Investigative Reports

What are Investigative Reports?

Disability Rights Florida produces reports on a variety of issues Floridians with disabilities may face. Many of our reports are the result of investigations of abuse and neglect at facilities using our federally-granted access authority. Other reports may focus on public policy, legislation, or home and community-based services.

The reports describe the facts collected, the evidence reviewed, and how the information was gathered. They may also include conclusions or suggestions for what to do next. These reports can help determine next steps, such as litigation, settlement, or corrective action. We may also use the information to provide information, referrals, and training that address needs found from the investigation.

Recurring Patient Safety Failures at South Florida State Hospital

Wednesday, November 04, 2026

Disability Rights Florida (DRF) conducted multiple investigations into patient deaths and injuries at South Florida State Hospital (SFSH), resulting in significant concerns about recurring patient safety failures at this facility. To highlight the ongoing patient safety failures at SFSH, DRF has compiled three separate investigations, all conducted over the last year, into a single report. In each case, staff at SFSH were negligent in providing patient care, and that negligence contributed to patient injury and death.

Inside the Cages: Disability Rights Violations at Alligator Alcatraz

Thursday, July 09, 2026

Although Florida's Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility has closed, thousands of detainees have been transferred to detention centers across the country, making independent oversight and accountability more important than ever.

Preventable Harm: Patient Safety Failures in Florida’s State Mental Health Treatment Facilities

Monday, February 23, 2026

Our report raises urgent concerns about patient safety inside Florida’s state-run mental health treatment facilities, concluding that staff negligence played a significant role in at least six patient deaths over the past five years. In each case, investigators found that required patient safety checks were missed, poorly performed, or falsely documented — failures that contributed to deaths from suicide, assault, or untreated medical emergencies.