In an ideal situation, you might prefer your state not operate an agency in a manner such that news organizations get three-plus years out of the phrase “Culture of Cruelty,” but that’s where Illinois finds itself.
ProPublica has published several stories since Sept 2, 2022, largely in conjunction with Capitol News Illinois and Lee Enterprises Midwest, about the state’s mental health system. All of it is relevant to last week’s Department of Human Services announcement that Illinois will lay off roughly half the 524 workers at Choate Mental Health and Development Center in downstate Anna.
As I’ve noted over the years, the coverage is available – for those with free time and thick skin – at propublica.org/series/culture-of-cruelty. Beyond documenting patient abuse, reporters Beth Hunsdorfer and Molly Parker used Freedom of Information Act requests and other tools to effectively portray widespread employee obstruction, lying, indoctrination and retaliation against those who dare shed light on the horrors.
Illinois State Police investigated, DHS took some steps to improve conditions, but even terminations and criminal convictions were never going to be enough to right the many wrongs.
Gov. JB Pritzker signaled as far back as January 2023 that closing Choate was the likely outcome if staff and patients couldn’t be kept safe, so anyone feigning surprise in July 2026 is telling on themselves.
Even those who never bothered to learn about events on the inside should’ve understood the basic math: CNI’s most recent reporting said Choate currently has “58 general and forensic (intellectual/developmental disabilities) patients and an additional 75 mental health patients,” and a 4:1 staff-to-patient ratio isn’t fiscally sustainable even with everyone on their best behavior.
There’s also the geography problem, an issue challenging many state agencies from education to corrections and beyond. Population density dictates difficult decisions, whether that be the practicality of offering an advanced placement physics class or how far families have to drive to visit their loved one in state care.
Specific to Choate, the shutdown decision pits the southern portion of the state against the north, where DHS says needs are greater, and downstate Republicans are expectedly upset at the outcome. State facilities have outsized economic influence in sparsely populated areas, and as much as politicians might talk about the importance of providing services at the correct levels – even with legitimate altruism – it’s still an exercise in converting tax dollars to salary and benefits used to buy homes and make purchases in the surrounding region.
Cruelty needs to be a thing of the past, especially if public resources are underwriting the experience. Closing Choate isn’t a comprehensive solution, but it’s a logical puzzle piece. Unfortunately, much heavy lifting remains before these state services are comfortably back on track.
• Scott T. Holland writes about state government issues for Shaw Local News Network. He can be reached at sholland@shawmedia.com.
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July 29, 2026 at 10:06AM
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