Understanding Juvenile Detention Lawsuits
Sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers has been a long-standing, underreported crisis in the United States. Recent investigations and lawsuits have revealed horrific abuse that has taken place inside facilities across the country.
These claims expose decades of sexual misconduct, emotional abuse, and institutional failures that left thousands of children harmed by the very system meant to protect them.
Lawsuits against juvenile detention centers allege:
- Children were raped, assaulted, and forced to perform sexual acts
- Staff routinely performed strip searches to grope or violate those in their care
- Reports of sexual abuse were often ignored or covered up
- Abusers sometimes gave kids drugs or extra privileges in exchange for sexual favors
“You’re in the facility because you’ve done something that clearly wasn’t good, but that doesn’t give anyone the right … to do what they want to do with you.”
– A.F., Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Survivor
Now, some survivors are fighting back by filing sexual abuse lawsuits to hold the facilities responsible for their suffering accountable. So far, juvenile detention center sexual abuse settlements have totaled more than $4 Billion.
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse in a youth detention center, we may be able to help you get the closure and compensation you deserve.
Let Sokolove Law Fight for You
Our juvenile detention center injury lawyers can stand by your side and fight for justice on your behalf. Let us put our experience to work for you.
Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Settlements & Verdicts
Juvenile detention center abuse lawsuits have already awarded billions of dollars, and this amount continues to grow as more survivors bravely step forward.
These outcomes send a powerful message that survivors deserve to be heard, and institutions must pay for the harm they allowed to occur. Find out about key juvenile detention center abuse settlements and verdicts.
$4 Billion Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall Lawsuit Settlement
In April 2025, Los Angeles County approved a $4 Billion settlement to resolve more than 6,800 sexual abuse claims tied to juvenile facilities and foster care, making it the largest aggregate payout in U.S. history.
Most of the claims involved abuse at county-run juvenile detention centers, including the now-closed MacLaren Children’s Center and Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, where several officers now face criminal charges.
The claims date back as far as 1959, with the majority occurring between the 1980s and 2000s. This landmark settlement shows that survivors can still come forward and get justice, even decades after the abuse.
$4 Million Green Hill School Sex Abuse Settlements
As of August 2024, Green Hill School, Washington’s maximum-security juvenile detention facility for young men, has paid out more than $4.4 Million to settle at least 23 claims of sexual abuse by staff since 2018.
The claims include recent and decades-old incidents, dating back as far as 1978. Some survivors say staff gave them privileges as a form of grooming, while others reported being photographed, videotaped, or assaulted in isolated areas of the facility.
One survivor reported that he was abused in 1991 by a female officer who began by offering him extra privileges. "You don’t feel like a victim at the time,” he said.
$38 Million New Hampshire Youth Detention Abuse Verdict
In May 2024, a New Hampshire jury awarded $38 Million in a landmark verdict to a survivor who exposed decades of abuse at the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester.
The man testified that he was beaten, raped, and held in solitary confinement as a teen while in state custody. Jurors found the state negligent for failing to protect him.
He was awarded both compensatory and punitive damages for the state’s abuse of power. This case was the first to go to trial among more than 1,100 lawsuits filed by former Sununu residents.
$805,000 Washington State Juvenile Detention Centers Settlement
In 2021, the state of Washington paid $805,000 to settle sexual abuse claims involving former residents at Naselle Youth Camp, a juvenile facility for young men aged 16 to 25.
Counselor Michael Nolan reportedly targeted multiple youth between 2018 and 2019, pressuring them into skinny-dipping and participating in a so-called “sweat lodge,” where he touched or viewed their naked bodies under the guise of therapy.
Ultimately, the state agreed to pay:
- Two survivors $240,000 each
- $175,000 to a third
- $150,000 to an adult plaintiff
Despite the serious nature of the allegations and Nolan’s 2021 arrest, criminal charges were dropped.
$400,000 Youth Detention Center Settlement Reached in Pennsylvania
In 2020, Lancaster County agreed to pay $400,000 to a survivor who was sexually assaulted at age 15 by a guard at the Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center.
This was the first of several federal juvenile abuse lawsuits filed by girls who say they were sexually assaulted by former guard David Stevenson, who was later convicted and sentenced to 10-25 years in prison.
Multiple complaints were made about Stevenson’s conduct before the assaults, but lawsuits allege the county failed to act and should have known about his potential risk based on red flags in his employment history.
Call (800) 995-1212 now to find out if you may be able to pursue a juvenile detention center sexual abuse settlement. It costs nothing to speak with us.
Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit Update 2025
As of 2025, ongoing investigations and arrests continue to shed light on the widespread abuse occurring inside juvenile detention centers across the country. Survivors are still coming forward, and the fight for justice is far from over.
Here's are the latest juvenile detention center lawsuit updates:
- July 2025: Survivors filed 107 new Illinois juvenile detention center lawsuits, bringing the total to nearly 1,000.
- June 2025: Three survivors filed a $300 Million federal lawsuit for Maryland detention center sexual abuse, adding to over 11,000 pending claims.
- April 2025: Los Angeles County approved a $4 Billion settlement to resolve over 6,800 sexual abuse claims linked to juvenile detention centers and foster care.
- March 2025: The number of lawsuits filed by survivors of sexual abuse in New York City juvenile detention centers reaches 539, as those harmed seek justice and accountability.
- August 2024: Washington state paid over $4.4 Million in juvenile hall lawsuit settlements to at least 23 survivors who lived at Green Hill School, with claims dating back as far as 1978.
- May 2024: A New Hampshire jury awarded $38 Million to a survivor abused at Sununu Youth Services Center. He was one of more than 1,100 residents to have filed juvenile detention center abuse lawsuits against the facility.
- March 2023: Recurring sexual abuse was documented in state-funded juvenile detention facilities across 29 states and Washington, D.C., according to a report by The Sentencing Project.
- January 2023: A Utah juvenile facility staff member was arrested on multiple felony charges for allegedly sexually abusing a teenage girl in his care.
- February 2020: Lancaster County paid $400,000 to settle the first of several Pennsylvania juvenile detention sexual abuse lawsuits involving a guard who was later convicted of assaulting 5 girls at the Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center in 2017.
- October 2011: The Annie E. Casey Foundation releases No Place for Kids: The Case for Reducing Juvenile Incarceration, shining a spotlight on sexual assault and other abuses in the juvenile justice system.
These events highlight a growing national reckoning with the abuse inside youth detention facilities. As more survivors speak out and cases move forward, institutions are being forced to confront their failures and pay those they harmed.
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Wherever you're located in the U.S., our juvenile detention center sexual assault lawyers are here to help you seek justice.
Where Does Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Assault Happen?
Sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers has been documented across the United States, from small rural facilities to large state-run institutions in major cities. This is a widespread crisis affecting youth in facilities nationwide.
Types of facilities facing accusations of sexual abuse include:
- Long-term secure youth prisons
- Residential treatment programs
- Short-term juvenile detention centers
- Youth correctional institutions
Systemic failures in supervision, oversight, and accountability have allowed abuse to occur in places where children should have been safe. Find out more about different juvenile detention facilities where instances of sexual abuse have been reported.
California Juvenile Detention Center Lawsuit
More than 6,800 survivors have come forward with claims of sexual abuse in Los Angeles County’s juvenile detention centers and foster care system, detailing decades of misconduct dating back to the 1950s.
The majority of allegations involve county-run juvenile facilities like the MacLaren Children’s Center. Some survivors say they were abused while locked in isolation, while others were harmed in group settings.
In April 2025, Los Angeles juvenile detention center sexual assault lawyers secured a $4 Billion settlement. Survivors described repeated abuse by known predators, including detention officers and other employees who remained in their positions despite complaints.
Illinois Juvenile Detention Center Lawsuit
Nearly 1,000 Illinois juvenile lawsuits have been filed against Illinois Youth Centers and the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, alleging sexual abuse by staff. Most of the abuse occurred between 1996 and 2023, with over 100 new cases filed in July 2025.
Teenage boys were often the victims of Illinois juvenile detention centers sexual abuse, though some were as young as 9. About 70% of the abuse happened at IYCs in Chicago, Harrisburg, St. Charles, and Warrenville. The rest took place at Cook County’s juvenile facility.
Survivors described being raped, strip-searched, and assaulted by staff members, often in the middle of the night. Many are still dealing with the trauma and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and trouble trusting others.
Louisiana Juvenile Detention Center Abuse
At least 42 former residents of the Ware Youth Center in Coushatta have accused 30 staff members of sexual assault over the past 25 years, often in exchange for food or phone access.
The facility has also seen alarming rates of self-harm, with 64 suicide attempts in 2019 and 2020 alone. Despite repeated warnings and investigations, Ware has faced little accountability, with regulators failing to act and prosecutors offering plea deals to abusive staff.
“Sometimes you just let him touch you, you just let him, because you don’t have a choice. Reporting him seemed futile, because his conduct was an open secret. That’s their house. Whatever they say goes.”
– G.H., Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Survivor
Maryland Juvenile Detention Center Lawsuit
Maryland faces approximately 11,000 lawsuits alleging decades of abuse in the state’s juvenile detention centers, with potential liability estimated at up to $4 Billion.
The surge in Maryland juvenile lawsuits follows a 2023 law that removed the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, allowing survivors to file claims regardless of when the abuse occurred.
Under current law, survivors can seek Maryland juvenile detention center lawsuit settlements of up to $890,000 per incident of abuse against the state, and up to $1.5 Million in cases involving private institutions.
In June 2025, 3 survivors filed a $300 Million federal lawsuit over abuse in 2019 and 2020 by staff at Thomas J.S. Waxter Children's Center and Charles H. Hickey Jr. School. They claimed the abuse occurred when they were 14 and 15 and that state officials ignored a “culture of sexual brutalization.”
Michigan Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse
A lawsuit alleges that more than a dozen teenagers were sexually abused by staff at the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center in Saginaw County before it closed in 2021. Thirteen boys and one girl say they were assaulted in their rooms, showers, and other parts of the center.
The Michigan juvenile detention center lawsuit claims officials knew about both staff-on-youth and youth-on-youth abuse but failed to stop it. State regulators moved to revoke the center’s license in 2021 due to excessive use of restraints and other violations.
Michigan juvenile detention center sexual abuse has been reported at many other facilities throughout the state, including in Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center and Bay Pines Center.
New Hampshire Youth Detention Center Abuse
In March 2025, a survivor who was reportedly abused in the 1990s at the state's Youth Development Center beginning when he was 14 was awarded a $10 Million juvenile detention center sexual assault settlement.
[did--you-know]The man alleged that a group of staff members, some of whom he called a “hit squad,” gang-raped him in a stairwell, choked him unconscious, and routinely beat residents. He said the abuse was so pervasive and involved dorm leaders, so reporting it felt impossible.[/did-you-know]
The complaint is one of more than 1,300 that have been filed against the state over juvenile detention center abuse. Since a 2019 investigation, 11 former youth counselors have been arrested, and at least 2 have been convicted.
New Jersey Juvenile Abuse During Detention Time
More than 350 survivors have filed juvenile sexual abuse lawsuits in about 10 New Jersey counties, alleging harm in state-run juvenile detention centers between 1982 and 2024.
Many of the claims involve the New Jersey Training School at Jamesburg, the state’s largest youth lockup. Despite multiple governors vowing to close the center, it remains open. Survivors allege they were threatened to stay silent and that reports of abuse were ignored.
The state has already paid tens of millions of dollars in juvenile detention center sexual abuse settlements to individuals who were harmed while in custody, including at the now-shuttered Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center in Wall.
Call (800) 995-1212 now to see if you may be able to pursue compensation from a juvenile sexual assault lawsuit. It costs nothing to speak with us.
New York Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Assault
More than 500 survivors have filed lawsuits accusing staff at juvenile detention centers in New York City of decades-long sexual abuse.
The juvenile hall lawsuits primarily focus on abuse at:
- Crossroads
- Horizon
- Rikers Island
- Spofford (Bridges)
Survivors describe being sexually abused, manipulated, and traumatized by the very staff who were responsible for their care. Many were just 13 or 14 years old when they were placed in these New York facilities.
Several of the perpetrators were allegedly repeat offenders who operated unchecked for years, and a number of them are reportedly still employed by the city today.
Oklahoma Juvenile Justice Center Sexual Abuse
Dozens of survivors have stepped forward in a federal lawsuit against the Tulsa County Juvenile Justice Center, alleging that staff members repeatedly raped and sexually harassed them while in their custody.
The Tulsa juvenile detention center lawsuits allege staff coerced children into sexual acts, subjected them to harassment, and created an environment where reporting abuse felt impossible. The claims describe a pattern of predatory behavior by employees entrusted with their care.
The charges against former staff members at the facility include human trafficking, soliciting a minor, sexual battery, and indecent exposure.
Oregon Youth Correctional Facility Abuse
Juvenile detention center abuse lawsuits against the Oregon Youth Authority allege pervasive sexual abuse at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, one of the state’s largest youth detention centers.
Staff allegedly assaulted children as young as 12, often in plain view of their coworkers. Complaints were routinely ignored, and a backlog of thousands of abuse allegations was investigated, but nothing was ever done, according to the claims.
In 2025, former counselor Emily Echtenkamp was sentenced to 5 years in prison for sexually abusing a male teen. Other lawsuits accuse a longtime facility doctor of repeatedly molesting boys. Survivors also claim staff supplied youth with drugs as a means of grooming.
Pennsylvania & Abuse in Juvenile Detention Centers
At least 66 survivors have filed juvenile detention center abuse lawsuits, alleging they were sexually and physically harmed as children. The facilities include those in Loysville, South Mountain, and North Central, as well as privately run institutions like Devereux, Merakey, and VisionQuest.
Some survivors described being raped or molested while drugged or otherwise unable to defend themselves. One survivor said he was sedated during outbursts and assaulted by a staff member while restrained. Eighteen of the lawsuits involve abuse at Devereux facilities.
The alleged perpetrators include guards, nurses, and supervisors. Many of the survivors say their reports were ignored or dismissed by other staff members.
Utah Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Assault
In 2023, Wesley Kendal Allen, a 40-year-old staff member at a State of Utah Juvenile Service Facility, was arrested on multiple felony charges, including forcible sexual abuse, rape, and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Surveillance footage captured Allen and a girl entering a room together on several occasions. Authorities also found a love note, a bracelet, and personal writings from the child describing their “relationship,” according to court documents.
Police allege Allen told the victim to lie to investigators and spoke about waiting until she turned 18 to take her out of the country. Investigators later discovered he had provided false personal information to his employer.
Washington, DC Youth Detention Center Abuse
A juvenile detention center sexual assault lawsuit against the District of Columbia alleges systemic failures at the Youth Services Center (YSC). Former guard Kevin Powell was convicted of repeatedly sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl in his care between late 2021 and early 2022.
The lawsuit claims the Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) ignored surveillance footage showing Powell entering and leaving the girl’s cell and taking her off the unit in violation of policy. Powell allegedly had a prior history of sexual abuse at DYRS.
The case comes amid mounting reports of violence and neglect at YSC. Powell’s case is likely just one example of a broader culture of abuse within DYRS.
How to File a Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
At Sokolove Law, we understand how overwhelming it can feel to speak out about abuse that happened in a juvenile detention center. It takes courage to share your story, and our team is here to support you every step of the way.
From the first call to the final resolution in your case, we’ll treat you with the dignity and respect you deserve. Let us handle the legal legwork for you, so you can focus on your healing.
Our juvenile detention attorneys may be able to:
What happened to you wasn't your fault. You deserve to be heard and believed regarding your experience. Let us fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Deadline to File a Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Statutes of limitations are laws that set strict deadlines for how long survivors have to take legal action after experiencing sexual abuse in a juvenile detention center. These deadlines vary by state and depend on when the abuse occurred.
In recent years, many states have created “lookback windows,” which are special time periods that allow survivors to file claims if the original deadline to sue has already passed.
Even if the abuse happened decades ago, or if the staff member responsible for your suffering has passed away, you may still have legal options. Our juvenile detention center abuse attorneys can review your case, explain your rights, and help determine if you may still be eligible to file.
Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Statistics
Sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers is a widespread and deeply troubling problem. Data reveals a disturbing pattern of staff misconduct and institutional failure, with thousands of youth reporting abuse while in state custody.
Find out about juvenile detention center sexual abuse statistics in the U.S.:
- Nearly 1 in 10 youth report being sexually assaulted in state-run juvenile detention centers, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
- These rates are up to 3 times higher in larger facilities with 100 or more youth compared to those with a capacity of 25.
- Between 2000 and 2015, recurring abuse was documented in state-funded juvenile detention facilities in 29 states and Washington, D.C., according to The Sentencing Project.
- In 2017 alone, correctional administrators reported 3,592 allegations of sexual victimization by staff and other youth, and 599 were substantiated.
- Most victims are abused by facility staff, and 20% reported being assaulted more than 10 times by the same individual, according to ProPublica.
- The majority of those who suffer sexual abuse by staff in youth detention centers are males.
- The rate of sexual abuse by staff at juvenile facilities is about 3 times higherthan in facilities for adults.
- Over $4 Billion in juvenile detention lawsuit settlements have been awarded to survivors across the United States.
Sadly, the true scope of abuse is likely far greater, with many incidents never reported due to fear, shame, or institutional cover-ups.
These statistics highlight the urgent need for accountability and reform in juvenile detention centers across the country. Far too many young people have endured repeated trauma at the hands of those entrusted with their care.
Survivors may be able to seek compensation from the facilities and agencies that failed to protect them from a juvenile detention center sexual assault lawsuit.
Billions Recovered Nationwide
We’ve secured over $10 Billion total for our clients. See if you may be eligible for a juvenile justice center abuse settlement now.
Why Does Sexual Abuse in Juvenile Detention Centers Occur?
Sexual abuse in juvenile justice centers is often the result of systemic failures that allow abuse to continue unchecked. Many youth in these facilities have already experienced trauma, making them more vulnerable to exploitation by those in power.
Factors contributing to sexual abuse in juvenile facilities include:
- Access to contraband: Staff may use drugs, alcohol, or other prohibited items as tools for grooming victims.
- Culture of silence: Youth may fear retaliation, not being believed, or extended sentences if they report abuse.
- Imbalance of power: Staff control nearly every aspect of a youth’s daily life in correctional centers, creating opportunities for coercion and manipulation.
- Inadequate staffing and supervision: Understaffing, lack of training, and blind spots in camera coverage make it easier for abuse to go undetected.
- Mishandled complaints: Reports are often ignored, delayed, or inadequately investigated, with perpetrators sometimes allowed to quietly resign instead of being prosecuted.
- Overcrowding and unsafe housing: Vulnerable youth are sometimes placed with aggressive peers, increasing the risk of youth-on-youth assaults.
“There’s just a real lack of transparency about what’s happening inside those facilities.”
– Michele Deitch, Director of the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab
When institutional safeguards break down and accountability is lacking, abuse can flourish. Filing a juvenile detention sexual abuse lawsuit may allow survivors to make their voices heard and hold the facilities that failed to protect them accountable.
Seek Justice from a Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit
If you or someone you love was sexually abused in a juvenile detention center, you may be able to hold those responsible for the abuse accountable. Speaking out can be difficult — but it can also be an important step toward healing. You don't have to take that step alone.
At Sokolove Law, we’ve spent decades fighting for survivors of institutional abuse. To date, we've secured over $10 Billion total for injured clients.
Our juvenile hall sexual abuse lawyers:
- Can help survivors in all 50 states
- Don't charge any upfront costs or hourly fees
- Handle all the legal work, so you can focus on your well-being
Call (800) 995-1212 right now or fill out our contact form to get started with a free case review. Don’t miss your chance to demand the justice you deserve.
Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuits FAQs
What is the juvenile detention center sex abuse crisis?
The juvenile detention center sexual abuse crisis refers to the widespread sexual abuse and exploitation of children held in youth detention facilities across the United States.
Some of the largest scandals involve thousands of survivors and have led to historic settlements, like the $4 Billion juvenile justice center sexual abuse settlement in Los Angeles.
Investigations and lawsuits have revealed patterns of abuse going back decades, often involving guards or other staff members. In many cases, the abuse was enabled by a culture of silence, poor oversight, and cover-ups within these institutions.
Get a free case review now to see if you may qualify for compensation.
Can I sue a juvenile detention center for sexual abuse?
Yes. You may be able to sue a youth detention facility for sexual abuse if you or a loved one was assaulted by staff members, volunteers, contractors, or other parties while in a juvenile detention facility.
The facility had a legal obligation to protect you while you were in their care. Our attorneys can review your case for free and explain your legal rights. Call (800) 995-1212 right now to get started.
How much compensation can I get from a juvenile detention center abuse settlement?
The amount of compensation you may receive depends on the specific facts of your case, like the severity of the abuse and its impact on your life. However, some survivors have recovered hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars from juvenile detention center settlements and jury verdicts.
In one case, a New Hampshire jury awarded $38 Million to a man who was beaten, raped, and held in solitary confinement at a youth detention center as a teenager.
A juvenile hall lawsuit payout can help cover medical bills, therapy, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. It's also a way to hold those responsible for the abuse accountable.
Can adults take action for juvenile detention center sexual abuse?
Yes, potentially. Even if the abuse happened decades ago, you may still be able to take legal action as an adult. Many survivors of juvenile detention center abuse don’t come forward until later in life, often because of trauma, fear of retaliation, or not realizing they had legal options.
Some states have extended their statutes of limitations on sexual abuse lawsuits or created special “lookback windows” that allow survivors to file claims no matter when the abuse occurred.
We can review your situation, explain the laws in your state, and help you understand if you may still be eligible to file a claim.
How much does it cost to hire a juvenile detention abuse lawyer?
At Sokolove Law, there are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with our juvenile detention abuse lawyers. We operate on a contingency-fee basis, which means we only get paid if we secure compensation for you. If we don’t win, you owe nothing.
Contact us now to see if we may be able to fight hard for the justice and compensation you deserve.
