hello-my name is michael episcopo,-and my petition is to make the state change new lisbon developmental center in new jersey to a more safer,cleaner,and more caring family oriented facility---it should be monitered daily by undercover state officials and there should hidden cameras for the safety of everyone---the employees there should only be extensively schooled and licensed before starting work,-and extensive backround checks should be done before being hired---if the violence,abuse,and deaths can not be stopped and the facility changed for the better permanently,-then i petition that new lisbon developmental centers doors be closed forever---this is my reason for this petition--- my brother -john t. episcopo-was a resident in new lisbon from 1991 to 1993---on 7-24-1993-he was allowed to go on an unsupervised walk of the facilities---the employees could not find him for over 12 hours---when they did find him he was dead,-locked in the back of one of new lisbons police transport cars---they said he died of extreme heat exposure and asphixiation that caused brain seizures---they said it was an accident and that he must have locked himself in that car---my brother had told my family that he was being beat,-threatened,-and abused by employees and residents---when my family questioned new lisbon,-they said he had an active imagination caused by the medications he was taking and that he was hurting himself for attention---i never beleived in my heart that his death was an accident,-or that he was hurting himself---i am still looking for the truth,-but still have not been able to prove my beliefs---since my brothers death,-there have been hundreds of unexplained abuses and numerous unexplained deaths at new lisbon---i want to petition that new lisbon be changed to a more caring and safe facility that is monitered constantly by state officials and cameras on a daily basis--- and it should also have only certified and licensed employees that have had extensive backround checks and show that they care about the residents---if this does not happen immediately,-before any other deaths or abuses occur,-then i petition that new lisbon be shut down for good---thank you for your help with my petition---sincerely---michael episcopo

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