21 People Were Sexually, Physically, or Emotionally Abused Across New Hampshire’s State-Run Disability Centers According to State Records
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE (September 11, 2026) – There have been at least 21 documented instances of abuse and another 30 deaths across New Hampshire’s state-run disability care system in just the first half of 2026.
The victims were allegedly sexually, physically, or emotionally abused. The deaths involve at least one instance where a patient reportedly choked to death.
There were another 10 instances where the cause of death was listed as unknown. This revelation comes as a result of a public records request.
It also comes roughly 9 months after a Bulletin investigation uncovered rampant abuse across New Hampshire’s disability care system. The Bulletin reported in November about five people who suffered abuse in their treatment at the hands of caregivers.
Two of those victims tragically died as a result of their injuries. There were also at least 280 reports made to the state regarding abuse or neglect during the first half of 2026.
Liability for abuse at New Hampshire Disability Centers
New Hampshire law provides a number of protections for people who are receiving any type of disability service. In particular, RSA 171-A:13, New Hampshire’s developmental-services statute, indicates that every client has a right to humane treatment that is appropriate for their condition. Moreover, RSA 161-F:46 requires that care workers report any reasonably suspected instance of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. There are many different steps that disability centers should take to prevent instances of abuse or mistreatment.
- Background Checks: Care centers should perform a thorough background check and reference check on all persons that they are considering hiring.
- Staffing: Care centers should maintain adequate staffing levels to ensure that residents are not left without any supervision.
- Training: Care centers should ensure that all of their employees undergo training to be able to recognize, prevent, and report any suspected instance of abuse.
- Monitoring: Care centers should ensure that vulnerable patients are properly monitored at all times.
When a disability care center fails to take reasonable measures to protect patients from foreseeable sources of harm, this could serve as evidence of negligence. Consider, for example, Kravitz v. Beech Hill Hospital, L.L.C., 148 N.H. 383 (2002). This case involved a 14-year-old patient who was allegedly sexually assaulted by another patient while staying at the Beech Hill Hospital. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the hospital failed to properly care for and protect the patient. This was true even though the hospital allegedly knew that the assailant was a convicted sex offender.
Steps to Take After Any Instance of Abuse Involving New Hampshire’s Disability System
Abuse involving people who are intellectually or physically disabled is unfortunately much more common than many people realize. One report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that people with disabilities were violently abused at a rate of about 42.6 per 1,000 people. People with cognitive disabilities suffered substantially higher rates of abuse with an incident rate estimated at 83.3 per 1,000. Several actions should be taken after any suspected instance of abuse involving New Hampshire’s state-run disability system.
- The police should be contacted as early as possible so that they can begin investigating.
- The abuse should be reported to state agencies that can also begin their own investigation.
- Victims of the abuse should be removed from the environment where they have been harmed and placed somewhere else where they can actually be protected.
- The family of any person abused at one of these facilities should carefully consider their legal options with a team experienced in personal injury claims.
Abuse at state-run facilities is rarely the result of misconduct involving a single person. It tends to involve multiple failures from the top down. This can include situations where a care center is not properly staffed. There is simply no way to ensure that the patients are getting the care that they need if there are not enough workers to administer that care. This increases tension among patients and staff and creates a breeding ground for misconduct. Victims of abuse at these facilities are protected by a number of laws. They are able to see some measure of justice and accountability through a civil action.
Investigating Abuse at New Hampshire’s Disability System
We at DiBella Law are deeply concerned to hear about the widespread reports of abuse and mistreatment across New Hampshire’s disability system. It is deeply troubling that any state-run program would have so many glaring instances of serious harm involving patients. Any person that may have more information should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into all of the allegations made thus far.
Have you or a loved one suffered abuse involving New Hampshire’s state-run disability system? You may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Our team of experienced attorneys is here to support you. We are committed to helping people understand their rights and holding state agencies fully accountable for their abuse and other crimes. Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to help with your unique situation, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (617) 870-0907.