If you or a loved one were sexually assaulted or abused while detained or confined at a juvenile detention center, you may be entitled to recover compensation from a juvenile detention center sexual abuse and assault lawsuit case or settlement claim.
A team of sex abuse injury lawyers and class action attorneys is investigating potential juvenile detention center sexual assault lawsuit and settlement cases of individuals who were sexually assaulted or abused while detained or confined at a juvenile detention center.
Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit: Overview
- What Are The Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits About?
- Who May Qualify For a Juve Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuit or Settlement?
- Who Are Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Victims?
- What Is Considered Sexual Abuse in a Juvenile Detention Center?
- Who Are Youth Detention Facility Sex Abuse Perpetrators?
- Who Can Be Held Accountable For Sex Abuse at Detention Centers?
- Which Juvenile Detention Centers Were Sued for Sex Abuse?
- What Injuries May Be Claimed In Youth Detention Center Lawsuits?
- Can I Recover Compensation From a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
- Is There A Deadline To File a Youth Detention Center Abuse Lawsuit?
- Request A Free Case Review From A Sexual Abuse Injury Lawyer
Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Cases & Settlement Claims
Juvenile detention center sex abuse lawsuit and settlement cases potentially being investigated include claims of individuals who, while confined in a juvenile detention center, were victims of sexual abuse:
- Sexual assault
- Sexual battery
- Child sexual abuse
- Sexual exploitation of a minor
- Sexual assault of a child or teen
- Physical assault
- Unwanted sexual touching
- Rape
- Attempted rape
- Non-consensual sexual penetration
- Attempted non-consensual sexual penetration
- Non-consensual kissing of a sexual body part
- Attempted kissing of a sexual body part
- Non-consensual touching of a sexual body part
- Attempted touching of a sexual body part
- Non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part
- Attempted kissing of a non-sexual body part
- Non-consensual touching of a non-sexual body part
- Attempted touching of a non-sexual body part
- Forced to perform sexual acts (e.g., oral sex, anal sex)
- Unwanted kissing or touching
- Groping or fondling of sexual body parts
- Masturbation/indecent exposure
- Sexual grooming of a minor
- Child molestation
- Pedophilic behavior
- Sexual harassment
- Showing pornographic material to a detainee
- Sexually explicit notes, emails, or messages to a detainee
- Sexual gestures
- Verbal threat of sexual assault
- Other forms of sexual assault or abuse
- Retaliation for refusing sexual advances or reporting abuse
- Other sexual misconduct
- Other juvenile detention center injury lawsuit cases
Sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers can include any unwanted or non-consensual sexual act, contact or behavior (e.g., vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse; penetration with any object; inappropriate intentional sexual touching of genitals, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, buttocks; sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, coercion, forced acts, harassment, voyeurism, exploitation or verbal assaults of a sexual nature, etc.) by staff members, guards, other detainees and/or others.
If you or someone you love were sexually assaulted, battered, harassed or abused while confined at a juvenile detention center, you may be eligible to recover monetary compensation from a juvenile detention center sexual abuse injury lawsuit or settlement case.
Sexual Abuse and Assault Lawsuit Complaints Against Juvenile Detention Facilities
Thousands of current and former detainees at juvenile detention centers have filed lawsuits against juvenile hall detention facilities and others seeking to recover money damages for injuries suffered as a result of being sexually assaulted, harassed, battered, or abused by detention center staff and/or other detainees at youth detention centers.
Sex abuse lawsuits against juvenile detention facilities have alleged:
- Sexual Abuse By Detention Center Staff. Juvenile detention center staff members (guards, counselors, medical workers, etc.) have been accused of various forms of sexual abuse, including sexual assault, rape, coercion of sex via threats and manipulation, groping, sexual comments, and other sexual misconduct.
- Failure of Facility to Protect Detainees Against Sexual Abuse. Many juvenile detention facility lawsuits have alleged that a detention center knew or should have known about sexual abuse at their facility but failed to implement appropriate safeguards, policies, or procedures to protect minors from sexual abuse by staff or other detainees due to inadequate supervision, lack of proper staff training, and/or failure to screen staff for prior misconduct, among others;
- Negligent Supervision of Staff. Some sex abuse lawsuits assert that staff failed to monitor youth, allowing abuse to happen in isolated areas of a facility (showers, cells, medical rooms) and/or during transports or unsupervised interactions (such as during one-on-one sessions that weren’t supposed to happen privately).
- Negligent Hiring of Staff. Some sex abuse lawsuits also allege that an offending facility hired staff with prior misconduct, criminal records, or red flags (i.e., the facility ignored references or past complaints from other jobs) or failed to run proper background checks.
- Negligent Training of Staff. Juve hall sex abuse lawsuits also allege that staff were not properly trained on recognizing and preventing sexual abuse, on handling allegations or reports of sexual misconduct and/or on maintaining professional boundaries with minors.
- Failure to Investigate and Respond to Reports of Sexual Abuse. Sexual assault lawsuits have also alleged that when sexual abuse was reported, the facility did not take proper and/or timely action to investigate the sexual assault claims and/or remove or discipline the alleged sexual abuser (i.e., complaints of sexual abuse were ignored, downplayed, or not properly investigated and reported to authorities).
- Sexual Abuse Cover-Ups. Some juvie hall sexual assault lawsuits have asserted that youth detention facilities actively concealed or covered up incidents of sexual abuse. Victims were silenced or punished when they reported sexual abuse and were discouraged from contacting parents or legal advocates.
- Retaliation, Threats and Intimidation To Silence Victims. Allegations have been made in some sex abuse lawsuits that staff members threatened detainees with beatings, solitary confinement or isolation, transfers to harsher facilities, loss of privileges, further harm or longer sentences if they reported the sexual abuse.
- Bribery and Rewards. Allegations have also been made in sexual abuse lawsuits that detainees were offered incentives such as extra food, cigarettes, or privileges for remaining silent about the abuse.
- Systemic Culture of Sex Abuse At Juvenile Detention Centers. Some youth detention center lawsuits have asserted that sexual abuse and misconduct was widespread, ongoing, and enabled by the systems and culture in place at the detention facility (i.e., a culture of sexual abuse was allowed to flourish within the facilities due to inadequate policies, oversight, and enforcement).
Juvenile detention center sex abuse lawsuit complaints have asserted various legal claims (a/k/a counts or causes of action) including, among other things, negligence, negligent supervision of a minor, sexual abuse of a minor, negligent hiring, supervision and retention of an unfit employee, negligent failure to warn, train or educate, breach of fiduciary duty, intentional infliction of emotional distress, vicarious liability (respondent superior), sexual assault, battery, conspiracy and violation of various state and/or federal statutes.
Plaintiffs in the youth detention center sex abuse lawsuits have sought to recover compensatory damages, including economic damages (such as medical expenses, loss of income, therapy costs, etc.) and non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, punitive and exemplary damages, interest, costs of suit and/or attorneys’ fees.).
Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Victims
Juvenile detention center sexual abuse victims can include:
- Detainees
- Inmates
- Youths in detention
- Minors in custody
- Young persons in custody
- Residents
- Offenders
- Juvenile delinquents
- Pre-adjudicated youths
- Respondents
- Youths awaiting hearing
- Youths awaiting placement
- Other institutional sex abuse victims
Who Can Be Held Accountable for Sex Abuse
Potential defendants in a youth detention center sex abuse lawsuit who may be held liable can include:
- Individual staff members who perpetrated the sex abuse
- Supervisors or administrators who ignored or enabled the abuse
- Juvenile detention centers where abuse took place
- State or county governments that own or control facilities
- Private companies that operate detention centers
- Other possible sex abuse defendants
Sex Abuse Perpetrators at Youth Detention Centers
In juvenile detention center abuse cases, perpetrators can include:
- Juvenile corrections officers
- Other correctional officers
- Detention officers
- Guards
- Youth counselors
- Youth specialists
- Juvenile justice specialists
- Medical staff
- Nurses
- Doctors
- Psychologists
- Educators or teachers
- Tutors
- Religious staff
- Chaplains
- Kitchen staff
- Supervisors
- Administrators
- Volunteers
- Other prison or jail staff
- Other detention center facility staff
- Other detainees
- Other types of sexual abusers
Youth Detention Facilities Sued For Sexual Abuse
A significant number of juvenile detention centers and residential treatment centers across the United States have reportedly been subject to accusations or lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, including, for example:
- Crossroads Juvenile Center (Bronx, New York)
- Spofford Juvenile Detention Center (Bronx, New York)
- Bridges Juvenile (Bronx, New York)
- Horizon Juvenile Center (Bronx, New York)
- Rikers Island (Bronx, New York)
- Brookwood Secure Center for Youth (New York)
- Illinois Youth Centers (IYCs) (Illinois)
- Illinois Youth Center (St. Charles, Illinois)
- Illinois Youth Center (Joliet, Illinois)
- Illinois Youth Center (Warrenville, Illinois)
- Illinois Youth Center (Harrisburg, Illinois)
- Illinois Youth Center (Kewanee, Illinois)
- Illinois Youth Center (Murphysboro, Illinois)
- Illinois Youth Center Pere Marquette (Grafton, Illinois)
- Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (Chicago, Illinois)
- Arthur J. Audy Home (Chicago, Illinois)
- Knox County Mary Davis Detention Home (Illinois)
- Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center (Illinois)
- St. Clair County Juvenile Detention Center (Illinois)
- River Valley Juvenile Detention Center (Illinois)
- Valley View Detention Center (Illinois)
- Pavilion Behavioral Health System (Champaign, Illinois)
- Chicago Lakeshore Hospital (Illinois)
- Rock River Academy (Illinois)
- Riveredge Hospital (Illinois)
- Timberline Knolls (Illinois)
- Hartgrove Hospital (Illinois)
- Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System (Illinois)
- Maryville Academy (Illinois)
- Charles H. Hickey Jr. School (Baltimore County, Maryland)
- Cheltenham Youth Facility (Rosaryville, Maryland)
- Victor Cullen Center (Sabillasville, Maryland)
- Thomas Waxter Children’s Center (Laurel, Maryland)
- McDonogh School (Owings Mills, Maryland)
- Carson Valley Children’s Aid (Flourtown, Pennsylvania)
- Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center (Lima, Pennsylvania)
- Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health (Villanova, Pennsylvania)
- Northwestern Academy (Shamokin, Pennsylvania)
- Presbyterian Children’s Village (Pennsylvania)
- St. Gabriel’s Hall (Audubon, Archdiocese of Philadelphia)
- VisionQuest (Pennsylvania)
- Loysville Youth Development Center (Loysville, Pennsylvania)
- North Central Secure Treatment Unit (Danville, Pennsylvania)
- South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
- Summit Academy (Butler, Pennsylvania)
- George Junior Republic (Grove City, Pennsylvania)
- Abraxas Youth & Family Services (Erie/Marienville, Pennsylvania)
- Maple Lane School (Washington)
- Echo Glen Children’s Center (Washington)
- Green Hill School (Chehalis, Washington)
- Naselle Youth Camp (Washington)
- Los Angeles County juvenile detention facilities (California)
- Central Juvenile Hall (California)
- Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall (California)
- Nidorf Juvenile Hall (California)
- Camp Kilpatrick (California)
- Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) facilities (Oregon)
- MacLaren Youth Correctional Center (Woodburn, Oregon)
- Gainesville State School (Gainesville, Texas)
- Giddings State School (Giddings, Texas)
- Dallas Juvenile Detention Center (Texas)
- Campbell Regional Detention Center (Newport, Kentucky)
- Minnesota Correctional Facility (Red Wing, Minnesota)
- Sununu Youth Services Center (Manchester, New Hampshire)
- New Jersey Training School (Monroe Township, New Jersey)
- Middlesex County juvenile detention centers (New Jersey)
- Morris County juvenile detention centers (New Jersey)
- Augusta Youth Development Campus (Augusta, Georgia)
- Hillcrest Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio)
- Other juvenile detention facilities
- Other youth residential treatment centers
Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Injury Cases
Juvenile detention center sex abuse injury lawsuit cases potentially being investigated include claims involving individuals who were sexually assaulted or abuse while incarcerated at youth detention facility and have suffered injury, damage, complications and other effects of sexual violence, including:
- Physical injury
- Physical pain
- Psychological harm
- Emotional injury
- Feeling violated
- Feeling humiliated
- Feeling degraded
- Feeling shame
- Feeling guilt
- Feeling angry
- Being robbed of dignity
- Fearful of personal safety
- Mistrusting of others
- Anxiety
- Depression or sadness
- Feelings of isolation or helplessness
- Loss of sense of self
- Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sexual trauma
- Flashbacks of the assault
- Nightmares
- Panic attacks
- Uncontrollable thoughts
- Suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide
- Other mental health conditions
- Genital or anal bleeding
- Bruising
- Difficulty walking
- Sexually transmitted infection
- Sexually transmitted disease
- Dyspareunia
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Urinary tract infection
- Sexual dysfunction
- Eating disorder
- Sleep disorder
- Substance abuse
- Need for medical treatment
- Need for therapy
- Need for hospitalization
- Incurring of medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Other sexual assault injury or complications
Trauma experienced during confinement can have profound and lasting effects on sex abuse survivors, including severe emotional distress, anxiety, and depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), difficulty forming healthy relationships, substance abuse, self-harm and suicidal ideation, and feelings of shame, guilt, and isolation, among others.
Recover Compensation For Sex Abuse Injury Claims
Plaintiffs who bring juvenile detention center sexual abuse and assault lawsuits may be able to recover compensation for injuries suffered, including money damages for losses incurred as a result of being sexually abused while detained at a youth detention center, such as:
- Compensatory damages for pain and suffering
- Loss of wages or earnings due to missed work
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Medical care expenses incurred or to be incurred
- Other out of pocket expenses
- Loss of quality or enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish/emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Other possible sexual assault damages
Non-economic damages may be awarded to compensate sexual assault victims for pain, suffering, emotional distress, and psychological harm caused by sexual abuse, including long-term trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health consequences resulting from the abuse. Economic damages may be awarded to compensate sex abuse survivors for financial losses incurred due to abuse, including costs for medical treatment, therapy or counseling, lost wages if the victim is no longer able to work (or suffered a long-term impact on their ability to work), and out-of-pocket expenses related to the sexual abuse.
The amount of money that sex abuse victims might recover in a lawsuit can depend on, among other things, the nature, severity and duration of the sexual abuse, the strength of the evidence (reports, doctor’s notes, credible witnesses, or prior incidents involving the abuser), the age and vulnerability of the sex abuse victim, the impact the sexual abuse has had on the victim, the degree of culpability of the defendants (e.g., prior knowledge of abuse, cover-ups, systemic failures to protect minors), and the ability of defendants to pay a substantial judgment (i.e., the assets or insurance coverage of defendants).
Time Is Limited To File A Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit Claim
There are legal deadlines known as statutes of limitation and statutes of repose that may limit the time that sexual abuse survivors have to file a sex abuse lawsuit to try to recover compensation for injury and harm suffered from being sexually abused at juvenile detention center.
This means that if a juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawsuit claim is not filed before the legal deadline or limitations period, the injured party may be barred from ever pursuing litigation or taking legal action regarding their sexual abuse injury claim. That is why it is important to connect with a juvenile detention center sexual assault injury lawyer or attorney as soon as possible.
If you or a loved one were a victim of sexual abuse while confined in a juvenile detention center, you may be entitled to recover compensation from a juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawsuit case or settlement claim. Contact a sexual assault injury lawyer to request a free confidential case review.
*If you or a loved one are experiencing physical or mental health issues or complications as a result of sexual assault or abuse, we urge you to promptly consult with your doctor, physician or therapist for an evaluation.
**The listing of a juvenile detention center is not meant to state or imply that it acted illegally or improperly; rather only that an investigation may be, is or was being conducted to determine whether legal rights have been violated.
***The use of any trademarks, tradenames or service marks is solely for product identification and/or informational purposes.
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