DOJ Settlement Agreement

UPDATE: The Settlement Agreement is extended until Dec. 31, 2024.

BACKGROUND

In August 2008, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated an investigation into conditions of confinement at the Central Virginia Training Center, in April 2010 they expanded their investigation to include the provisions of community services throughout the state. DOJ issued its letter of findings in February 2011 – finding that conditions at the training center and in the community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Virginia violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. After nearly a year of negotiations, in January 2012, the Department of Justice and the Commonwealth of Virginia reached a settlement agreement that remains in effect today, with a court-appointed Independent Reviewer who issues a report every six months on Virginia's Compliance.

Important Links:

Settlement Agreement

United States V. Commonwealth Of Virginia (justice.gov)

Special Litigation Section Case Summaries (justice.gov)

FOLLOWING VIRGINIA'S COMPLIANCE

In 2019 the Judge ordered Virginia to create a document system, or “library”, to ensure that the Commonwealth will perform all provisions of the Settlement Agreement even after the consent decree terminates. The library enables interested parties to review documentation of the Commonwealth’s compliance.