New York Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Assault
Sexual abuse at New York’s juvenile detention centers has been a pervasive and systemic issue for decades. The state’s centers have faced heavy scrutiny for failing to protect young inmates from misconduct and sexual abuse, often committed by staff members. Now, some abuse survivors have stepped forward by filing civil lawsuits against the institutions that ignored or enabled the harm, seeking justice and accountability.
Helping Survivors is on a mission to help heal, educate, and empower those impacted by sexual assault and abuse in New York juvenile detention centers. If you or a loved one was sexually abused at one such center—even if it was years or decades ago—you have rights and legal options.
Have you experienced sexual assault or abuse?
Helping Survivors can connect you with an attorney if you may have a case. While we cannot report a crime on your behalf, your safety is important. Please contact your local authorities for further assistance.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- Over the past few years, at least seven New York juvenile detention facilities have been accused of allowing detainees to be sexually abused without intervention.
- More than 500 lawsuits have been filed against New York juvenile detention centers by abuse survivors, who say the state failed to protect them from predatory staff.
- If you or a loved one was sexually abused or assaulted at a New York juvenile detention center, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable.
Overview of New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse
By the end of January 2025, sexual abuse survivors had filed at least 539 claims against several New York City juvenile detention centers. The allegations in the complaints date back decades at facilities in Brooklyn and the Bronx, with 115 new lawsuits filed on January 28 alone. Twelve of those cases identify repeat offenders from various juvenile detention centers who have already faced other lawsuits and criminal charges.
Each of the 539 lawsuits seeks to hold the city responsible for the abuse the plaintiffs say they experienced as minors in the custody of four different New York City juvenile detention centers—Horizon Juvenile Detention Center, Crossroads Juvenile Center, Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, and Rikers Island. However, city lawyers have denied the charges, claiming the city is not responsible for individual perpetrators’ actions.
Examples of New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse
In the complaints filed so far, many victims accuse New York juvenile detention center staff members of creating a culture of abuse and silence, often offering cash or other rewards in exchange for sexual favors. One former detainee spoke about being molested at the Crossroads Juvenile Facility, while another detailed repeated rapes at the now-closed Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in 1998.
Survivors accuse the City of New York of allowing systemic child sexual abuse to continue on its watch for decades. In particular, lawsuits have named the New York City Administration for Children’s Services and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services Bureau of Detention Services, accusing the offices of enabling cultures of systemic abuse and failing to protect young inmates.
- Overview of New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse
- Examples of New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse
- Rights and Options for Individuals Impacted by New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse
- Current Lawsuits Against New York Juvenile Detention Facilities
- List of Juvenile Detention Centers in New York With Reports of Abuse
- Helping Survivors Can Offer Support and Legal Assistance
- Speak Confidentially With a Sexual Abuse Survivor Advocate Today
- Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
Rights and Options for Individuals Impacted by New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse
Every survivor’s experience is unique, and what they choose to do afterward is ultimately their choice. There is no right or wrong answer after experiencing harm. However, it’s important to understand your legal rights and options to make your decision in full confidence.
If you survived sexual abuse in a New York juvenile detention center and choose to pursue justice, there are multiple ways to report the abuse you endured. You can contact your local police department or the government agencies that oversee the facility. Additionally, organizations such as Safe Horizon offer hotlines and support services to assist survivors in reporting abuse and accessing necessary resources.
File a Civil New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse Complaint with an Oversight Agency
If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse while detained at a New York juvenile detention center, you can report instances of abuse to the New York State Justice Center by calling the Vulnerable Persons Central Register hotline at 1-855-373-2122. A call center representative will collect your information, classify the incident as reportable or non-reportable, and assign your case to the appropriate entity for investigation or review.
However, we strongly recommend consulting an experienced New York juvenile detention center abuse lawyer before contacting any agency. A lawyer can protect your rights throughout the reporting process and ensure you have access to the right New York sex abuse resources for support. Helping Survivors can connect you with a qualified attorney today.
Report New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse to Law Enforcement
Filing a police report will trigger a criminal investigation, potentially leading to the perpetrator’s prosecution. Ultimately, prosecutors will decide whether to file criminal charges. It’s important to provide as much detail as possible and to seek support from advocacy groups during this process.
Even if no charges are filed, the police report will create a valuable paper trail documenting the abuse. This documentation can support a civil lawsuit and potentially encourage other survivors to come forward.
How Long Do I Have To File A New York Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
Under New York City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, sexual abuse survivors have the right to file civil lawsuits against their abusers and the institutions that failed to protect them. A 2022 amendment to the law added a two-year look-back window, allowing survivors to file claims for abuse that occurred any time in the past until February 28, 2025.
Have You Been Abused at a Juvenile Detention Center?
If you or a loved one has suffered sexual abuse while in a juvenile detention center, you have the right to seek justice. Our team of experienced attorneys is here to provide you with the legal support and guidance you deserve.
Current Lawsuits Against New York Juvenile Detention Facilities
New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse in the News
New York Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuits - September 2025
Maya Hayes, a former prison psychologist who pleaded guilty this summer to sexually assaulting a teenager in her care, is slated to be sentenced in September. Hayes, 47, was also accused of sexual abuse by three other former patients between the ages of 15 and 18 who allege that she assaulted them during counseling sessions at the Brookwood Secure Center for Youth.
New York Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuits - March 2025
As of this month, at least 539 lawsuits have been filed by survivors of sexual abuse in New York City juvenile detention centers.
New York Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuits - January 2025
On January 28, 2025, 115 new lawsuits were filed against various New York juvenile detention facilities, accusing them of decades of sexual abuse by staff. Nine of the new suits accused Natalie Medford, an ex-counselor at Horizon Juvenile Center, of sexual abuse between 2005 and 2015. Medford now faces 21 total complaints of sexual abuse.
New York Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuits - October 2024
New York City moved to dismiss numerous lawsuits by sexual abuse survivors seeking to hold the city liable for failing to protect children under its care. The city argues in its motion that under a 2022 amendment to the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, only individual perpetrators, not institutions, can be held liable for abuse. In response, the plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that the city’s interpretation of the law is inconsistent with the city council’s intent when passing it. The motion is still pending.
New York Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuits - April 2024
The first lawsuit against a New York juvenile detention center was filed this month by 150 victims of alleged abuse at the Horizon Juvenile Detention Center.
List of Juvenile Detention Centers in New York With Reports of Abuse
The following New York juvenile detention centers have been the subject of sexual abuse allegations:
- Spofford Juvenile Detention Center: Formerly known as Bridges Juvenile Detention Center, Spofford was closed by the city of New York in 2011 after operating in the Bronx for over 50 years. The center was the subject of numerous abuse and misconduct allegations beginning in the 1960s, and several former guards and counselors were terminated or arrested for abuse.
- Horizon Juvenile Detention Center: In 2023, a Gothamist report chronicled misconduct among facility staff, reporting that inmates were given cash, weapons, and drugs in exchange for sexual acts. The center also faced investigations in 2015 and 2018 over whether workers failed to report known abusers.
- Crossroads Juvenile Center: Crossroads Juvenile Center has faced allegations of sexual abuse by staff for years, with former youth inmates and advocates alleging a culture of secrecy that prevented justice.
- Rikers Island: In 2023, former inmates filed more than 700 lawsuits against Rikers Island, alleging decades of sexual abuse.
- Brentwood Residential Center for Girls: In December 2023, a youth support specialist pleaded guilty to the rape of a 15-year-old inmate on multiple occasions at this facility.
- Children’s Village: In 2020, former incarcerated youths filed nearly a dozen lawsuits alleging that Children’s Village staff sexually abused them from the 1970s to 1990s. The suits accused the facility of failing to supervise staff and creating a culture of abuse.
- Brookwood Secure Center for Youth: In 2024, a former psychologist at Brookwood Secure Center, a youth detention facility run by New York’s Office of Children and Family Services, was accused of committing sex crimes at the facility. The psychologist pleaded guilty in the summer of 2025 to assaulting one teenager in her care, though at least three others have accused her of similar acts.
Helping Survivors Can Offer Support and Legal Assistance
If you or a loved one was sexually abused by a guard, counselor, nurse, or other staff member at a New York youth residential treatment facility or juvenile detention center, you may have grounds to file a civil lawsuit. You may even be eligible to file suit if the abuse occurred years ago. With a civil lawsuit, you can pursue financial damages for medical and therapy expenses, lost wages and income, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and more.
When pursuing justice for sexual abuse at a New York juvenile detention center, it’s crucial to have an experienced attorney by your side. Helping Survivors offers resources and a safe, supportive space for individuals who have experienced sexual abuse within New York juvenile detention facilities. Our advocates focus on connecting survivors with experienced law firms that can file suit against the individuals and organizations responsible for their abuse and seek compensation for the harm they suffered. We can also help you with:
- Arranging a confidential consultation with experienced legal professionals who specialize in institutional abuse litigation
- Understanding your rights under New York law
- Connecting you to trauma-informed counseling and resources
- Receiving guidance on filing civil claims or joining group lawsuits
Speak Confidentially With a Sexual Abuse Survivor Advocate Today
If you or someone you love suffered sexual abuse in a New York juvenile detention center, it’s important to understand your legal rights and options. Our team at Helping Survivors is here to listen without judgment, protect your privacy, and connect you with trusted legal advocates who can fight for justice.
Call us today or reach out through our secure contact form to take the first step toward healing and holding responsible parties accountable.
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