D.C. May Remove Civil Commitment Requirement for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Check out Robert, who is featured in a Street Sense article advocating to end mandatory civil commitment for people with intellectual disabilities who receive service in the District. Click below to learn more about this bill and supported decision making!




The D.C. Council may change the city’s status as the only jurisdiction in the country that requires those with intellectual disabilities to be civilly committed in order to receive city services.

The council’s Committee on Human Services is reviewing a bill that would remove the city’s mandate that people with at least moderate intellectual disabilities be civilly committed in order to acquire services from Medicaid and the Department of Disability Services. A committed person is placed in a licensed home by the court, obtains an attorney and attends review hearings with judges at least annually.

Under the legislation proposed by Mayor Muriel Bowser in March, people who are currently committed would choose whether to remain in the system, and in the future, commitments would only be mandated if individuals commit a crime and are found incompetent to stand a court trial.

To read more on this story, click here: D.C. May Remove Civil Commitment Requirement for People with Intellectual Disabilities

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