Investigations

The Reportable Event Management Investigations Unit conducts internal administrative investigations into allegations of abuse, neglect, exploitation, unexplained serious injuries and questionable or suspicious deaths for people who receive services through the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD). The Investigations unit does not conduct criminal investigations. If the alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation is a criminal act, the investigations unit will report the allegation to law enforcement.

The DIDD defines abuse, neglect, and exploitation as:

• Abuse – the knowing infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation or punishment with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish

• Neglect – failure to provide goods or services necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish or mental illness, which results in injury or probable risk of serious harm

• Exploitation – the deliberate misplacement, misappropriation or wrongful, temporary, or permanent use of belongings or money with or without consent.

If persons receiving services, families, staff, community citizens, etc., know about or suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving a person receiving services, they may report directly to the Investigations Unit 24 hours a day. Staff persons for Providers contracted with DIDD are required to report within 4 hours of observation or discovery of abuse, neglect, exploitation, unexplained serious injury, or questionable or suspicious death.