Arizona Disability Advocates for Physical Abuse in Group Homes
When parents or other family members make the difficult decision to place their child or loved one in a residential group home, they place a large amount of trust in the group home’s administrators and staff. However, no matter how much research you do ahead of time and how diligent you are, sometimes group home staff members violate your trust and commit abuse against their group home residents.
Physical abuse against group home residents is completely unacceptable under any circumstances. If abuse happens, whether it is a pattern of abuse happening over an extended period of time or an isolated incident, the people responsible, including staff members that commit abusive acts and administrators who allow it to happen, should be held accountable.
If your loved one has been the victim of physical abuse in their residential group home in Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, or elsewhere in Maricopa County, you should first seek medical treatment and report the abuse to the proper authorities. After doing that, you should talk to an Arizona group home abuse attorney about your case. An Arizona group home lawyer cannot only help your loved one receive compensation for medical treatment and pain and suffering, but can also help to expose and reform abusive practices in group homes and make group homes safer for other residents.
Types of Physical Abuse
Physical abuse in group homes can take many different forms. Some abuse may be systematic, such the unauthorized use of physical restraints or use of physically abusive techniques to restrain or control residents. Other physical abuse may be isolated incidents. However, even if abuse only happens once, it is still unacceptable and the responsible parties should still be held accountable.
Signs of Abuse
There are many signs of abuse to look for whenever you visit your loved one in a group home. These include:
- Unexplained cuts, bruises, burns or lacerations
- Discoloration or bruising on the wrists, inner arms or thighs
- Choke marks
- Flinching when approached
- Showing fear towards staff members
- Depression
Responsibility for Physical Abuse
Responsibility for physical abuse often falls on not only the staff members who actually commit the abuse but also on administrators and the group home itself for allowing the abuse to happen. If abuse happens and administrators are aware of it, they should immediately report it and terminate the parties responsible. If they allow the abuse to happen and do not report it or discipline the people who commit the abuse, they are liable.
In addition, if abuse is happening and administrators are unaware of it, they are legally liable as well. They are responsible for the actions of their employees and should be aware of everything happening in their facility. Lack of proper oversight of employees creates an environment where abuse can happen, and administrators and the group home facility should be held accountable for it.
Contact an Arizona Group Home Abuse Lawyer
If your child or other loved one is a resident of a group home in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale or elsewhere in Maricopa County, and they have been a victim of physical abuse, you should consult with an Arizona group home abuse lawyer to discuss your case. For more information, please visit http://www.grouphomeabuselawyer.com/
