Lawsuit Information Center
The Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF) in San Diego was supposed to offer structure, care, and a second chance to court-involved girls. Instead, civil lawsuits and survivor accounts reveal a deeply troubling reality: a facility that allowed sworn officers to use their positions of authority to sexually exploit the very minors they were charged with protecting.
As more survivors come forward, a clearer picture has emerged of a juvenile justice system plagued by abuse, cover-ups, and systemic failures. These lawsuits seek to hold the County of San Diego and the San Diego Probation Department accountable for the sexual assaults that allegedly occurred under their watch.
If you or someone you love was sexually abused while held in a juvenile detention center in San Diego County, you may have the right to file a San Diego juvenile hall lawsuit. These lawsuits seek accountability from county-run facilities that failed to protect minors in their care. These cases are primarily about settlement compensation, and our lawyers believe that a San Diego settlement is forthcoming sooner rather than later. But for victims at places like the Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility, it is often not only about compensation. It is about exposing institutional failures and protecting others from similar harm.
Our sex abuse lawyers are currently accepting cases involving sex abuse at San Diego Juvenile Hall and other facilities. Call us at 800-553-8082 or contact us online to schedule a complimentary consultation. We will make it easy for you to sign up, and there are no fees unless you win.
A Culture of Abuse at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF)
The Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF) is a juvenile detention center located at 2861 Meadow Lark Drive, San Diego, CA 92123. Operated by the San Diego County Probation Department, GRF opened in 1990 with the goal of providing court-involved girls with structure, rehabilitation, and a second chance. The 50-bed facility housed girls ranging from approximately 13 to 18 years old, many of whom entered the system due to family instability, trauma, or low-level offenses.
But for far too many young women placed in the Girls Rehabilitation Facility’s custody, the facility became the site of systemic abuse, coercion, and betrayal. Recent lawsuits allege a disturbing pattern of sexual misconduct committed by correctional officers and probation staff, revealing a deeply flawed system that failed the very children it was meant to protect.
Abuse Behind Locked Doors
Girls detained at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility were uniquely vulnerable. Isolated from family and advocates, they lived under strict supervision and control—yet the staff assigned to care for them were given unsupervised, intimate access, particularly during strip searches, showers, late-night room checks, and disciplinary interactions. According to survivor complaints, these moments were repeatedly exploited by some officers for sexual gratification.
One survivor, for example, has alleged that a uniformed officer groped her genitalia under the pretense of handing her a broom. When she reported the incident, the officer in question wasn’t disciplined—he was merely transferred to a different unit, a decision that survivors say enabled continued abuse of other girls.
A Climate of Grooming, Threats, and Retaliation
Multiple survivors describe patterns of grooming, where staff members gradually normalized inappropriate behavior and blurred boundaries through compliments, excessive attention, or veiled threats. When girls resisted or reported abuse, they were allegedly met with retaliation: loss of privileges, transfers, threats, or indifference.
Staff allegedly took advantage of the power imbalance inherent in youth detention. Complaints were often dismissed, ignored, or deliberately buried. Some survivors say they were told they wouldn’t be believed, especially when accusing sworn officers. Surveillance cameras were reportedly not reviewed or used to corroborate claims, further allowing predatory behavior to persist unchecked.
Systemic Failure and County Accountability
Like other San Diego juvenile facilities, Girls Rehabilitation Facility was legally required to provide a “safe and supportive home-like environment” under California’s Welfare and Institutions Code. However, lawsuits allege that county officials failed to meet even the most basic standards of care, instead tolerating misconduct through lax supervision, negligent hiring, and a failure to act on credible allegations.
As early as 2014, the Youth Law Center filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice, flagging serious civil rights violations in San Diego’s juvenile detention system—including noncompliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). PREA sets national standards for preventing, detecting, and responding to sexual abuse in confinement settings. Violations cited included insufficient staff-to-youth ratios and inappropriate supervision of youth on suicide watch by staff of the opposite sex.
Despite these warnings, allegations of sexual assault at GRF and other facilities continued for years—suggesting a broader culture of indifference and institutional protectionism that prioritized the system’s image over children’s safety.
Part of a Larger Pattern Across San Diego Facilities
The abuse at GRF is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader pattern of alleged misconduct across San Diego’s juvenile facilities. Officers named in lawsuits—such as Officers Radovich, Gonzales, and Weatherspoon—are accused of sexually assaulting boys and girls at multiple county-run centers, including:
- Camp Barrett (closed in 2018)
- Rancho Del Campo Juvenile Ranch (closed)
- East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (EMJDF)
- Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (KMJDF)
- Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF)
According to court filings, these officers used the same tactics: isolating victims, exploiting their emotional vulnerability, and weaponizing their roles as guardians and authority figures. These were not single incidents. Many survivors describe repeated abuse over the course of months or even years.
Legal Allegations Against the County of San Diego
The lawsuits allege that San Diego County is liable for:
- Negligent hiring, training, and supervision of known or suspected abusers.
- Failure to provide a safe environment as required under California law and the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
- Civil rights violations under the Bane Act and the Gender Violence Act.
- Vicarious liability for the sexual abuse committed by staff acting under the color of authority.
Plaintiffs argue that the County not only failed to prevent abuse but also actively concealed or ignored complaints, contributing to a culture of impunity. The Youth Law Center even flagged San Diego’s juvenile system to the U.S. Department of Justice for civil rights violations in 2014, citing PREA noncompliance and unsafe conditions, including opposite-gender staff conducting strip searches and supervising vulnerable youth.
California Statute of Limitations for GRF Sex Abuse Lawsuits
If you were sexually abused while in custody at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility in San Diego, your right to file a civil lawsuit may still be valid, even if the abuse happened years ago. California has expanded its statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse, giving many people a new opportunity to pursue justice.
However, there is still a statute of limitations that you have to overcome. The statute of limitations is the legal deadline for filing a civil lawsuit. If you wait too long and the deadline expires, you may lose the right to sue, even if the abuse occurred and there is strong evidence.
California law provides different time limits depending on whether the abuse occurred when the victim was a child or an adult.
Civil Lawsuits for Childhood Sexual Abuse at GRF
Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1, if you were under the age of 18 at the time you were sexually abused at GRF, you can generally file a lawsuit any time before your 40th birthday. This is based on changes to California law passed in recent years that give childhood sexual abuse survivors more time to come forward..
Who We Can Help in GRF Sex Abuse Cases
We want to help every survivor who reaches out. No one should have to carry the pain of abuse alone, and every survivor deserves to be heard, believed, and supported. But our sex abuse lawyers are sometimes limited by California law and the evidence requirements necessary to advance a case in court.
To ensure we can provide the strongest support possible, our sex abuse lawyers focus on cases that meet the following criteria. If you are unsure whether you qualify, contact us. We will listen and do our best to point you in the right direction.
What Are Settlement Amounts in San Diego Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuits?
If you or a loved one suffered sexual abuse while in custody at a juvenile facility in San Diego County — especially at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF) — you may be wondering what kind of compensation other survivors have received. It is one of the most common and reasonable questions: “What is my case worth?”
The short answer is that there is no fixed amount. Every case is different, and the value of a lawsuit depends on many factors — the strength of the evidence, how severely the facility failed to protect you, and how deeply the trauma has affected your life.
GRF in particular has come under scrutiny over the years, with survivors reporting abuse by both staff and other detained youth. These are not isolated incidents. When county officials and juvenile detention leadership fail to intervene, cover up complaints, or allow dangerous staff to remain in contact with vulnerable youth, the facility can be held legally and financially responsible.
Below is a general overview of what past cases involving abuse in juvenile detention facilities — including GRF — have settled for. These are not guaranteed figures, but they offer a realistic view of what financial compensation has looked like for other survivors:
These numbers reflect patterns from prior lawsuits, not promises. Some cases settle outside these ranges, depending on the specific circumstances. What matters most is the strength of your story, the facts supporting it, and the commitment of the legal team representing you.
If you were abused at GRF or another San Diego juvenile facility, you are not alone, and you may be entitled to justice and compensation. We encourage survivors to reach out, even if they are unsure whether they have a case. There is no risk in having a conversation. There is only the possibility of closure, accountability, and healing.
Our Girls Rehabilitation Facility Sex Abuse Eligibility Criteria
We are currently reviewing San Diego detention center sex abuse lawsuits for survivors who meet the following:
We Are Here to Help
Our team of attorneys is committed to seeking justice for those who were sexually abused while in juvenile detention in San Diego County. We understand how difficult it can be to come forward. That is why we’ve created a confidential, trauma-informed intake process to support survivors every step of the way. We want to make this easy and painless as possible for you.
If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility —or any San Diego juvenile facility—please contact us. You may have the right to file a civil lawsuit and pursue compensation, but legal deadlines apply. Our lawyers are here to listen and help you understand your options.
Contact Us
Reach out to us confidentially by calling 800-553-8082 or visiting our confidential online contact page.