Pritzker to move residents, restructure developmental center

AP Photo / John O’Connor

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced plans to overhaul the Choate Developmental Center after an investigation revealed repeated abuse of residents with developmental disabilities and attempts by staff to cover up the misconduct. The Associated Press report outlines disturbing incidents, including physical abuse caught on video, and highlights years of warnings from families, advocates, and watchdogs that went unaddressed.

In response, the state plans to relocate roughly half of Choate’s residents to other state-run or community-based settings and implement broader reforms aimed at improving oversight, accountability, and resident safety. The situation has renewed concerns about how Illinois protects people with disabilities living in state-operated facilities and whether long-standing systemic issues are being adequately addressed.