Lawsuit Information Center
Twin Pines Ranch in Riverside County was a juvenile detention facility that operated for nearly seven decades before closing in 2014. Thousands of boys between ages 14 and 18 were sent there under the authority of the Riverside County Probation Department. For many, the Ranch was not a place of rehabilitation but a site of sexual abuse and exploitation by staff who were supposed to protect them.
Today, survivors are filing lawsuits against Riverside County and others responsible for the abuse at Twin Pines Ranch. These claims seek compensation and accountability for decades of misconduct and neglect inside one of California’s most notorious “boys ranch” facilities.
If you have a potential sex abuse lawsuit involving Twin Pines Ranch in Riverside County, call our sex abuse lawyers today at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.
Twin Pines Ranch Juvenile Detention Center
Twin Pines Ranch in Riverside County was a juvenile detention and correctional facility for boys between the ages of 14 and 18. For decades, the Ranch housed young offenders while offering educational and vocational programs, along with substance abuse treatment and therapy. Spanning more than 1,100 acres and featuring over a dozen buildings, Twin Pines was one of California’s most expansive juvenile facilities.
The first “rancher” signed into the registry book in April 1947. For the next 67 years, thousands of juveniles were sent to Twin Pines, usually for six months to a year. In its early days, the Ranch operated like a military boot camp, emphasizing harsh discipline and rigid routines. In later years, the focus shifted toward academics and vocational development.
Boys lived in large bunkhouses and were supervised by Ranch staff who, while never formally called correctional officers, carried out that role in practice. Unlike more traditional detention centers, Twin Pines did not confine its residents. The remoteness of the facility itself was seen as the only real security measure.
Twin Pines could hold just under 100 juveniles at a time. At points, it was well-staffed, but for much of its history, it struggled with chronic understaffing. Oversight was thin, and the staff wielded enormous power over the boys in their care. That imbalance, coupled with the isolation of the Ranch, created the conditions that allowed sexual abuse to occur.
Twin Pines closed in 2014 due to funding shortfalls. But the facility’s closure did not erase what happened inside its walls. Today, survivors are coming forward to seek accountability through lawsuits that aim to hold Riverside County and others responsible for decades of abuse.
Inmates At Twin Pines Ranch Were Victims Of Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse was not an isolated problem at Twin Pines Ranch. Like other California juvenile halls and camps, the Ranch struggled with chronic understaffing, little outside oversight, and staff who held unchecked power over vulnerable teenagers. That imbalance created conditions where abuse could flourish.
Survivors have described a pattern of misconduct that mirrors the abuse uncovered in Los Angeles and other counties: staff using their authority to groom, coerce, or assault boys in their care. Our lawyers have seen this same problem in these “deep in the woods” facilities like this Riverside County juvenile hall. The remote, ranch-style setup of Twin Pines, bunkhouses in an isolated location, made it even easier for sexual abuse to go undetected.
Riverside County, through its Probation Department, was responsible for screening, training, and supervising staff at Twin Pines. Its failure to protect juveniles in custody is at the center of these lawsuits. Just as Los Angeles County recently paid billions to resolve juvenile hall sex abuse claims, Riverside County now faces growing legal exposure for what happened at Twin Pines.
Lawsuits for Sexual Abuse of Juvenile Inmates At Twin Pines Ranch
Twin Pines Ranch operated as a county-level facility under the jurisdiction of the Riverside County Probation Department (RCPD), 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, RCPD had a legal obligation to ensure the safety, care, and custody of the juveniles housed at the facility.
RCPD may be held liable for sexual abuse at Twin Pines Ranch 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 connection between their abuse and negligence on RCPD’s part. This could involve specific negligence, such as ignoring prior complaints against known abusers, or broader failures, like inadequate policies or poor staff oversight.
Twin Pines Ranch Sex Abuse Deadline to File a Lawsuit
California law gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse until their 40th birthday, or five years after discovering the harm, to bring a lawsuit. That is a significant window, but many survivors who were abused at facilities like Twin Pines Ranch understandably fear their claims are too old.
Here is what matters: deadlines in these cases are rarely absolute. In 2025, Los Angeles County paid billions to resolve claims from survivors at juvenile halls, even though many of those cases were past the statute of limitations. Why did they settle cases past the statute of limitations? Was it out of the goodness of their hearts? No. The county settled because lawmakers can always extend or reopen filing windows, and officials wanted to reduce the risk of facing even more sexual abuse lawsuits in the future. They want these cases done forever.
The same pressures exist in other counties, including Riverside County, where Twin Pines Ranch was located. Our lawyers fully expect that Twin Pines will follow the Los Angeles model and settle both expired and timely claims.
Will payouts for expired claims be lower than what they would have been if filed on time? Probably. But that does not mean they are insignificant. Survivors in Los Angeles with decades-old claims still received hundreds of thousands of dollars. That outcome proves it is worth pursuing a claim even if the legal deadlines seem to have passed.
The take-home message is that if you were abused at Twin Pines Ranch, time limits may not prevent you from receiving compensation. The only way to know for certain is to have your case evaluated by the best juvenile hall lawyer possible.
Settlement Value of Twin Pines Ranch Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Survivors of sexual abuse at Twin Pines Ranch are expected to recover significant settlement compensation through lawsuits against Riverside County and other responsible entities. The clearest comparison point is Los Angeles County, which in 2025 approved a $4 billion settlement averaging nearly $600,000 per survivor. That deal now hangs over every juvenile facility case in California> It is a marker that cannot be ignored.
Will Twin Pines juvenile facility cases bring payouts identical to Los Angeles? Probably not. The conditions in LA’s juvenile halls were uniquely bad, and that drove the county to pay an extraordinary price. But even if Riverside does not reach quite as high, the Los Angeles settlement set the standard. Counties across the state know they cannot come to the table with offers that are far below what LA survivors received. The floor is higher now, and Twin Pines claims should track closely to that benchmark. The flip side is that the exposure for Riverside in these cases is off the charts because it cannot absorb verdicts the way LA County can.
The settlement amount of an individual Twin Pines Ranch sexual abuse lawsuit will depend on several key factors. A survivor’s testimony alone is often enough to support a strong case, but additional corroboration can significantly increase potential compensation. At Twin Pines, that may include staff logs, old probation department records, or testimony from other former “ranchers” who saw or experienced similar abuse. When evidence shows that Riverside County officials or Ranch staff were aware of misconduct or risks but failed to intervene, that kind of documented negligence can dramatically raise the settlement value.
The severity and impact of the abuse also shape the outcome. Survivors coping with PTSD, depression, anxiety, or other lifelong injuries often see larger settlements. Formal medical or psychological evaluations, while not required, can help demonstrate the depth of harm and increase the potential payout.
Another big factor is the age of the survivor at the time of abuse. Abuse of younger children is typically valued higher because of their vulnerability and the longer-lasting consequences.
Finally, the quality of legal representation can make a decisive difference. Counties and their insurers take cases more seriously when survivors are represented by experienced trial lawyers with a record of winning major settlements. Having a strong lawyer signals that the case can and will go to trial if necessary, which often leads to higher settlement offers.
The bottom line is that the potential settlement value of Twin Pines Ranch lawsuits is substantial. Even survivors with older claims may have a path to meaningful compensation if they come forward.
Contact Us About Twin Pines Ranch Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse Cases
If you were sexually abused as an inmate at Riverside County Twin Pines Ranch, you may be able to file a lawsuit and get compensation. Reach out to us online or call 800-553-8082.