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An unprecedented 18-month investigation in which 50 interns took part in gathering reports and records nationwide exposing widespread problems at residential treatment centers nationwide that posed danger to children and teenager with severe emotional, mental and behavioral problems. The work, done parallel and in collaboration with a Chicago Tribune series on residential treatment centers, found children being brutally attacked, and underpaid staff ill-equipped to protect them; found staff, struggling to maintain control, at times seriously injuring youth they were charged with protecting; found children running away, posing dangers to themselves and to the surrounding community; and found facilities directing staff members to tone down reports so as to minimize the incidents that occurred.