Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse Lawsuits

On this page, we will look at civil lawsuits brought by victims of sexual abuse at the Kearny Mesa juvenile detention center facility in San Diego. Kearn Mesa closed several years ago, but countless juvenile inmates may have been sexually abused there over the years.

About Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility

The Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (“KMJDF” or “Kearny Mesa”) was a maximum security juvenile detention center in San Diego County. KMJDF first opened in the 1950s and it became the primary long-term detention facility for juvenile offenders.

Over the last decade, a major push for reforms in the juvenile justice system led to the closure of the original Kearny Mesa detention facility. In October 2024, however, a brand new juvenile “rehabilitation” and training facility was opened on the same site that KMJDF used to occupy. The new facility, called the Youth Transition Campus, has a much more progressive atmosphere and focus.

Other Juvenile Detention Facilities in San Diego County

We are currently investigating cases involving sexual abuse of inmates at juvenile detention facilities throughout San Diego County, including:

• Rancho Del Campo Juvenile Ranch: Known for routine and unjustified pepper spray use against minors—used as a pretext to force children into showers where sexual abuse occurred.
• East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility: Still operational, with allegations of continued misconduct.
• Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF): A 50-bed facility also facing scrutiny.
• San Diego Juvenile Detention Facilities

Many staff and correctional officers at these facilities exploited their positions of power, manipulating and abusing detained youth through threats, coercion, and physical force. These were not isolated or spontaneous incidents; the lawsuits allege repeated assaults over time, enabled by systemic failures in hiring, supervision, and oversight.

Sexual Abuse of Juveniles at Kearny Mesa Juvenile Hall

Sexual abuse of inmates at juvenile facilities in San Diego County was a major issue for many decades. Nearly all of the facilities are operated by the San Diego County Probation Department (SDCPD). However, Kearny Mesa was one of the worst facilities in terms of abuse of inmates.

Countless juvenile inmates were sexually abused and exploited at Kearny Mesa during its decades of operation. In most cases, this abuse was perpetrated by the correctional officers and staff members at the facility who were supposed to be protecting the inmates. These abusers exploited their positions of authority and their access to the juvenile inmates to force and coerce them into sexual acts that they were not legally capable of consenting to.

Staff members and officers at Kearny Mesa had regular unsupervised or monitored access to juvenile inmates in very private and vulnerable settings, such as during strip searches and showers. Perpetrators of the abuse would use this access and the lack of oversight to abuse victims in various ways.

Abusers at Kearny Mesa used a combination of threats and “perks” to coerce juvenile inmates into engaging in sexual acts. Inmates would be threatened with loss of freedoms or other punishments if they refused sexual advances. Simultaneously, those inmates who did comply were given special favors and privileges.

Most inmates at Kearny Mesa came from unstable homes, struggled with learning or behavioral challenges, or simply needed the support and services

the juvenile justice system claimed it would provide. Instead of receiving help, they were retraumatized in a facility that was supposed to offer protection and rehabilitation.

Negligence By SDCPD

Like all juvenile facilities in San Diego County, Kearny Mesa was under the operational control and authority of the San Diego County Probation Department (SDCPD). SDCPD has full control over everything that occurred at Kearny Mesa, including who was hired, how they were trained, and what level of supervision they had.

SDCPD had a legal duty to ensure that juvenile inmates at Kearny Mesa were reasonably safe from sexual abuse and assault. Unfortunately, SDCPD neglected this duty in many ways, including hiring practices, staff training, supervision, and institutional oversight.

SDCPD was negligent in its hiring and training of employees. It was also negligent in how it trained correctional officers and for failing to adopt an effective method of supervising and monitoring staff contact with juvenile inmates.

SDCPD was also habitually negligent in failing to properly investigate complaints about staff abuse of inmates. Complaints of staff abuse brought by juvenile inmates were consistently ignored or disregarded with no investigation whatsoever. This enabled abusers to act without fear of any consequences.

The San Diego County Probation Department is now facing allegations of gross negligence in its hiring, retention, and supervision of officers accused of abuse:

• The County either knew or should have known about prior misconduct by certain staff members.
• Youth were housed in unsafe environments that failed to meet constitutional protections and violated the standards set forth by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
• Despite reports and red flags, officials failed to investigate or intervene, allowing known abusers continued access to vulnerable minors.

Who Can File a San Diego Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Case?

If you were sexually abused at a San Diego County juvenile detention center, you may have the right to file a civil lawsuit—even if the abuse happened years ago. These lawsuits are not just about individual perpetrators. They are about the failure of institutions like the San Diego County Probation Department to protect minors in their custody. The time to come forward is now.

You may have a viable legal claim if the abuse occurred while you were a minor, at a county-run juvenile facility such as East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, Kearny Mesa Juvenile Hall, Rancho Del Campo, Camp Barrett, or the Girls Rehabilitation Facility. Most survivors in these lawsuits were under 18 when the abuse occurred. The perpetrator may have been a staff member—such as a correctional officer, probation employee, or counselor, or another resident acting under the supervision of facility staff.

It is not necessary to recall the name of the person who abused you. What matters is that you can provide enough detail to help identify them. A physical description, job title, or memory of your interactions may be enough to move a claim forward. These are institutional cases, and many of the individuals involved are already known through internal records or prior complaints.

While California’s statute of limitations law currently allows survivors to file until their 40th birthday, history shows that these deadlines are not always final. In Los Angeles County’s juvenile hall litigation, survivors who were technically time-barred still received settlements. Why? Because the legal risk for counties is too high. There is every reason to believe San Diego will follow that same playbook.

If the abuse happened after 2009 and you are currently under 40, you are well within the active filing window. But even if your case falls outside that range, do not assume you are out of time. Counties often choose to settle these claims.  Why?  The threat of future legislation that makes these cases viable again. We think San Diego County will follow what we saw in the LA County settlements and look to put to bed claims that are now outside of the statute of limitations.

If you have not signed a contract with another law firm for this case, and you are ready to talk about what happened, our team is here to help. Your voice matters, and so does your right to be heard.

California Statute of Limitations for GRF Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

If you experienced sexual abuse while in custody at Kearny Mesa in San Diego, you may still have the legal right to file a civil lawsuit—even if the abuse occurred many years ago. California has significantly extended the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse, offering many individuals a renewed opportunity to seek justice.

However, time limits still apply. The statute of limitations sets a legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. If that deadline passes, you could lose the ability to pursue your case, regardless of how strong your evidence is or how serious the abuse was.

In California, the statute of limitations varies based on whether the abuse occurred when the

survivor was a minor or an adult. These rules can be complex, and determining your eligibility often depends on the specific facts of your case.

How Much Can You Get from a Kearny Mesa Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

Survivors of sexual abuse at Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility may be entitled to significant financial compensation through civil lawsuits against San Diego County. The most useful comparison comes from Los Angeles County, where similar claims involving juvenile hall abuse resulted in an average payout of approximately $600,000 per survivor. That settlement has become the standard by which other institutional abuse cases in California are being measured, and it is widely expected that San Diego County will follow a similar approach.

The value of a claim involving Kearny Mesa depends on several key factors. First, the strength of the available evidence will influence the outcome. A survivor’s account can support a claim on its own, but supporting documentation such as internal reports, staff records, prior complaints, or witness statements can increase the likelihood of a higher settlement. Evidence that the San Diego County Probation Department failed to act on known risks or ignored previous reports of abuse may also strengthen the claim.

Second, the severity and long-term impact of the abuse matter. Survivors who have experienced ongoing mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or depression often receive larger settlements. A formal diagnosis is not required, but expert evaluations can help establish the extent of emotional harm.

Third, the survivor’s age at the time of the abuse plays a role in valuation. When abuse occurs at a younger age, the long-term impact tends to be more severe. The legal system recognizes this, and it is often reflected in higher compensation amounts.

If you were abused at Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, you may still have a valid legal claim. Many counties, including San Diego, are choosing to resolve these cases rather than risk public trials. The window for filing may still be open, and the opportunity to seek compensation and accountability remains available.

Consolidated Litigation, Not Class Action Lawsuit

Understand that claims related to sexual abuse at Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility do not proceed as class action lawsuits. You are not being lumped into a pile, at least not with our team. Instead, each survivor files an individual case. Yet to manage complexity and streamline proceedings, these cases often move forward through consolidated litigation. This legal structure allows multiple cases to be coordinated for aspects like discovery, pretrial hearings, and case management, while preserving each survivor’s individual story and claim for damages.

Consolidated litigation drives efficiency without sacrificing individual rights. It avoids repetitive legal tasks and ensures consistent rulings—saving time, resources, and emotional energy for survivors. Any settlements still reflect the unique details of each claim, such as trauma severity or evidence strength, while benefiting from the broader institutional pressure built across many cases.

Talk to a Lawyer About a Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse Claim

If you were sexually abused at the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, you may still have time to file a claim… even if the abuse happened years ago. Although California law sets deadlines for filing, recent history shows that counties are still resolving claims that appear time-barred. Los Angeles County agreed to compensate thousands of survivors in a sweeping juvenile hall settlement, including many whose cases would have been dismissed under a strict reading of the statute of limitations. San Diego is expected to follow the same model.

These are not class actions. Your case is filed individually. But many of these lawsuits are being coordinated through consolidated litigation, which streamlines the legal process while preserving each survivor’s ability to tell their story and seek compensation based on their own experience.

The opportunity to file will not stay open forever. Survivors who wait may miss out on being included in future settlement rounds. If you are ready to explore your legal options, or just want to understand whether you qualify, we are here to help.

Speak with one of our sex abuse lawyers today. Your consultation is completely free and confidential. Call us at 800-553-8082 or contact us online to get started.