Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Every state in the U.S. operates facilities for the detention of juvenile criminal offenders who have been sentenced to incarceration or are awaiting adjudication. Recent investigations have revealed the sad reality that juvenile inmates in these detention facilities are commonly subjected to sexual abuse and assault committed by staff members who are supposed to protect them.

Thanks to new laws extending the statute of limitations in many states and increased public awareness of child sexual abuse, many victims of sex abuse in juvenile detention centers are now filing civil lawsuits and getting financial settlements. Our national sex abuse lawyers are currently seeking juvenile detention center sex abuse lawsuits from victims across the country. Contact us at 800-553-8082 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse News and Updates:

August 12, 2024 – Juvenile Detention Center Abuse Lawsuit in Oregon

A new detention center sex abuse lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Eugene Division, by a former juvenile inmate at Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) facilities, alleging violations of his Eighth Amendment rights due to cruel and unusual punishment.

The plaintiff’s suit claims that while incarcerated at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, two OYA employees engaged in coercive sexual relationships with him. One employee allegedly initiated a sexual relationship with the plaintiff over a period of ten months, facilitated by another staff member who failed to report the misconduct.

It did not stop there. Later, a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), identified as a licensed clinical social worker, was assigned to provide mental health support to the plaintiff following the earlier abuse. However, instead of offering appropriate care, the social worker allegedly groomed the plaintiff for a sexual relationship, further exacerbating the harm.

The plaintiff also asserts that OYA officials failed to enforce policies designed to prevent such abuse, which contributed to the environment that allowed these violations to occur. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, attorney’s fees, and further relief, and the plaintiff has demanded a jury trial.

July 13, 2024 – Lawsuit Alleges Female Staff Member Abused Inmates

A recently filed lawsuit alleges that a single female staff member at the Bronx Juvenile Jail facility sexually abused a group of 12 juvenile inmates. The lawsuit claims that the female staff member at the facility coerced the juvenile detainees into engaging in sexual activities with her while they were detained at the facility and under her care.

June 28, 2024 – $1.5 Million Settlement in New Hampshire

A $1.5 million settlement was reached for the first time under New Hampshire’s legislative fund, established to address allegations of physical and sexual assault at the state’s youth detention center. The state attorney general announced this resolution as part of an effort to resolve over 50 claims currently filed, with more expected. The Sununu Youth Services Center, previously known as the Youth Development Center, faced over 700 lawsuits alleging abuse spanning six decades. The $100 million settlement fund offers a victim-centered, trauma-informed alternative to litigation. Ten men were charged in 2021 for assaults between 1994 and 2007, with an additional man charged related to a pre-trial facility.

May 30, 2024 – Lawsuit Alleges Widespread Sex Abuse at Tulsa Juvenile Center

A newly filed civil lawsuit filed by 21 former juvenile inmates alleges that sexual abuse of juvenile detainees by staff was commonplace at the Tulsa County juvenile detention center called Family Center for Juvenile Justice. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit all allege that they were victims of sexual assault by staff members at the facility during their time there. The lawsuit also claims that the administration at the facility covered up and ignored the allegations of abuse.

May 15, 2024 – New Study on Juvenile Justice

A new study from Arizona State University found that juvenile justice involvement and teen dating violence (TDV) are risk factors for sex trafficking among detained girls. The study involved 111 female minors from two Arizona juvenile detention centers. It revealed that 42.3% of participants had experienced sex trafficking, and those who did were significantly more likely to report higher scores on the TDV scale.

May 6, 2024 – Lawsuit Sheds Light on Culture of Abuse at Illinois Youth Centers

A new lawsuit filed in Cook County, Illinois on behalf of nearly 100 former juvenile inmates shed light on an alleged culture of sexual abuse at various Illinois Youth Detention Centers. The lawsuit contains over 90 individual stories of juvenile inmates being forced into sexual activities with adult staff members while the victims were inmates in Youth Centers run by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.

About Juvenile Detention Facilities in the U.S.

All 50 states in the U.S. have the same general rules and policies with regard to dealing with criminal offenders who are juveniles (anyone under the age of 18 or 21, depending on state laws). Juvenile offenders are treated differently than adults. When juveniles are found guilty of criminal acts and sentenced to confinement or incarceration, they are housed in separate detention facilities for juvenile offenders.

These facilities are referred to as juvenile detention centers, juvenile halls, reform “schools,” and a host of other names. They all have the same basic premise. Just like adult offenders, juvenile detainees are “locked” up, meaning that they are not free to leave and their movements within the facility are restricted. Juvenile facilities vary in the level of security applied to residents, but in high-security level facilities, the detainees are usually locked in cells.

Detaining juveniles and operating juvenile detention center facilities is the duty and obligation of each state and/or its local counties or municipalities. Most larger states have a department of juvenile justice or dedicated state agency that is responsible for the administration of these facilities. These agencies have direct authority and control over the facilities. Many states, however, delegate this responsibility to private companies. The state basically pays these companies to operate and maintain its juvenile detention facilities.

According to recent data from the U.S. Department of Justice JFRC Databook, there are roughly 1,300 juvenile detention facilities across the U.S. The majority of these facilities (64%) are publicly operated by the state or local government. The remaining 37% of juvenile detention facilities are operated by private contractors. On an annual basis, about 200,000 juveniles are placed in detention facilities each year, with an average stay of 27 days.

Limited Oversight of Juvenile Detention Centers

Juvenile detention and juvenile justice services are entirely within the authority of the states, pursuant to their “police powers.” As a result, they get very little federal funding. This means there is little or no federal oversight of state juvenile justice administration. Instead, the state agencies are essentially left to police themselves.

Occasionally, the U.S. Department of Justice conducts surveys and investigations into conditions at juvenile justice facilities. The justification for this limited intrusion is to ensure that the constitutional and civil rights of juvenile detainees are not being violated. The DOJ reports almost always find evidence of widespread abuse of juvenile detainees, particularly rampant sexual abuse. However, the DOJ itself has limited power to step and in force state agencies to take action.

Sex Abuse at Juvenile Detention Centers

Juvenile detention centers across the U.S. have grappled for decades with high rates of staff-on-inmate sexual abuse. This issue has been extensively documented through numerous criminal cases against guards and staff accused of abuse, civil legal filings by survivors, and comprehensive investigations by local, state, and federal authorities.

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a series of reports detailing incidents of sexual victimization—defined as any sexual activity with staff and forced sexual activity with another youth—at nearly 200 juvenile detention facilities nationwide. These DOJ reports reveal alarmingly high rates of sexual victimization among youth in American juvenile detention centers. Here are some of the key findings from the DOJ:

DOJ investigation found that nearly 10% of juvenile detainees in detention facilities across the country reported being the victim of at least 1 incident of sexual abuse. That means 1 out of every 10 minors in juvenile detention centers is the victim of sexual abuse. Over 60% of the abuse was perpetrated by staff members.
Over a dozen individual juvenile detention center facilities were found to have reported sexual abuse rates of 15% or higher. Six of these facilities had sexual abuse rates higher than 30%.

These shocking findings reveal that both public and privately operated youth detention centers have long struggled to prevent sexual abuse, especially abuse committed by staff. They also highlight states and facilities where such abuse has been particularly pervasive. For example:

In Maryland, juvenile facilities across the state have reported rates of sexual victimization above the national average of approximately 12%. According to the DOJ’s 2010 report, the Backbone Mountain Youth Center in Swanton had a sexual victimization rate of over 36%. More about Maryland Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits.
In New York City, the Horizon Juvenile Center in the Bronx has been the focus of a federal investigation into sexual abuse by staff members. At least one staff member has been criminally charged, and the city has settled numerous cases arising from abuse at Horizon.
In Pennsylvania, the Cresson Secure Treatment Unit has been repeatedly identified for high rates of reported sexual victimization. The DOJ’s 2010 report found that 33% of respondents reported some type of sexual victimization while in custody.

New Laws Make Filing Sex Abuse Lawsuits Easier

In recent years, states across the country have enacted laws to make it easier for childhood sexual abuse survivors to seek the compensation they deserve. These new laws are based on well-established research showing the challenges sexual abuse survivors face in processing their trauma. It often takes years or even decades for survivors to understand the connection between their abuse and the resulting damages. Additionally, modern state laws have created various legal barriers for survivors seeking justice in the civil legal system.

Today, laws in an increasing number of states are providing unprecedented opportunities for child sexual abuse survivors to seek justice. Many of these laws extend the statute of limitations, giving survivors more time—sometimes years or decades—to file their claims. Some states have even eliminated the civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits entirely. Additionally, several states have included retroactive provisions, allowing survivors with previously time-barred claims to come forward.

For a detailed guide on the statute of limitations laws for child sexual abuse in each state, see our page on State Sex Abuse SOL Grades.

Settlement Value of Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits

The amount of money you can receive in a successful juvenile detention center sex abuse lawsuit depends on several factors. Here are the main considerations that can influence the potential settlement amount:

Strength of Evidence: Often, the victim’s testimony alone is enough to establish that abuse occurred. However, additional evidence substantiating the victim’s account can significantly increase the settlement value. It’s also crucial to provide evidence that the detention center or its staff were negligent in preventing the abuse. Demonstrating failures in the institution’s policies and procedures, which is common in many of these cases, can greatly strengthen your case.

Severity of Abuse: The extent of the sexual abuse inflicted on the victim plays a major role in determining the case’s value. Settlement amounts tend to be higher when there is a diagnosis of injury, PTSD, depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues. However, many strong claims exist even without objective injuries. Expert testimony from psychologists or psychiatrists can be used to assess the abuse’s impact.

Age of the Victim: The age at which the victim experienced abuse can also affect the settlement amount. Younger victims may receive higher settlements due to the long-term impact on their development and life trajectory.

What State You Are In: What state you file your lawsuit in is probably one of the most important factors for determining the potential value of a juvenile detention center sex abuse lawsuit. The reason for this is because the state is the defendant in these cases. Some states, are making a genuine effort to give victims of sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers fair compensation. Other states, by contrast, are taking are more defensive approach to these claims.

Contact Us About Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits

We are accepting juvenile detention center sex abuse lawsuits in all 50 states. Call us at 800-553-8082 or contact us online.