Lawsuit Information Center
Survivors of sexual abuse at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall are now stepping forward and filing civil lawsuits against Los Angeles County. These lawsuits seek justice for the abuse they endured while detained at the facility.
This page explains the legal claims being filed, how the abuse happened, and what kind of settlement compensation victims may be entitled to receive.
There has already been one big sex abuse settlement for Los Padrinos sex abuse victims, and we expect another. If you have a potential lawsuit for sexual abuse at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, call our sex abuse lawyers today at 800-553-8082 or contact us online.
About Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, California, first opened in 1957. For six decades, It served as a juvenile detention facility for “pre-disposition” offenders—i.e., those who were charged with criminal violations but were awaiting final adjudication and sentencing. Los Padrinos was one of three juvenile halls serving Los Angeles County, and it was under the operational control of the LA County Probation Department.
In the early days of operation, Los Padrinos could hold a maximum of about 200 juvenile inmates. A major expansion project in the 1990s increased the capacity to 500 juvenile detainees between the ages of 12 and 18.
Shutdown and Reopening
In the summer of 2019, Los Padrinos was shut down due to dysfunction and declining inmate population. It was converted and repurposed into a shelter for young women. However, in 2023, LA County was essentially forced to reopen Los Padrinos after state authorities forced the closure of LA County’s two other juvenile facilities.
In December 2024 (just a year after it was reopened), the California Board of State and Community Corrections ordered Los Padrinos shut down because of widespread dysfunction and evidence of abuse. LA County essentially refused to comply with this order, however, and the state had to take the case to court. In April 2025, a judge ordered the LA County Probation Department to begin “depopulating” Los Padrinos in compliance with the state mandate.
History of Sexual Abuse at Los Padrinos
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has a long and troubling history. Like many youth detention centers in California, it was supposed to be a place where kids could get help and support while they waited for their cases to go through court. Instead, it became a place where children were hurt, physically, emotionally, and sexually, by the very people who were supposed to protect them.
Even though Los Padrinos was run by Los Angeles County, not the state, the same kinds of problems happened there that happened in other juvenile facilities across California. For years, there was very little oversight, and many staff members were allowed to do whatever they wanted without real consequences. What too many of them wanted, sadly, was to sexually abuse children.
In recent years, hundreds of former inmates have come forward to report that they were sexually abused by staff at Los Padrinos. These survivors say that some officers and workers at the facility took advantage of them when they were vulnerable and alone. In some cases, children were as young as 12 years old when the abuse started.
The world turned its back on these kids. Survivors say they tried to speak up but were ignored, punished, or threatened. Many were too scared to report what happened at the time. Others say they did not realize until years later just how much damage the abuse caused them.
Lawsuits were filed in 2022 and 2024 by large groups of survivors. These lawsuits claim that Los Angeles County and the Probation Department failed to protect the kids. The lawsuits say county officials allowed known abusers to keep working with children, ignored warning signs, and failed to investigate complaints.
This was not a case of “one bad staff member.” The problem was much bigger. The abuse went on for years because no one stepped in to stop it. There were no real safeguards, poor supervision, and no one held the staff accountable.
These lawsuits are about money. No one is running from that. Civil sex abuse lawsuits are about compensation because it is the only justice available. But for many, they are about more than that. They are about holding the county responsible, getting justice, and helping survivors heal. Many people who were abused at Los Padrinos now finally feel like they are being heard and that someone is standing up for them. Finally. And our lawyers are doing just that.
Our juvenile hall lawyers are not turning away survivors just because their case is “old.” In Los Angeles County’s recent $4 billion settlement, many victims received compensation even though the legal deadline had technically passed. You may still have options.
Lawsuits for Sexual Abuse at Los Padrinos
Lost Padrinos Juvenile Hall is under the control and operational authority of the Los Angeles County Probation Department (LACPD), which was responsible for overseeing all aspects of its operations. This included the screening, hiring, training, and supervision of correctional officers and staff. As the supervising authority, LACPD had a legal duty to ensure the safety, care, and custody of the juveniles housed at the facility.
LACPD may be held liable for sexual abuse at Los Padrinos if it was aware of the problem but failed to take reasonable steps to protect inmates. To establish liability, a victim would need to demonstrate a direct connection between their abuse and LACPD’s negligence. This could include specific failures, such as ignoring prior complaints against known abusers, or systemic issues like inadequate policies and poor staff oversight.
Deadline for Filing a Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
If you or someone you care about experienced sexual abuse at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, you may wonder whether your case is too old to file. The short answer: even if your claim falls outside the standard statute of limitations, you may still qualify for settlement compensation, especially if your abuse occurred at a facility run by Los Angeles County.
Our law firm is not narrowly focused on whether a claim is still technically within the statute of limitations for California sexual abuse lawsuits, particularly when it comes to Los Padrinos. That is because Los Angeles County recently approved a $4 billion settlement resolving thousands of childhood sexual abuse claims, many of which were time-barred under California law. Despite falling outside the legal filing window, victims still received substantial compensation in that mass settlement.
We believe the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall sexual abuse lawsuits will follow a similar path. When abuse is systemic, well-documented, and involves public institutions like LA County juvenile halls, the county often agrees to settle older claims as part of a global resolution. Although juvenile hall lawsuits filed within the limitations period are expected to receive higher Los Padrinos settlement amounts, expired claims still receive meaningful payouts, as we did in the first round of Los Angeles County sex abuse settlements.
So What Is the Rule for the Statute of Limitations for a Los Padrinos Lawsuit?
Technically, under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1, survivors of childhood sexual abuse generally have until:
-
Their 40th birthday, or
-
Five years from the date they discovered the psychological harm from the abuse,
whichever is later.
These rules apply to most claims filed after the expiration of the AB 218 revival window, which ended on December 31, 2022.
But, again, even if your abuse occurred decades ago, you may still have options, especially if your case fits into the familiar pattern of juvenile facility abuse lawsuits in Los Angeles County.
If you are considering taking legal action, contact a California juvenile detention abuse lawyer to evaluate your rights. The best time to act is now, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
Hundreds of survivors from Los Padrinos have already come forward. If you were abused, your voice matters, and you deserve to be heard, regardless of how long ago it happened.
Settlement Value of Los Padrinos Sex Abuse Lawsuits
When calculating settlement amounts or jury awards in California sexual abuse cases, several critical factors consistently shape the outcome. While each case is unique, the following considerations often carry the most weight in determining compensation for Los Padrinos juvenile hall survivors:
- Severity and Duration of the Abuse
The extent and nature of the abuse are among the most significant factors in assessing damages. Cases involving repeated incidents, prolonged abuse, or physical harm generally result in higher settlements or jury awards. Emotional and psychological trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety, also play a central role. When expert witnesses provide medical or psychological evidence of long-term effects, juries are more inclined to award substantial compensation for pain and suffering. - Age of the Survivor
Younger victims typically receive higher compensation due to their increased vulnerability and the long-term developmental impact of abuse. Courts also consider whether the perpetrator held a position of trust or authority, such as a teacher, coach, or religious leader. Abuse by someone in such a role can justify enhanced damages, including punitive awards, due to the breach of trust and increased power imbalance. - Strength of the Evidence
Although a survivor’s testimony alone can be powerful and sufficient for a successful Los Padrinos lawsuit, additional supporting evidence, such as eyewitness accounts, medical documentation, or records of previous complaints, can greatly strengthen the case. This corroborating evidence not only increases credibility but can also lead to higher settlement values. That said, some of the highest settlement amounts in sex abuse lawsuits are based solely on the word of the victim.
Los Padrinos Lawsuit Settlement Amounts
In April 2025, Los Angeles County approved a historic $4 billion settlement to resolve approximately 6,800 claims of sexual abuse in juvenile facilities dating back to 1959. This averages to a per-person settlement of nearly $600,000, making it the largest payout of its kind in U.S. history.
While each case is unique, the LA County settlement sets a precedent that San Diego sex abuse lawyers strongly expect will influence outcomes in similar cases, including those involving the San Diego Juvenile Ranch Facility. That is why you are seeing so many sexual abuse ads in San Diego right now. What will drive settlement amounts? The same factors we just talked about, such as the severity and duration of abuse, the age of the survivor, and the strength of evidence. These factors will drive individual settlement amounts.
Contact Us About Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Cases
If you were sexually abused as an inmate at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, you may be able to file a lawsuit and get compensation. Reach out to us online or call 800-553-8082.
Other California Juvenile Facilities