This page will look at civil sex abuse lawsuits involving juvenile inmates at the New Jersey Female Secure Care and Intake Facility. The Juvenile Female Secure Center, like many other juvenile detention facilities in New Jersey, has a dark history of staff on inmate sexual abuse. Victims of this abuse can now filed civil lawsuits and get financial compensation for their pain and suffering.
If you have a potential sex abuse lawsuit involving the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility, call our New Jersey sex abuse lawyers, today at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.
Female Secure Care Facility
The Juvenile Female Secure Care and Intake Facility, located in Bordentown, serves as the intake and secure care unit for all juvenile females sentenced to incarceration in New Jersey. It is the only secure facility in the state that provides education, treatment, and custody for committed juvenile females. The facility is designed to accommodate 48 individuals, with eight single rooms designated as detention cells.
The primary goal of the Female Secure Care facility is to prepare juvenile females for a transition to a less restrictive environment through an incentive-based system. The Secure Care Unit offers a gender-specific, comprehensive, and culturally diverse program tailored to meet the unique needs of the juvenile female population. Programming includes academic instruction, physical fitness, health education, and vocational training, with specialized cosmetology and graphic arts courses.
Sexual Abuse of Inmates at the Female Secure Care Facility
Sexual abuse of inmates at New Jersey’s juvenile detention centers has been a major problem for many years. Investigations by the US Department of Justice have found that New Jersey has some of the worst juvenile justice centers in the entire country. In fact, the New Jersey Medium Security Juvenile Facility, which is located on the same campus as the Female Secure Care facility, is widely considered one of the worst juvenile detentions centers in the country.
Incidents of staff sexual abuse and exploitation of inmates at the Female Secure Care center are a regular occurrence. Thanks to recent investigations and lawsuits, we now have a better understanding of the full extent of the problem. Correctional officers and other staff members at the Female Secure Care facility used a combination of threats, bribes, and other methods to coerce female juvenile inmates to engage in sexual acts.
The New Jersey Female Secure Care and Intake Facility, located in Bordentown, has been the subject of serious allegations regarding sexual abuse by staff members. In October 2024, two senior corrections officers, Gary Nieves and William Young, were charged with sexually assaulting an 18-year-old female resident at the facility. The victim reported that these assaults occurred multiple times within the facility, including in shared areas and her living quarters.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of abuse within New Jersey’s juvenile detention centers. In June 2024, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight survivors who alleged sexual abuse by staff members at various facilities, including the Juvenile Female Secure Care and Intake Facility. These survivors, both men and women, reported abuses dating back to the 1980s, highlighting systemic issues within the state’s juvenile justice system.
How Is Sex Abuse Defined in New Jersey?
New Jersey law defines sexual abuse and sexual assault as intentional sexual contact (either directly or through clothing) of the intimate parts for degrading or humiliating the victim or sexually gratifying the abuser. This definition covers everything from forcible rape to indecent exposure.
The critical element that defines all types and categories of sexual abuse or assault is the lack of consent. Without consent, any form of sexual contact is actionable as sexual abuse or assault. Children (under the age of 18) lack the legal capacity to give consent to sexual contact. This means that ANY and ALL intentional sexual contact by an adult with a minor is necessarily considered sexual abuse. Since all inmates at the Female Secure Care facility are minors, any sexual contact with them by an adult staff member amounts to sexual abuse.
Lawsuits For Sex Abuse at the Female Secure Care Facility
The Female Secure Care Facility operates under the control and authority of the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC). The JJC and its administrators oversee every aspect of the Female Secure Care center, including hiring correctional officers and staff, providing proper training, and ensuring adequate supervision and monitoring of personnel.
JJC has a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to protect juvenile inmates in its custody from sexual abuse and assault. This duty extends beyond preventing abuse by staff to also safeguarding inmates from harm inflicted by other detainees. To fulfill this responsibility, JJC was required to establish, enforce, and follow policies and procedures designed to prevent sexual victimization.
However, mounting evidence indicates that JJC systematically failed in this duty. Despite previous reports of abuse, state authorities and facility staff did not take adequate action to prevent further harm. This negligence included poor staff supervision, weak policies, inadequate employee training, and a failure to implement effective safety measures.
As a result, JJC can be held legally accountable in civil lawsuits. Anyone who experienced sexual abuse while incarcerated in the Female Secure Care center has the right to pursue legal action against JJC for its negligence in allowing the abuse to occur.
Identification of the Abuser is Not Required
Many survivors of sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers and juvenile halls think they need to know their abuser’s full name to file a lawsuit. That is simply not true. A lot of victims—especially those who were minors at the time—never knew the names of the people who hurt them. Some only remember what the person looked like or what their job was. Others might just recall bits and pieces. But that does not mean they cannot take legal action.
If you were abused in a juvenile hall or juvenile detention center, you do not need to name the person who did it. It helps if you can, but it is not required. Many of these places had rotating staff, and kids were not always told names. What really matters is what happened to you and the facility’s role in allowing it to happen.
Lawsuits against places like the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission are about more than just one person’s actions. They focus on the bigger picture—systemic failures, lack of oversight, and an environment that let abuse happen. These claims argue that the facility itself was responsible, whether through poor supervision, bad policies, or ignoring complaints.
At the end of the day, lawsuits against juvenile detention centers are about holding the system accountable. You do not need all the details or a perfect memory to seek justice. What happened to you matters, and you have the right to take action—even if you cannot name the person who harmed you.
Deadline for Filing Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits in New Jersey
New Jersey has changed its laws to give survivors of child sexual abuse more time to file a lawsuit. If you were abused at NJTS or another institution in New Jersey, you now have until your 55th birthday to take legal action. This is because of updates to the state’s statute of limitations, which were designed to help survivors who need more time to come forward.
Even if you are over 55, you may still have the right to sue. The law allows lawsuits if you can show that you only recently realized the abuse happened because of psychological repression. Many survivors do not fully process their trauma until years later, and New Jersey law recognizes that. This means that even if you thought your time had run out, you might still have a claim, depending on the facts.
These changes give survivors a stronger path to justice, allowing them to hold those responsible accountable. Whether it is an institution, an organization, or an individual, survivors now have more legal options to seek the justice they deserve.
If you believe you have a case, do not wait. Talking to a lawyer who understands these laws can help you figure out your rights and whether you still have time to file a claim.
What This Means for Survivors at New Jersey Juvenile Detention Centers
- If you were under 18 when the abuse happened, you can now file a lawsuit until your 55th birthday or within seven years of realizing the abuse’s impact—whichever gives you more time.
- If you were 18 or older, you now have seven years from the assault or seven years from discovery to take legal action.
- If your claim was previously expired, the lookback window may have allowed you to file a lawsuit until November 30, 2021—but even if you missed that, you should still consult with an attorney, as exceptions can sometimes apply.
Settlement Value of NJ Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Victims of sexual abuse at juvenile detention facilities may be entitled to significant financial compensation through a civil lawsuit. The potential settlement value of a successful claim for sexual abuse at the New Jersey Female Secure Care facility depends on several key factors:
- Nature of the Abuse: The severity of the abuse plays a major role in determining settlement amounts. Cases involving inappropriate touching or groping typically result in lower compensation than those involving forcible rape or repeated assault.
- Duration of the Abuse: The frequency and duration of the abuse can impact settlement payouts. A single incident, while still serious, is generally less traumatic than ongoing abuse that occurs over several months or years.
- Supporting Evidence: In most cases, a victim’s testimony is sufficient to establish that abuse occurred. However, additional evidence—such as witness statements, records of prior complaints, or surveillance footage—can strengthen the case and increase the potential settlement amount.
- Negligence of the Facility: If there is evidence that the juvenile facility ignored prior reports of misconduct, failed to investigate complaints, or was otherwise grossly negligent in protecting inmates, the settlement value may be significantly higher.
- Hiring the Best Lawyer: Sexual abuse cases, especially those involving government-run facilities like the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility, are complex and require highly skilled legal representation. The quality of your lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. Not all attorneys have the experience, resources, or dedication necessary to take on powerful institutions and navigate the legal obstacles that often arise in these cases. Survivors should not settle for just any sex abuse lawyer.
- Jurisdiction: Burlington County is not the most plaintiff-friendly jurisdiction in New Jersey, but it is far from the worst. While local courts have historically been cautious about awarding large verdicts against government entities, recent shifts in public awareness and legal reforms have made it more hospitable to survivors of institutional abuse. With the right legal strategy and a strong case, plaintiffs can still achieve meaningful compensation and accountability in Burlington County.
Each case is unique, but victims who pursue legal action can seek justice and financial compensation for the harm they have suffered.
Contact a Lawyer for Help
If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse while detained at the Female Secure Care Facility in New Jersey, it is essential to consult with an attorney who specializes in sexual abuse litigation. Legal professionals dedicated to advocating for survivors can guide you through the legal process and work to hold those responsible accountable.
Survivors deserve justice. No institution should be allowed to protect abusers from facing the consequences of their actions. By taking legal action, survivors can reclaim their voices, seek accountability, and push for meaningful change.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse at the NJ Female Secure Care facility or any other juvenile detention center in New Jersey, know that you are not alone. Contact our experienced sex abuse attorneys today to learn more about your legal rights and take the first step toward justice. Call us at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online.
