TORTURE NOT TREATMENT!
Imagine Being Trapped In a Relentless Cycle of Punishment and Trauma Response!
Now, try to grasp the torment of vulnerable individuals with disabilities, as they find themselves confined within a facility that should provide them with treatment but instead becomes a living nightmare.
This is the reality for those subjected to aversive electric shock devices used only at the
Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, MA!
Human Rights Concerns Over Skin Shock Devices, A Level 3 Aversive, Used on Autistic and Disabled Individuals At The Judge Rotenberg Center!
The Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) is a controversial institution in Canton, MA for People with Behavior, Emotional, and/or Psychiatric Disorders, Troubled Teens, as well as those with Intellectual Disabilities or on the Autism Spectrum.
JRC relies heavily on aversive procedures including withholding food, long-term painful restraint, sensory deprivation, and worst of all, horrifically painful electric shock via their own patented Graduated Electronic Decelerator (GED), etc…
The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture determined that “The use of electric shock as an intervention for the behavior of students with disabilities violates the UN Convention Against Torture and other international standards” and called for it to be discontinued.
While the JRC contends that they only use the GED shock device and other aversives for dangerous behaviors, there are multitudes of documented cases of them torturing and shocking people for things as simple as:
- Making noises
- Taking their eyes off their work
- Having a toileting accident
- Interrupting
- Raising a hand, etc…
Shocks are administered in 2 second electric bursts via remote control to various body parts. Residents can wear up to 5 devices continuously, even while sleeping and showering.
Judge Rotenberg Center is a 501c3 Non-Profit
Time To End Public Funding of Judge Rotenberg Center
JRC is a non-profit organization paying no federal or state taxes. In 2024 it costs $333,122 per year to keep ONE resident at the JRC.
In September of 2020 DCFS began sending kids taken from abusive conditions to this abusive facility!
According to JRC’s IRS forms, in 2022 JRC received over $95,000,000 Million dollars of public (state) tax dollars.
DCFS spent $2,766,910 and government grants totaled $6,367,055 Million.
$95 Million
Came From Your State
Taxes!
$2.8 Million
From children being sent to JRC by Department Of Children & Family Services (DCFS)
History of This Barbaric Institution
The Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC)
250 Turnpike St. Canton, MA 02021
JRC Is an Educational & Residential Facility, founded in 1971, housing people with developmental disabilities, emotional disorders, and autistic-like behaviors.
JRC has been known to use Aversive Conditioning such as pinches, spanks, muscle squeezes, water sprays, vapor sprays, ammonia capsules, white noise, denial of food and bedding, long-term restraints, sensory deprivation, mechanical & four point restraints, etc.
In 1988 Matthew Israel, Founder of the JRC, began using a cattle prod to administer skin shocks to autistic students. He then purchased a Self-Injurious Behavior Inhibiting System (SIBIS) which was the only skin-shock device on the market. Soon, Matthew Israel designed the new Graduated Electronic Decelerator, or GED, shock device, for use as a more powerful aversive which is still in use today!
The GED has been known to burn skin and is traumatic for those exposed to the device. Delivering a 90 mA shock, the GED device is many times stronger than a police taser of 3-4 mA shock.
The Center is the only place in the United States & as far as is known in the world, that uses electric shock to to control behavior.
Judge Rotenberg Center Spends Hundreds of Thousands of Tax Payer $$ Every Year To Fight Against Opposition To Level 3 Aversives
Agencies Lobbied By Judge Rotenberg Center in 2023 White House, Dept of State, Food & Drug Administration, Office of Management & Budget.
In 2023 JRC spent $500,000 in lobbying against attempts to make this practice illegal.
This includes money paid specifically to lobby against
MA House Bill H.180 & NY Andre’s Law Bill S900/Bill A1166 that would have made this practice illegal.
Some of which was paid directly to committee members who made the decision to send the bills to study, effectively killing both bills.
PART IV, SCHEDULE C. PAGE 1, PART I-A, QUESTION 1. STATEMENT REGARDING LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
THE JUDGE ROTENBERG EDUCATIONAL CENTER, INC.
(“JRC”) HAS GENERALLY RETAINED ATTORNEYS AND STAFF TO REPRESENT THEM AND ACT ON THEIR BEHALF IN OPPOSING LEGISLATION INTRODUCED INTO STATE LEGISLATURES, WHICH WOULD IMPACT FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS JRC WHICH PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE AND INTENSIVE SUPPORT TO THEIR CONSUMERS. THE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES WHICH JRC CONDUCTED MEETS THE DEFINITION OF DIRECT LOBBYING COMMUNICATIONS AND/OR GRASSROOTS LOBBYING.
It’s Time For Change!
Legislation We Support
The JRC Spends Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars Every Year to Lobby Against Bills Aimed to Protect Disabled Individuals!
MA House Bill H.180
An Act regarding the use of aversive therapy
By Representative Gregoire This legislation is to prohibit the use of procedures which cause physical pain or deny a reasonable humane existence to persons with disabilities.
This bill was killed by MA State Representatives who received lobbing money from the Judge Rotenberg Center. It will be introduced again in 2025.
NY Andre’s Law Bill S900/Bill A1166
Prohibits the use of aversive conditioning
This legislation would prohibit New York State from financially supporting, and sending its children to, institutions that employ electro-shock and other aversives.
This bill was killed by NY State Representatives who received lobbing money from the Judge Rotenberg Center. It will be introduced again in 2025.