Have authorities learned from Kaufman case?

One question left by the recent trial and conviction of Arlan and Linda Kaufman: Why did their abuse of mentally ill residents in a Newton group home go on so long? An article in Tuesday’s Kansas City Star noted that federal prosecutors in Kansas were first presented the case by investigators in 1990 and made a decision not to prosecute in 2002. U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren declined to specifically discuss the 2002 move but offered two lines of reasoning to The Star: “We file when we are able to amass a solid case,” and “Mr. Kaufman was a remarkably pugnacious individual.”
But the state’s paper trail on the Kaufman home’s “numerous problems” dates from June 1984. It’s unacceptable that residents were allowed to remain at risk for so many years. Lawmakers and the governor need to reassure Kansans that changes have been or will be made to prevent such a horror story from reoccurring.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

3 Comments

  1. Steven E.
    Posted December 1, 2005 at 11:33 am | Permalink

    I think the state did try to shut down the Kaufman operation. He retaliated by suing SRS and he won a small settlement from the state (around $7K, if I am remembering correctly).

    While I worry about the State acquiring too much power, maybe when it comes to protecting vulnerable people, we should tolerate more State power in investigations of this sort.

  2. Damoon
    Posted December 1, 2005 at 5:41 pm | Permalink

    This whole situation just illustrates how ineffectively SRS and other agencies involved in the care of the disabled operate.There was absolutly no excuse for this abuse to go on as long as it did. The truth is, few government officals care about the mentally ill. The severe and persistant mentally ill often don’t pay taxes or vote, and they don’t scream and shout when their rights are being violated. Because the symtoms of their illness is behavioral, they are often misunderstood, ignored and isolated in society.When the cutbacks were made in services a few years ago, several of us committed to caring and advocating for those with mental disabilities tried to bring media attention to the potential problems caused by the cutback in services, it was like pulling teeth, NO ONE cared.Until the cultural prejudice against the mentally ill ceases, nothing will change. This is the segment of our population that society would rather forget about or throw away.

  3. Jed
    Posted December 1, 2005 at 6:56 pm | Permalink

    Da,Face it; very few people in general care about the mentally ill, and won’t, until they gain some understanding of the illnesses! That’s where the effort needs to be directed. When the general population won’t stand for the mistreatment of mentally ill people, then the authorities will have to act!