More cases like Atalissa possible, Iowa official says
April 7th, 2009From AP/Houston Chronicle, Cedar Rapids [IA] Gazette:
The head of an Iowa task force says there could be more cases in the state in which people with intellectual disabilities are being exploited. John McCalley urged the legislature to authorize additional regulations to help authorities intervene if abuse is detected.
The task force was created to investigate after 21 men with intellectual disabilities were evacuated from a battered bunkhouse in Atalissa. They had been employed for decades by a meat processing company for as little as 44 cents per hour.
McCalley said the task force is not considering penalizing local elected officials who ignore or fail to detect situations like the one in Atalissa. The bunkhouse was owned by the city of Atalissa, but officials there said they were unaware of the conditions.
A criminal investigation is continuing.

