Green Hill School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Survivors of sexual abuse at the Green Hill School in Chehalis, Washington, have the right to seek justice and accountability. We can help survivors understand their legal rights and options. Get legal help today.
- The Green Hill School in Washington state has seen multiple former staff members charged and convicted of sexually abusing juvenile inmates in recent years.
- Washington State settled a lawsuit from 10 survivors of alleged sexual abuse at Green Hill School for $2.1 million in 2021.
- If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while detained at Green Hill School, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable.
The Green Hill School in Chehalis is Washington state’s only maximum-security juvenile facility for males and is overseen by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. It provides academic classes and vocational training to incarcerated male youth from across the state. There have been allegations of sexual abuse against multiple juvenile detention facilities in Washington state in recent years, and Green Hill School is no exception.
Over the last 20 years, multiple former staff members, including counselors, guards, cooks, and more, have faced criminal charges and convictions for the abuse of inmates. The Chehalis Police Department reported that it conducted 117 investigations related to the school in 2025 alone.
Overview of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Green Hill School
Numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse at Green Hill have surfaced in recent years. In January 2016, a former Green Hill School counselor was arrested following an investigation into an alleged sexual relationship with a juvenile resident. According to Washington court documents, several lawsuits have been filed by former Green Hill residents alleging sexual abuse. The allegations date back decades.
Criminal Charges Against Staff
In late 2025, two staff members at Washington’s Green Hill School were convicted of sexually abusing inmates. The incidents were reportedly captured on contraband phones, raising concerns about a systemic lack of institutional oversight at Green Hill School.
One of the victims in the criminal case has also filed a civil lawsuit alleging repeated sexual abuse and exploitation. Meanwhile, a third Green Hill School staff member was arrested for custodial sexual misconduct in March 2026.
Civil Lawsuits
In 2018, a former Green Hill School inmate filed suit over an alleged sexual assault he endured at the school at the age of 16 in 2013. The suit names the facility, the Department of Social and Health Services, and two administrators as defendants, alleging they failed to protect him from the abuse. The lawsuit claimed multiple counselors, a cook, and other staff members perpetrated the abuse. It also alleged that state officials ignored repeated abuse and protected the perpetrator from consequences.
The next year, five other former Green Hill School inmates filed a lawsuit alleging negligence and sexual abuse by Dr. Isaac Pope, a local doctor who provided medical services at the school for years.
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Green Hill School Sexual Abuse Settlements
In September 2021, the state agreed to pay $2.1 million to settle a lawsuit filed by 10 people who alleged they were sexually abused by Green Hill School staff when they were teenagers. Several plaintiffs were detained at Green Hill School in the 1970s, while others were held there as recently as the 2000s.
The lawsuit alleged that the state officials knew or should have known about a culture of sexual abuse at Green Hill School.
Legal Rights and Options for Survivors in Washington State
Survivors of juvenile detention center sexual abuse in Washington state have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable. They may be able to file a complaint with oversight agencies, report the abuse to police to initiate a criminal investigation, or file a civil lawsuit against the parties that enabled abuse.
File a Complaint With Oversight Agencies
Survivors of abuse at Green Hill School have the right to file a complaint with the Washington State Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds. Family members can also submit a complaint on a survivor’s behalf by completing the form on ofco.wa.gov or calling 206-439-3870.
Reporting to Law Enforcement
Although reporting abuse to the police is not always required to take civil legal action, it may still be helpful. It can trigger a criminal investigation that may lead to criminal charges against the perpetrator. It can also create a valuable paper trail that can help substantiate abuse claims. You can call 911 or your local law enforcement agency to file a report.
File A Civil Lawsuit
To file a civil lawsuit for juvenile detention abuse in Washington, you must adhere to the applicable statute of limitations. Washington lawmakers abolished the state’s civil statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse as of June 6, 2024. Thus, anyone victimized by child sexual abuse on or after that date may file suit at any time.
Survivors of abuse that occurred before that date have until their 21st birthday or within three years of discovering the harm the abuse has caused to file suit. Adults typically have three years to file a lawsuit.
At Helping Survivors, we connect survivors of sexual abuse and assault with trauma-informed attorneys, who can represent them in civil lawsuits and seek compensation on their behalf. Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights and options.
Compensation for Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Survivors
In a successful juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawsuit, survivors can seek compensation for a range of damages, including medical bills, therapy costs, lost income and opportunities, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.
The compensation recoverable depends on circumstances such as the severity and duration of the abuse, the effects on the victim’s life, the egregiousness of the misconduct, and the strength of the evidence. Speak with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer to learn more about the compensation available to you.
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