Secure Treatment Centers
Applies to: Anyone who is committed or detained
under Chapter
980 Wisconsin Statutes (exit DHFS; PDF),
in a secure treatment center operated by the state of Wisconsin. There are
two such facilities:
Wisconsin
Resource Center (WRC) in Winnebago
Sand Ridge
Secure Treatment Center (SRSTC) in Mauston
Patients at the state Secure Treatment Centers have
rights under
-
Sec. 51.61
( exit DHFS; PDF), Wisconsin Statutes,
and
-
HFS 94
( exit DHFS; PDF), Wisconsin
Administrative Code
Their rights are explained in a brochure (PDE-377)
that is given to patients on admission. However, some of the rights of
patients committed or placed under Chapter 980, Statutes, vary slightly
from the rights of other mental health patients. These variances are
explained in an addendum (PDE-377A), also
handed out to patients on admission. Each patient unit also has a poster
listing patient rights. (See Forms, Publications and
Posters.)
Any patient, or anyone on behalf of the patient, may
file a complaint if they feel the patient’s rights have been violated.
Any complaints must be filed with the facility within 45 calendar days
of the event involved or the patient becoming aware of the issue.
Complaints should be in writing, but verbal complaints may be accepted at
the discretion of the facility’s Client Rights Facilitator (CRF). (To
find out the name of the facility’s CRF, contact the facility or the
Client Rights Office at (608) 266-2000.) A form (DDE-0009)
is available for filing complaints, but its use is not required.
The Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
(DMHSAS),
which operates the state Secure Treatment Centers, has a four-stage grievance
resolution process (PDF, 5 KB) for complaints. The first two levels are at the
facility, the third level is the DMHSAS Client Rights Office and the fourth
and final level is the DMHSAS Administrator.
Complaints of rights violations may also be taken directly
to court under Sec.
51.61(7), Wisconsin Statutes
(exit DHFS; PDF - scroll to page 54). The use of the grievance procedure is not required
before going to court, but a grievance can be dismissed at the stage it is
being considered once the matter is taken to court.
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Last Updated: May 08, 2008 |
