Senator Michael Webber is introducing this legislation. He said he has some concerns about the transition period to the new facility. That when kids were moved to Walter Reuther initially, the rooms weren’t ready, the beds weren’t right, and the kids had to stay in the lobby until it was ready for them.
Last fall, the state’s auditor general dropped its report, finding that:
- Nearly 30% of complaints alleging abuse, neglect, serious injury, or death, were not retrieved or acted on until two to 12 days after being filed (the state is supposed to respond within 24 hours).
- More than 10% of complaints lacked a date stamp, meaning it was impossible to tell if the state’s actions were timely.
- Video surveillance and audio recording systems were often missing or not working.
The legislation addresses those problems specificially.
“Since joining the Senate, I’ve heard heartbreaking stories from families who believed the system would protect their loved ones but instead felt abandoned,” Webber said. “These reforms are about restoring trust, making sure complaints are taken seriously and providing families peace of mind by knowing someone is watching out for those who can’t always protect themselves.
Senate Bills 1115-1122 are expected to be formally introduced on Wednesday, July 15.
If you need something investigated you can reach out to the Investigators at Local 4 through the ClickOnDetroit Help Desk or by emailing us directly at Local4Investigators@wdiv.com.
You can contact Investigator Karen Drew directly at kdrew@wdiv.com, and Kayla Clarke at kclarke@wdiv.com.