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Sometimes, the very staff who are meant to protect children held in youth detention centers instead inflict substantial harm, sexually abusing those in their custody. In a recent tentative settlement, four billion dollars ($4,000,000,000.00) was awarded to victims related to child abuse in county facility programs, like foster homes and juvenile detention centers (“juvenile hall”), highlighting the horrific proportions of the problem of child sex abuse in Los Angeles County.
This case stems from a recent California law that affords many survivors of child sexual abuse additional time to file civil claims against their abusers as well as the institutions that enabled their abuse. This includes those sexually abused in juvenile detention centers.
The sad truth is that sexual abuse in Los Angeles juvenile detention centers has been widespread, but a compassionate attorney from our experienced legal team at Boren Law, P.C., can help you pursue justice if you have suffered at the hands of those who were meant to keep you safe.
Recent sexual abuse cases have uncovered profound and systemic lapses in care within the Los Angeles juvenile detention system. Examples of such lapsed care include the following:
Children are often cautioned against reporting abuse with threats of punishment, isolation, and worse. Not only have Los Angeles juvenile detention centers often harbored adult sexual abusers, but they have arguably operated outside the bounds of full accountability for decades. By ignoring many abused juveniles’ pleas for help, the institutions compounded the trauma experienced by survivors. Many victims sustain lifelong emotional scars that have followed them into adulthood.
Failing to conduct proper background checks is one of the biggest red flags when it comes to systemic sexual abuse in Los Angeles County juvenile detention centers. Recent cases confirm that many juvenile detention facilities in California have hired or retained individuals with “red flags” (including but not limited to serious criminal allegations in their records).
While this recent settlement names a long list of facilities where children were sexually abused, those LA County juvenile detention centers where allegations of abuse have surfaced include the following:
Many of these facilities have faced allegations that their staff blatantly ignored the plight of children, swept their complaints aside, transferred staff who called attention to the abuse, and/or generally prioritized their reputation over the safety of the children they served. This immense $4 billion settlement is intended to help survivors rebuild their lives and compensate them for their substantial injuries. The new state law extending the statute of limitations was meant to allow adult victims who suffered abuse as children to still seek justice all these years later.
Duty of care refers to the fundamental responsibility for the safety of others. This could be the duty of driving safely for the sake of other drivers or a doctor with a duty to properly care for their patients. In this case, the duty of care is to the minor residents in Los Angeles juvenile detention centers, and the breach of this duty by allowing sexual abuse to occur constitutes alleged negligence by the County. This breach of duty breaks down into several basic categories.
The entire premise of juvenile detention is to supervise the young residents while they are in the County’s custody. Inadequate supervision can include failing to properly screen staff before hiring them, not adequately training staff once they are hired, and failing to monitor staff with direct access to vulnerable minors.
Minors who have been detained have important constitutional rights. These include the right to protection from harm. A facility’s deliberate indifference to a child’s known or suspected dangers can be deemed a constitutional violation.
Staff members of facilities serving juveniles have a legal obligation to report any suspected abuse, and immediately. By failing to do so, the staff (and, by extension, the supervising entities, like LA County) allow predators to continue abusing children.
Sexual abuse in Los Angeles juvenile detention centers has been widespread and devastating. If you or someone you care about is a survivor of sexual abuse, compensation may be available. You deserve a legal advocate who will fight for you. The legal team at Boren Law, P.C., has experience successfully handling these challenging claims, and we will spare no effort on your behalf. Furthermore, we do not charge a fee unless we win in court or achieve a settlement on your behalf. Reach out today for help taking your first steps toward justice.