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WILLOWBROOK CASE, THE: PEOPLE VS. THE STATE OF NEW YORK (TV)

Summary

In this documentary, Geraldo Rivera follows up on his 1972 program that uncovered the horrifying conditions of the Willowbrook State Institution for the Mentally Ill. Rivera documents how the changes that were made since 1972 have not altered the living conditions for the patients, nor have they affected the treatment of the mentally ill statewide. In the format of a courtroom trial, Rivera sets out to prove that the state should be found guilty of crimes against the mentally ill and misuse of public funds. He lists past and present mistreatment of Willowbrook patients and tries to prove that the state has misspent the public's money on massive institutions that fail to meet the needs of the mentally ill. Topics discussed include the following: the fact that officials knew that halfway houses were more helpful and cost effective; New York residents' comments about the way patients were dismissed from institutions and had to fend for themselves without continued care; footage of the type of housing where the mentally ill have been forced to live; and the possibility of welfare fraud. Rivera's argument against the State of New York is supported with footage of the following: Sen. Robert Kennedy (D-N.Y.) talking about the horrible conditions of the Willowbrook Institution in 1965; naked boys in the children's ward sitting in their own feces; children in Willowbrook covered with bruises; released mental patients wandering the streets of New York City; empty wards; and the unacceptable housing that is provided, for a cost, to homeless mental patients. During the program, Rivera speaks with the following people about Willowbrook and other mental institutions statewide: Eleanor Janover, the parent of an abused Willowbrook patient; Dr. R. Natarajan, the deputy director of Willowbrook; Lance Galvin, the manager of the Bay Bright Hotel, where many mental patients reside; Richard Bjelland, a social worker; Joseph French, a resident of Long Beach; Hannah Komonoff, member of the Board of Supervisors; Dr. Henry Brill, the regional director of the Department of Mental Hygiene; Brenden Buschi, a member of an independent study group; Dr. Hugh La Faves, the director of the Oswald Institution; and Joseph Weingold, member of the Association for Retarded Children. The program concludes with footage of Governor-elect Hugh Carey talking with former Willowbrook patient Bernard Carabello, and of Governor Malcolm Wilson avoiding a discussion on the conditions at Willowbrook. Rivera also notes that community churches and other organizations are sponsoring programs that provide more effective help to the mentally ill than the services at state institutions. Commercials deleted.

Cataloging of this program has been made possible by Senator Roy M. Goodman.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: December 12, 1974 8:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:26:25
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:10839
  • GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries; Specials
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Hospitals; Insane - Commitment and detention; Medical ethics; Mental health facilities; Mentally ill - Abuse of; Public institutions
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1974
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Phil Nye … Executive Producer
  • Martin M. Berman … Producer
  • Geraldo Rivera … Producer, Writer
  • Peter Lance … Producer, Writer
  • Bill Beutel … Anchor
  • Geraldo Rivera … Reporter
  • Richard Bjelland … Guest
  • Henry Brill … Guest
  • Brenden Buschi … Guest
  • Joseph French … Guest
  • Lance Galvin … Guest
  • Eleanor Janover … Guest
  • Hannah Komonoff … Guest
  • La Faves, Hugh … Guest
  • R. Natarajan … Guest
  • Joseph Weingold … Guest
  • Bernard Carabello
  • Hugh Carey
  • Malcolm Wilson
  • Robert Kennedy