In this episode I speak with Ruth Lowenkron, Director of the Disability Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. We talk about the basic principles of due process in relation to involuntary hospitalizations as well as concerns about the ongoing expansion of commitment laws in New York.

NYLPI: https://www.nylpi.org/

NYLPI report on Kendra’s Law: https://www.nylpi.org/nylpi-releases-new-report-implementation-of-kendras-law-continues-to-be-severely-biased/

As a person with a history of psychiatric disabilities, involuntary hospitalizations and a civil commitment, I know that I will always be vulnerable to the carceral whims of legislators. I am forever trapped in the trauma of my most desperate moment, a point in time where the state declared that I was mentally unfit to be free. And I will forever fear how easy it would be for someone to decide that I should be locked away and disappeared like that again. But over the past several years I have been privileged to talk with attorneys, advocates, and people with lived experience who are fighting to create change. Fighting to protect the rights, humanity, and dignity of the vulnerable people who are being forced into these systems. So as I continue to explore the work of Protection & Advocacy organizations throughout the United States I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to speak with Nancy Murphy from the Disability Law Center. DLC is the P&A for Massachusetts and we spoke about the importance of Protection & Advocacy organizations and the complicated state and federal guardrails that they have to navigate.

Disability Law Center: https://www.dlc-ma.org/

Six Fundamental Rights: https://www.dlc-ma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Six-Fundamental-Rights-2025.01.pdf

Representative Payee Program: https://www.dlc-ma.org/representative-payee-program/

Bridgewater Report: https://www.dlc-ma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/DLC-BSH-Public-Report-to-Legislature-2.6.2025-Final-w.-Apps-1.pdf

In this episode I speak with Gwen Orlowski, Executive Director of Disability Rights New Jersey. We discuss the statutory authorities given to all P&A organizations as well as the specific work that DRNJ has been engaged in. Work that includes investigations into abuse and neglect in nursing homes, advocacy around the state’s expansion of initial involuntary hospitalizations from 72 hours to 144 hours, and a recent lawsuit filed in relation to Conditional Extension Pending Placement, or CEPP. CEPP is an incredibly concerning process that allows a psychiatric facility to continue to involuntarily detain a person past the point where a court has said the legally required criteria for commitment is no longer present.

Disability Rights New Jersey: https://disabilityrightsnj.org/

CEPP litigation: https://disabilityrightsnj.org/whats-new/systemic-litigation/