By: Richard L. Smith
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, alongside the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, has filed a complaint against the state of New Jersey, citing unconstitutional conditions at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes in Menlo Park and Paramus.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the complaint focuses on inadequate infection control and medical care that put residents at risk of harm.
A proposed consent decree, filed jointly with the state, seeks to resolve the allegations by implementing stringent reforms in clinical care, infection control, and emergency operations.
The agreement, which requires court approval, would also appoint an independent monitor to oversee the state’s compliance with these reforms.
“Our veterans, who have sacrificed so much, should never have been subject to deficient care,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. “This consent decree provides a detailed roadmap and expert oversight to ensure they are protected, so that they and their families can rely on the veterans homes.”
As earlier reported by RLS Media, the investigation into the Veterans Homes began in October 2020 under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which allows the Justice Department to address patterns of civil rights violations in state-run facilities.
In September 2023, the department found that inadequate infection control practices and insufficient medical care at the homes put residents at unreasonable risk, violating their rights under the 14th Amendment.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division emphasized the importance of the agreement, stating, “Our veterans deserve appropriate care, as required by law, and their families deserve confidence that their loved ones’ needs will be met.”
The proposed consent decree aims to overhaul infection control measures and ensure that veterans residing in these homes receive the care and safety they are entitled to under the law.