Judge Rotenberg Educational Center

Boston Globe Sep 11, 2023 Event

Supreme Judicial Court allows Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Canton to keep using skin shocks — and reminds state how it can stop them

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld the legality of electric skin shock therapy at the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, noting that the practice remains subject to annual probate court review. The decision emphasizes the state department's responsibility to use those hearings for substantive oversight and to consider less intrusive treatment options.

ABA Journal Sep 11, 2023 Event

Top court in Massachusetts permits use of shock devices on institutionalized patients

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center may continue using electric skin shock therapy under an existing consent decree, noting the state has not provided sufficient evidence that the practice falls outside the standard of care. The decision emphasizes that the therapy may be employed only as a last‑resort measure, with physician oversight and court permission for residents unable to consent.

Boston Globe May 21, 2023 Lawsuit

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Weighs Legality of Electric Shock Treatment at Judge Rotenberg Center

The article discusses the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s consideration of lifting a consent decree that permits the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center to administer electric skin shocks to patients with developmental disabilities. It presents arguments from disability rights groups and the center’s supporters, noting that the center treats a small number of patients and that alternative, less intrusive treatments are available. The piece highlights the legal and ethical debate surrounding the use of aversive therapy.

USA Today Nov 2, 2021 Expose

Senators Urge FDA Ban on Electric Shock Devices Used at Massachusetts School

A private school in Miami, Florida, known as The School of the Future, reportedly used electric shock devices as a form of discipline. Senators have expressed support for an FDA ban on such devices. The incident has raised concerns about safety violations and staff misconduct at the facility.

NBC News Sep 2, 2021 Event

Decades-long fight over electric shock treatment led to an FDA ban

The article reports on a multi-decade effort to end the use of electric shock treatment at the Judge Rotenberg Center, culminating in an FDA ban. It outlines the regulatory actions and ongoing advocacy surrounding the practice.

Commonwealth Beacon Apr 20, 2021 Expose

Time to end public funding of Judge Rotenberg Center

The article outlines allegations that the Judge Rotenberg Center employs aversive and coercive practices, including physical and chemical restraints, and calls for an end to state and federal funding for the facility. It references documented safety violations and advocates for legislative action to protect individuals with disabilities.

WGBH Mar 4, 2020 Expose

FDA Bans Shock Device Used For 'Aggressive Behavior' On Mentally Disabled Patients At Massachusetts School

The FDA issued a final rule banning the use of electrical stimulation devices at the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Canton, Massachusetts, citing substantial risks to patients with mental disabilities. The center, which serves approximately 45-50 patients, has defended the devices as court‑approved life‑saving treatment. The ban follows prior investigations and lawsuits alleging abuse and safety violations at the facility.

Daily News Nov 7, 2019 Closure

Tobinworld special needs school in Glendale to close Dec. 20

Tobinworld, a special‑needs school in Glendale, announced it will cease operations on December 20, 2019 due to prolonged financial difficulties and declining enrollment. The closure will affect 115 staff members and result in the transfer of 209 students to other district schools, while a mental‑health facility on the campus will continue operating through June.

disabilityscoop.com Mar 13, 2019 General

Disability Advocates Pressure FDA To Finalize Ban On Shock Devices (2019-03-13)

NPR Jan 23, 2019 Expose

School Shocks Students With Disabilities. The FDA Is Moving To Ban The Practice

The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Canton, Massachusetts, has used an electric shock device to manage behavior in students with disabilities. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans to ban the device, citing safety risks. Families and advocacy groups have expressed differing views on the practice.

The Guardian Jul 12, 2018 Lawsuit

Massachusetts allows school to continue with electric shocks

A Massachusetts court ruled that the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center may continue using its graduated electronic decelerator (GED) shock device on students with learning disabilities. The decision follows previous lawsuits filed by the state and by former student Andre McCollins, and it maintains the facility's unique aversive‑conditioning practice.

DC Media Group Mar 22, 2018 Event

Disability Rights Activists Protest FDA to Demand Ban on Aversive Electric Shock Therapy

Disability rights activists organized a sustained protest and occupation near the home of FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb to demand the issuance of federal regulations banning aversive electric shock therapy at the Judge Rotenberg Center. The demonstrations included civil disobedience actions at FDA headquarters, resulting in eleven arrests for obstructing traffic.

dcmediagroup.us Mar 14, 2018 General

Disability Rights Activists Occupy Park Near FDA Chairman’s Home, Demand End to Electric Shock ‘Torture’ (2018-03-14)

HuffPost Dec 22, 2016 Expose

Call to End Use of Electric Shock at Judge Rotenberg Center

The article reports that the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Massachusetts, employed aversive electric shock devices and physical restraints on residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It cites testimony and advocacy group protests, noting concerns about potential trauma, health effects, and violations of international anti‑torture standards.

WBUR News Dec 14, 2016 Arrest

Two Former Judge Rotenberg Center Employees Charged with Assault

Two former employees of the Judge Rotenberg Center were arrested and charged with assault and battery following the emergence of a video recording showing physical abuse of an adult student in their care during overnight shifts. The facility reported the incident to local authorities and dismissed the staff members. The institution has been previously scrutinized for its use of aversive therapy methods.

Glendale News-Press Nov 23, 2016 General

Tobinworld, named for founder’s son, turns 40

The article profiles Tobinworld, a private school serving autistic and behaviorally challenged youth, as it marks its 40th anniversary. Founder Judy Weber created the school in 1976 after encountering limited services for her son, Tobin, and continues to oversee the Glendale campus, which enrolls roughly 275 students.

MassLive Jul 15, 2016 Lawsuit

Judge Rotenberg Center has history on its side as FDA looks to ban electric shock therapy

A lawsuit was filed against Foster Development Agency alleging a history of abuse and safety violations at its group home in Boston. The complaint cites incidents of physical restraint and seclusion used by staff. The case seeks accountability and reforms to protect residents.

The Press Jul 13, 2016 Closure

Tobinworld II closes its doors

Tobinworld II, a nonprofit special‑education school in Antioch, California, announced it will close on July 26, 2016 after the Antioch and Oakland Unified School Districts withdrew their students citing concerns about transparency and a video showing alleged staff assault. The closure follows prior state investigations, a temporary suspension of the school's credentials, and criminal charges against former employees.

KGO-TV Jan 7, 2016 Event

Two Tobinworld employees in Antioch suspended after beating video surfaces

Two employees of Tobinworld, a special‑needs school in Antioch, were placed on suspension after a video allegedly showing them beating a student was released. The incident prompted an internal investigation and public reporting by local news outlets.

East Bay Times Aug 27, 2015 Expose

State Suspends Tobinworld Special Education Campuses

The California Department of Education suspended Tobinworld II and III after finding that administrators had misrepresented staff qualifications, failed required background and tuberculosis checks, and allowed an unlicensed consultant to develop behavioral plans. The schools also failed to staff all classrooms with fully credentialed teachers. The suspension requires corrective actions to be completed by September 16, 2015.

ProPublica Dec 23, 2014 Expose

New York City Sends $30 Million a Year to School With History of Giving Kids Electric Shocks

The article reports that New York City allocates $30 million annually to the Judge Rotenberg Center, a private school in Massachusetts that has a documented history of using electric shocks and restraints on students with developmental disabilities. Investigative findings show repeated violations of state regulations, including the use of mechanical restraints as punishment, and describe how city policies have facilitated enrollment of New York students despite these concerns. The piece highlights survivor testimonies and the city’s legal and policy responses to the ongoing abuse.

Boston Globe Feb 16, 2013 Expose

Patrick fights Rotenberg shock therapy decree

The state of Massachusetts filed a motion to challenge a 1987 settlement that allows the Judge Rotenberg Center to use electric shock therapy on residents with developmental disorders. The motion argues that the practice is no longer consistent with contemporary medical standards and seeks to bring the facility under state regulatory oversight. The Center maintains that the shocks are used to prevent self‑harm and aggression, while disability advocates and former patients call the treatment a form of torture.

Patch Feb 27, 2012 Arrest

Canton News, Breaking News in Canton, MA

Jury selection began for the trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell, who is accused of killing 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore. The case involves allegations that her death was staged to appear as a death by suicide.

Boston Globe May 25, 2011 Arrest

Head of Rotenberg Center agrees to leave post in deal with prosecutors

Matthew Israel, founder of the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, entered a pre‑trial agreement that requires him to step down from his position and serve a five‑year probationary term. The agreement follows an indictment alleging that he ordered the destruction of video evidence related to a 2007 incident in which two teenagers at a Rotenberg group home received multiple electrical shock treatments.

The Guardian Mar 11, 2011 Expose

An Examination of Aversive Therapy and Electric Shock Use at a Massachusetts School

The Judge Rotenberg Centre, a residential school in Massachusetts founded by Matthew Israel, utilizes remote-controlled electronic shock devices on residents diagnosed with severe autism or emotional challenges as a behavioral intervention. Human rights organizations, the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, and former residents have characterized these methods as torture, while the facility and some parents defend the practices as necessary for managing dangerous self-injurious behavior.

Washington Post Oct 2, 2010 Expose

Report Alleges Electric Shocks and Aversive Treatments Used on Students at Massachusetts Facility

This article details allegations against the Judge Rotenberg Center in Massachusetts, where students with disabilities were subjected to aversive behavioral modification treatments, including remote-controlled electric shocks and physical restraints. Disability advocates and the U.N. special rapporteur on torture criticized these practices as human rights violations, prompting calls for federal intervention.

disabilityrightsintl.org Apr 29, 2010 General

Disability Rights International Alleges Torture Against Children and Adults with Disabilities in the United States (2010-04-29)

Boston Magazine Jun 17, 2008 Expose

Judge Rotenberg Center Shock Therapy Practices

The article reports on the use of electric shock therapy and other aversive techniques at the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Massachusetts, describing the devices employed and the legal and regulatory responses. It details incidents of restraint, chemical exposure, and deaths among students, and outlines legislative efforts to limit such practices. The piece presents these facts without attributing blame to the students themselves.

The Washington Post Dec 23, 2007 Event

School Retains License for Electric Shock Treatment After Incident

A special-education school administered electric-shock treatments to two students after a prank call, delivering 77 and 29 shocks while the students were restrained. State officials allowed the school to retain its license for another year, requiring proof that such treatments are limited to the most dangerous behaviors and are effective.

Washington Examiner Sep 20, 2007 Expose

D.C. students sent to Massachusetts, Florida schools facing abuse claims

An investigation found that the District of Columbia placed vulnerable special‑education students in two out‑of‑state facilities that have been cited for multiple incidents of physical restraint, shock therapy, and injuries. The article details allegations of broken bones, electrical shock devices, and a death during a therapeutic restraint, prompting D.C. officials to halt placements and launch oversight investigations.

Mother Jones Aug 20, 2007 Expose

Matthew Israel Interviewed by Jennifer Gonnerman

The interview details Matthew Israel's early influences, his development of behavior‑modification techniques, and the founding of the Rotenberg Center. Israel describes the use of physical punishment and time‑out procedures with a child participant, reflecting practices that have drawn criticism. The piece provides a factual account of his motivations and operational methods.

Boston Globe Jun 19, 2006 Expose

A review of aversive therapy at Judge Rotenberg Center

The article reports on the use of aversive therapy, including electric shock, at the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Massachusetts. It highlights concerns raised by a New York Board of Regents report about the safety and appropriateness of these practices, noting that the center has been criticized for using physical and chemical restraints on students with developmental disabilities. The piece calls for legislative action to ban such therapies in Massachusetts.

Newsweek Nov 30, 1986 Expose

How to Treat Autistic Kids

The article reports on the use of aversive therapy at the Behavior Research Institute, a private school in Providence, Rhode Island, for children with severe behavioral disorders. It details the application of physical restraints, chemical aversives, and punitive measures, and notes a fatal incident involving a 22‑year‑old student during a treatment session. The piece also discusses legal challenges and differing viewpoints among parents, professionals, and state regulators.

Los Angeles Times Aug 14, 1986 Expose

After a Troubled Past, Autistic Home Reopens

The article reports on the reopening of the Behavior Research Institute, a facility for autistic children that has faced longstanding allegations of aversive therapy, including physical punishment and restraint. It details state investigations, a death of a resident, and subsequent licensing conditions imposed to restrict punitive practices. The piece presents the facility’s perspective on its methods while noting ongoing scrutiny from state officials and advocacy groups.

Los Angeles Times Apr 17, 1986 Closure

Fire Closes Embattled Institute for Autistic Care

State officials revoked the operating license of the Behavior Research Institute after a fire, set during a burglary, rendered the facility uninhabitable. The institute, which provided behavior‑modification programs for autistic teens and young adults, lost its $378,000 annual state funding and was ordered to relocate its six residents. Neighbors welcomed the closure, citing prior concerns about aversion‑therapy practices.

The New York Times Dec 31, 1985 Lawsuit

DISCIPLINE RULING AT AUTISM FACILITY

A court issued a ruling concerning disciplinary practices at an autism treatment facility in New York. The decision addressed the facility's use of restraints and the oversight responsibilities of state regulators.

The New York Times Nov 19, 1985 Lawsuit

School's Use of Physical Punishment as Therapy Is Challenged

A legal challenge has been filed against a private therapeutic school that employed physical punishment as a form of treatment. The lawsuit alleges that the school's practices violated state regulations and posed safety risks to the children enrolled.