For Immediate Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                              Contact: Katrin Haldeman
518-275-1720

DRNY Files Appeal in
DOCCS Access to Records Case
Albany, NY December 6, 2021: On December 4, Disability Rights New York (DRNY) filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. DRNY is challenging the July 23, 2021 decision and order from the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in our case against the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).

DRNY is appealing this decision because it is based on a gross misinterpretation and application of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) and the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act of 1986 (PAIMI Act). This decision mandates conditions that do not appear in federal law that DRNY would need to meet in order to obtain records.

Both the DD Act & PAIMI Act provide DRNY their authority to unfettered access to records pertaining to DRNY’s clients in DOCCS’ custody.
 
 
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DRNY is the designated independent non-profit Protection & Advocacy System empowered by Congress to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect and provide legal and non-legal advocacy services to people with disabilities in New York State. The Protection & Advocacy System was created by Congress as a direct result of the horrific conditions that were uncovered in the 1970's at New York’s Willowbrook State School.
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DRNY is supported at tax payer expense by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, The Administration for Community Living; Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration; U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration; and, the Social Security Administration. This press release does not represent the views, positions or policies of, or the endorsements by, any of these federal agencies.
Disability Rights New York | www.drny.org