The Polinsky Children’s Center, a temporary shelter for children in San Diego County, is now at the center of over 100 lawsuits alleging decades of sexual abuse. The facility, which was meant to provide a safe haven for children removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse, is now accused of failing to protect them from horrific mistreatment within its own walls.
Survivors who lived at the facility between 1994 and 2020 have come forward with allegations that staff members, older residents, and others repeatedly sexually abused them while they were in custody. The lawsuits describe a range of abuse, from molestation and groping to violent sexual assault. Many survivors say that their reports were ignored or dismissed by those in charge, and some claim they were threatened with further abuse if they spoke up.
The lawsuits argue that the County of San Diego, which operates the facility, failed in its responsibility to protect the children in its care. Allegations include the failure to conduct thorough background checks on employees, a lack of supervision that allowed abuse to go unchecked, and a culture of silence that discouraged victims from coming forward. In some cases, survivors claim that known abusers continued working at the facility even after concerns were raised about their behavior.
