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Seal of the Senate of the State of Texas
Welcome to the official website for the
Texas Senate
 
Senator Judith Zaffirini: District 21
 
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2008
Contact: Celeste Villarreal
(512) 463-0121
Statement from Senator Judith Zaffirini, Regarding Department of Justice Investigation of All Texas State Schools

"The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently (Aug. 22) notified Gov. Rick Perry about the expansion of its Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) investigation to all state-run institutions for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The legislature has been advised from the beginning that DOJ investigations frequently are initiated at a single facility, and then are expanded to include the entire system. Accordingly, this statewide expansion is neither surprising nor unexpected.

"The cruelty that was reported at Lubbock State School and Denton State School is shocking, and I welcome the Department of Justice's investigations. I have zero tolerance for abuse, neglect and exploitation and will continue to work to ensure that consumers of state school services receive the highest quality care from the State of Texas. Anything less is immoral."

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