Emails sent to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) as part of a discrimination complaint against the Department of Social Services (DSS) were deleted without being read according to documents provided to Inside Investigator.
David Medeiros filed a discrimination complaint with the CHRO in March 2023, but “due to an administrative error the service was delayed.” DSS did not receive notice of the complaint until December 15, 2023. The complaint and supporting documentation were sent to former DSS commissioner Deidre Gifford by CHRO administrative assistant Dedra Morris on December 15. Current DSS commissioner Andrea Reeves, who was carbon copied on the original email, replied three days later directing any further communication in the case to her or DSS’ legal director.
A printed notice informing DSS of the complaint was also addressed to Gifford as the DSS commissioner.
On December 23, Medeiros responded to the email chain, asking for an introduction to state employees who were tagged on it.
However, emails sent by Medeiros to multiple ct.gov email addresses were deleted without being read according to read receipts. Emails sent on December 15 to the CHRO’s eastern regional office and to the Office of Public Hearings, the CHRO division that handles public hearings in contested discrimination cases, were deleted without being read.
On December 16, 2023, Medeiros submitted a complaint against the CHRO based on the handling of the case.
“It has come to my attention that CHRO is engaging in practices that undermine my rights for accommodation and ability to self-advocate. CHRO has been presenting and documenting false information as fact, manipulating and misinforming facts, and hindering the pursuit of justice.” Medeiros wrote.
He also expressed concern about communications about the filing of the complaint being addressed to Gifford.
“CHRO’s documentation fails to recognize this change and in fact is addressed to Dr. Deidre S. Gifford, who is NOT the Connecticut Department of Social Services Commissioner. This raises serious concerns about the accuracy and credibility of CHRO’s records and processes.” Medeiros wrote.
In another whistleblower retaliation complaint Medeiros filed with CHRO, also filed on December 13, he was directed by Kimberly Morris to fill out an attached complaint, notarize it and have it sent back. Medeiros and Morris exchanged a series of emails related to his request for accommodation with filling out the form.
In one email, sent from Morris’ ct.gov address, the email was signed “Cherron.”
Medeiros sought clarification as to who was responding to his email, including their name, title, and contact information but received no response.
Following up on both complaints, Medeiros sent numerous follow up emails, both seeking clarification on their status and the individuals involved and demanding that what he alleged were discriminatory practices be immediately addressed.
On February 2, 2023, an email sent to Morris was deleted without being read according to read receipts. Neither case has been resolved.
A 2023 audit by the Auditors of Public Accounts, covering fiscal years 2021 and 2022, found that CHRO does not have sufficient information technology to support discrimination cases, as well as other type of cases it handles. The audit also found that CHRO was unable to document that it met statutory timelines for affirmative action plans submitted by contractors because it “did not track the date that the plans were approved or disapproved.” The same audit also found that 53 percent of discrimination cases it reviewed failed to hold a hearing within the 45 days required by state statute.
It also found several other instances where CHRO was not following timelines laid out in discrimination cases, including in 7 discrimination cases where an investigator was assigned between 8 and 91 days late and 18 discrimination cases where a final determination was made between 31 and 389 days late.
CHRO has previously told Inside Investigator that it does not track cases in which evidence is lost.
In its annual report to the governor for fiscal year 2024, CHRO states that it processed 4,448 discrimination cases this fiscal year. Of those complaints, 431 were pending for more than 490 days at the close of the fiscal year. In addition, 386 complaints took longer than 490 days to close. The commission processed 18 percent of complaints this fiscal year.
CHRO notes an investigator can make two requests for a three-month extension to investigate a complaint.
“As a general matter, many of the requests were made by newer staff. The Commission has hired a large number of new staff throughout the agency. Less experienced staff typically take longer to process complaints, resulting in additional processing times. While the extension requests do not reference the longer processing times for newer investigators, the fact that many of the requests come from newer staff is reflective of the generally longer processing times of newer investigators.” CHRO wrote.
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Thank you, Katherine Revello and Inside Investigator, for shedding light on this critical issue. Your commitment to uncovering systemic challenges and holding institutions accountable is a force for the greatest good. Vulnerable populations and their families face immense challenges in navigating and advocating within taxpayer-funded systems designed to protect their rights. The complexities of these systems often become insurmountable barriers, effectively silencing those who need support the most. It is unconscionable that the very agencies tasked with upholding civil rights and equity fail in their fundamental duties, as highlighted in this report.
The deletion of emails without being read, mismanagement of cases, and systemic inefficiencies not only undermine public trust but also represent a violation of constitutional rights. Disabled individuals and their families should never bear the burden of these failures, especially when state services are funded by taxpayers for their benefit. When the government disregards its obligations, it sets a dangerous precedent, eroding accountability and perpetuating inequities.
This broken system must change. Connecticut’s government and its agencies, such as CHRO and DSS, cannot operate above the law. Robust reforms are needed to ensure transparency, compliance with statutory obligations, and respect for the civil rights of all individuals. Vulnerable populations deserve a system that works for them, not against them. Thank you again for amplifying this critical issue and advocating for justice.
David Medeiros
ABI Resources
DB.42.131.Inf.
The system is not broken because the 4 filed cases against the Department of Developmental Services, ware the Department of Developmental Services abuses people labeled autistic, were processed and the actions taken are disturbing because CHRO ignores abuse of people labeled autistic, participants in coverups of illegal activities conducted by corrupt Connecticut state workers, which CHRO itself is corrupt because they won’t do their job, as paid by the citizens of Connecticut.
Its time to address all illegal activities conducted by corrupt Connecticut state workers because our taxes don’t pay for deliberate corruption.
Plus CHRO took 3 more of me cases filed in 2023 and refuses to complete them, because the governor of Connecticut is solely responsible for the corruption conducted at CHRO, seeing it is a Connecticut state agency, which the corrupt Connecticut attorney generals office fights to protect when defending other corrupt Connecticut state workers, especially those who work at the corrupt Department of Developmental Services, with CHRO mediation participants from the Connecticut attorney generals office. I have miles of documents and court transcripts.
There’s a problem here,
Joseph
Trust in or government agencies is bad enough, but to blatantly give us evidence that even the ones that are tasked to help us when we need it most, are neglecting those duties is truly, truly disheartening, but not surprising as it may seem…. Good job uncovering this example, and having the will to do what’s right.
I also filed a complaint with CHRO recently against the Department of Social Services. My complaint was forwarded to Deidre Gifford, who is not currently the Commissioner of DSS. It’s absolutely horrifying that even after this story was printed, my complaint was forwarded to the wrong Commissioner as well. It concerns me greatly that this has happened again.