ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A federal judge has ordered an upstate New York group home operator to provide records and access to a legal services organization representing two youths allegedly attacked by staff.
Judge Glenn Suddaby says Thursday that Northern Rivers Family Services cannot block Disability Rights New York from its federally authorized monitoring of the disabled.
Disability Rights received complaints about a 13-year-old punched and choked at a Schenectady group home in 2014, and a 15-year-old left unattended at a bus stop and choked there in early 2015.
Northern Rivers, which initially denied access, says it’s committed to protecting the rights of people in its care and welcomes any group with legal authority to monitor its efforts.
It told the judge both youths left the home last year and two staff were fired.
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