Alameda County Juvenile Hall Lawsuit
The Alameda County Juvenile Hall is a secure detention facility for juvenile offenders in San Leandro, California. With a capacity of 358, the facility is staffed by Juvenile Institutional Officers from the Alameda County Probation Department, which oversees care for detainees as they await adjudication in court. Children as young as 12 can be sent to juvenile hall and may remain there until they turn 25.
Across California, numerous counties and juvenile detention centers have been named in hundreds of lawsuits over the past several years, each alleging a widespread epidemic of sexual abuse in juvenile detention facilities. Though Alameda County Juvenile Hall has not been named in any lawsuits as of yet, the facility still has a documented history of mistreatment and negligence.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- Located in San Leandro, California, the Alameda County Juvenile Hall is a temporary holding facility for detained minors awaiting adjudication by the juvenile justice system.
- The Alameda County Juvenile Hall has a history of excessive force, wrongful incarceration, and staff misconduct, with at least one former staff member facing criminal charges for sexually abusing a minor detainee.
- If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse in a facility like Alameda County Juvenile Hall, Helping Survivors can help you understand your legal rights and options.
Sexual Abuse and Neglect Allegations at Alameda County Juvenile Hall
Though no lawsuits have yet been filed against Alameda County Juvenile Hall alleging sexual abuse by staff, the county’s District Attorney filed felony criminal charges against a former juvenile probation officer in 2023 regarding alleged sexual contact with a minor detainee. Nicole Perales, 50, is accused of engaging in oral copulation with a 15-year-old minor in custody at the Alameda Juvenile Justice Center from 2004 to 2005, facing charges of willfully and unlawfully performing a lewd and lascivious act on a child.
Alameda County Juvenile Hall has also faced public backlash over its use of pepper spray on minor detainees. California is one of only six states that allow correctional officers to carry pepper spray, and county records show that some corrections officers view it as necessary due to chronic understaffing. Advocates for detainees call the overuse of pepper spray inhumane.
A History of Poor Conditions
Concerns about the treatment of minor inmates at the Alameda County Juvenile Hall are not new. In 2000, with the help of the Alameda County Probation Department, the National Council on Crime and Delinquency studied the needs of youth in the juvenile hall. The findings represent the responses of 361 youth entering the center between February and May 2000, most of whom had troubled pasts, including violence, abuse, and neglect.
The Council recommended that the county replace the juvenile hall, deeming it “old and unsafe.” Additionally, it suggested reducing the “inappropriate use of detention” and “unnecessary incarceration” by using proven detention alternatives for non-serious offenders and minors awaiting placement.
At a 2023 town hall meeting in Alameda County, activists demanded a restructuring of the county’s juvenile justice system, asserting that elected officials spent decades “failing to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline.” They called for decreased police budgets and investments in rehabilitation services and restorative justice programs.
Legal Rights and Options for Detained Youth in California
If your rights were violated by staff at Alameda County Juvenile Hall, you have options for seeking legal recourse. Survivors of juvenile detention sexual abuse are often nervous to come forward, but their voices are important.
In California, there are several ways for survivors of child abuse to report it to the authorities and oversight agencies. You can file a complaint with the Bureau of Children’s Justice, which protects children’s rights in the juvenile justice system. In addition, if you believe your rights are being violated or you are experiencing harmful conditions in a juvenile detention center, you can file a complaint with the Office of Youth and Community Restoration online or by calling 1-844-402-1880.
Victims’ Rights Under California Law
Under California law, survivors of sexual abuse and victims of crime have special protections and rights to protect them throughout the legal process. California’s Victims’ Bill of Rights, also known as Marsy’s Law, significantly expanded victims’ rights in the state, providing the right to be treated with fairness and respect, to be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse, to safety, to confidentiality, to restitution, and more.
California also has a Sexual Assault Survivor’s Bill of Rights, also known as A.B. 1312, which provides victims of sexual violence with additional rights. These include the right to a 24-hour confidential sexual assault counselor or victim advocate, the right to ask for a temporary protective order, the right to a copy of your crime report, the right to a free forensic exam, the right to restitution, and more.
If You Aren’t Sure Where to Turn, RAINN Can Help
RAINN provides information about therapy resources and other mental health-related services. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org to talk confidentially with a trained professional. They can also connect you with local resources and organizations to aid in your journey forward.
How a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Can Help
The process of filing and litigating a civil lawsuit is complex, and it is vital to have experienced legal representation when filing a child sexual abuse lawsuit. A lawyer who handles sexual abuse cases can help you navigate the legal challenges and advocate for your rights and interests in court to help you pursue the justice you deserve.
Speak With an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while detained at the Alameda County Juvenile Hall, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable. At Helping Survivors, we work to help heal, educate, and empower survivors of sexual abuse by informing them about their rights and resources for support, and connecting them with our partner law firms.
Our legal partners work with survivors to file civil lawsuits against the individuals, institutions, and government entities that perpetrated or enabled the abuse they endured. When you work with our partner law firms, you will receive trauma-informed legal support with experience in sexual abuse and civil rights cases, and there’s no cost unless they win your case.
To learn more about your rights or get connected with legal support, contact Helping Survivors today.
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