Consultant study says Springfield building 'not well-suited'

An analysis of Springfield Hospital Center's Muncie Building has found the space is not a good fit for the impending Sykesville Secure Evaluation and Therapeutic Treatment program.

"The Muncie Building is not well-suited for use as a secure, intensive treatment program for individuals with mental retardation or developmental disabilities who have histories of significant involvement in the criminal justice system or serious offending behaviors," wrote consultant John W. Finn of Voorheesville, N.Y.

The state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene contracted Finn to review the Muncie building for the SETT program.

The program, run by the state's Developmental Disabilities Administration, is for people who are mentally impaired and have committed a crime and are either found incompetent to stand trial or not criminally responsible for their crimes.

The first patients, about nine, are slated to be transferred from Owings Mills' Rosewood Center this month. Rosewood will close by June 30, 2009, as ordered by Gov. Martin O'Malley.

Finn visited the building in April and wrote a five-page report on what's wrong with the building.

Even with the improvements, "the use of this building as a secure intensive treatment program will be a struggle," Finn wrote.

Finn said the state should consider using the building for "less dangerous, less high risk individuals who will not be as likely to exploit the compromises in security that are inherent in this building."

Finn cited numerous problems at Muncie, including the use of staff that aren't part of the program, areas that would need to be secured from residents, multi-person bathrooms that aren't conducive to patients with histories of sexual offenses and drop ceilings that pose a security issue.

In a written response to the report, the Department of Health wrote it is confident that it can address the problems. The department said special clips are being installed on drop-ceilings to prevent removal; that it will use a close-circuit television system to monitor residents and that Springfield training staff space may be separated. While the bathrooms are not being renovated, the department said it will develop a schedule to protect residents.

The department also said it is installing a 12-foot tall security fence with a curved top around the courtyard, but a fence around the building is not needed due to "other security measures."

The Health Department has spent about $391,562 so far on Muncie Building renovations, according to Renata Henry, deputy secretary for behavioral health and disabilities.

Cause for delay?

Del. Susan Krebs (R-Dist. 9B) of Eldersburg said the problems raised in the study must be addressed before residents move in.

"Once they move in, it's going to very hard to turn this back," she said. Krebs also suggested pushing back the program's start date.

In addition to the lack of security measures, Krebs said she is worried that the environment residents are being placed in will be too restrictive, and could lead to a situation in which patient advocates could raise issues about patients' rights.

The department still has to figure out how the patients will be allowed to work, which is what they do now at Rosewood, she said.

Krebs said recent developments of the department's plan gives more reason that the move is hasty and irresponsible. She also said the General Assembly should investigate the missteps of the department.

"There hasn't been clear leadership in this," she said. "(Health officials) led us to believe that this consultant led us to the (Muncie Building)."

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