Lawsuit Information Center
On this page, we will look at sex abuse lawsuits involving San Bernardino Juvenile Detention Centers in California. A growing number of victims of sexual abuse at juvenile facilities in San Bernardino County are coming forward and filing civil lawsuits.
Survivors of sexual abuse at juvenile detention facilities in San Bernardino County deserve justice. If you or someone you love experienced abuse while under 18 at one of these facilities, California law may now allow you to pursue a civil lawsuit, even if the abuse occurred many years ago. If you have a potential case, call us today at 800-553-8082 or contact us online.
San Bernardino Juvenile Detention Facilities
There are two juvenile detention center facilities in San Bernardino County, both of which are facing allegations of neglect and sexual abuse of inmates: Central Valley Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center (CVJDAC) and the San Bernardino Youth Justice Center.
CVJDAC
The Central Valley Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center (CVJDAC), located at 900 East Gilbert Street in San Bernardino, serves as one of the county’s main juvenile detention facilities. As of the latest data, CVJDAC is rated for 260 beds, with a budgeted capacity of 220 juveniles. Last year, the facility admitted 800 youths and discharged 816, with 89 juveniles detained. This is a big facility that has been run horribly historically, and it has been a cesspool for sexual abuse predators who prey on children.
CVJDAC offers education through the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, behavioral health services through the Forensic Adolescent Services Team (FAST), and comprehensive on-site medical care. Upon intake, youth are oriented to facility expectations and their rights under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), including how to report abuse.
Our lawyers have gotten scores of calls from the Gilbert Street Detention Center. This place was clearly horrible, and we believe that will be reflected in the per-person settlement amounts the victims receive.
The San Bernardino Youth Justice Center
The San Bernardino Youth Justice Center (SBYJC) is another detention facility implicated in abuse allegations, though detailed operational information about this center is more limited. Like CVJDAC, it functions as a secure facility for juvenile detainees and has faced claims of sexual misconduct by staff. These allegations describe abuse of power and exploitation of minors by those charged with their care and rehabilitation. Survivor accounts portray a systemic failure to protect children from sexual abuse, echoing similar allegations across California’s juvenile detention system.
Allegations of Sexual Abuse at CVJDAC and SBYJC
Both CVJDAC and SBYJC have recently faced very serious allegations of sexual abuse of juvenile inmates by staff members. In December 2023, four survivors filed lawsuits against San Bernardino County, alleging they were sexually abused while in the county’s custody. One plaintiff alleged that he was only 10 years old when a probation officer at Gilbert Street sexually abused him.
While the 2023 PREA Annual Report acknowledged two allegations of youth-on-youth nonconsensual sexual contact at CVJDAC, it reported no confirmed incidents of staff sexual misconduct that year. So that is one way to look at it. But the sexual abuse lawsuits that are being filed say something very different. These lawsuits and survivor accounts suggest a far more troubling pattern of abuse and neglect, raising concerns about underreporting and systemic failures.
A Statewide Pattern of Institutional Abuse
The abuse allegations tied to these San Bernardino facilities are part of a broader, longstanding crisis in California’s juvenile justice system. Over the past two decades, state and local juvenile facilities—including those run by the now-defunct Division of Juvenile Justice (formerly the California Youth Authority)—have been plagued by scandals involving physical and sexual abuse. Public exposure, survivor lawsuits, and investigative journalism have pushed these cases into the spotlight, demanding reform and accountability. The transition of juvenile justice responsibility from state to county control in 2023 has done little to erase these past failures, and abuse continues to be reported.
California Has Changed the Law to Help Survivors
California has eliminated the statute of limitations for sexual abuse if you were abused after 2024. This means survivors of recent abuse now have their entire lifetime to file a lawsuit.
For those who experienced abuse before December 31, 2023, California law still provides opportunities to file suit. Generally, survivors may take legal action until they are 40 years old, or within five years of realizing the connection between the abuse and its emotional and psychological effects — whichever is later.
Additionally, new legal reforms have streamlined claims against government entities, such as county-run juvenile detention facilities, making it easier to bring a case forward.
What Is Considered Sexual Abuse in Juvenile Facilities?
Sexual abuse includes any form of sexual contact or behavior toward a minor by an adult, especially in environments with an imbalance of power, like detention centers. There are two key components that must be present to meet the definition of sexual abuse in California. First, the sexual touching must be done intentionally. If one inadvertently touches a student in a crowded elevator or to catch them from falling, there is no intent, and it does not qualify as sexual abuse.
The second element is the lack of consent. For intentional sexual touching to qualify as abuse or assault, it must be done without mutual consent. Under California law, minors under the age of 18 cannot give consent to sexual touching. This means that ANY sexual contact with a juvenile inmate by an adult is automatically considered sexual battery.
Examples of abuse include:
- Inappropriate touching of private parts
- Sexual assault or battery
- Sexual coercion, manipulation, or harassment
- Exploitation by guards, counselors, or staff
Even actions that may seem subtle or non-violent can still be classified as sexual abuse if they involve a minor and an authority figure.
How Legal Action Can Help Some Victims Heal
Bringing a compensation claim is not for everyone. There is a huge financial incentive, obviously. But filing a lawsuit can provide more than just compensation — it can be an essential step in reclaiming your power and telling your story on your own terms.
Survivors may be eligible for compensation for:
- Emotional distress and psychological harm
- PTSD, depression, and anxiety
- Counseling and treatment expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of educational or life opportunities
The amount of compensation may depend on factors such as the severity of the abuse, the duration of harm, and the strength of the supporting evidence.
Settlement Value of San Bernardino Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse Lawsuits
The amount of compensation you can receive from suing San Bernardino County for sexual abuse at one of its juvenile detention center facilities depends on several key factors, including:
- Strength of Evidence: While a victim’s testimony is often sufficient to prove that abuse occurred, additional evidence can significantly increase the settlement value. Evidence showing that the detention center or its staff were negligent, such as repeated policy failures or inadequate procedures, strengthens the case. Institutions with a history of systemic negligence often face higher liabilities.
- Severity of Abuse: The level of harm inflicted, including diagnoses of PTSD, depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, plays a significant role in determining the case’s value. Even without objective physical injuries, claims can remain strong, especially with expert testimony from psychologists or psychiatrists regarding the abuse’s impact on the victim.
- Age of the Victim: Younger victims often receive higher settlements due to the abuse’s long-term effects on their development and life.
When Will You Get Paid in the San Bernardino Juvenile Hall Lawsuits?
If you are thinking of bringing an SBYJC or a Gilbert Street Juvenile Hall abuse lawsuit, you want to know how long it will take to receive compensation after filing a claim. The truth is that no two cases move on exactly the same timeline. In Los Angeles County, the $4 billion settlement for juvenile hall survivors is being paid out in stages over several years. San Bernardino cases are expected to follow a similar path, with each claim going through a review process that looks closely at the facts of your experience. The review considers the severity of the abuse, the psychological and emotional impact on your life, and the strength of supporting evidence.
This process does take time, but it is designed to ensure that compensation is tailored to each survivor’s circumstances rather than divided evenly. Some survivors may receive settlement payments sooner than others, depending on the order in which claims are reviewed.
If you have not yet filed a claim, you will not be part of the current payouts. New claims will be processed separately, but this can work to your advantage. Later rounds often involve fewer plaintiffs and benefit from a settlement process that has already been established, which can make them move more efficiently. The key is that you must file a lawsuit to be included at all. Survivors who wait too long risk being excluded from settlement rounds or missing deadlines once they are set.
The best way to understand when you could expect payment and how much your case may be worth is to speak with a juvenile hall lawyer who focuses on sexual abuse cases. Having the right lawyer can make a significant difference in how quickly your claim moves forward and in the final amount of your compensation.
Contact Us About San Bernardino Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits
If you have a potential claim for sexual abuse at a juvenile detention center in San Bernardino County, contact our California sex abuse lawyers today for a free consultation. Contact us online or call us at 800-553-8082.