Riverside Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
In recent years, the Riverside County Probation Department has been at the heart of numerous investigations, lawsuits, and allegations of sexual abuse by probation staff. These incidents have raised concerns about the county’s oversight, training, and accountability of probation officers. Across California, multiple other counties are facing similar accusations and hundreds of lawsuits from survivors who say they were sexually abused by staff in juvenile detention facilities. These lawsuits highlight a statewide failure to protect vulnerable youth from sexual violence.
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
- Riverside Juvenile Hall was a juvenile detention center in Riverside County, California, that closed in 2020.
- Several lawsuits and criminal charges have been filed over alleged abuse and misconduct at Riverside Juvenile Hall, which was operated by the Riverside County Probation Department.
- If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse at Riverside Juvenile Hall, you may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit. Contact Helping Survivors to learn more about your legal rights and options.
Riverside County Sexual Abuse Allegations
Riverside Juvenile Hall was a juvenile detention facility in Riverside County, California, that closed in early 2020 due to low occupancy rates and high operating costs. Operated under the jurisdiction of the Riverside County Probation Department, the facility opened in 1955 and had a capacity of 187, making it the county’s largest juvenile detention center. After Riverside’s closure, its remaining occupants were moved to other area facilities.
With Riverside Juvenile Hall’s closure, the Riverside County Probation Department still operates three juvenile institutions and treatment facilities: the Alan M. Corgan Youth Treatment and Education Center, the Southwest Juvenile Hall, and the Indio Juvenile Hall. The department also operated the Twin Pines Ranch juvenile facility until its closure in 2014 in the wake of sexual abuse accusations.
In January 2025, a former Riverside County corrections officer was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a juvenile inmate in one of the county’s juvenile detention facilities. Cecilia Pulido, 42, was hired by the probation department in 2023 but resigned before allegations surfaced.
News reports state that members of the Riverside County Probation Department contacted sheriff’s deputies regarding an alleged relationship between Pulido and a boy who was in custody. Pulido was charged with suspicion of sexual contact with an inmate, molesting a minor, unauthorized communication with an inmate, and more.
- Riverside County Sexual Abuse Allegations
- Riverside County’s History of Misconduct
- Rights and Options for Survivors of Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse in California
- California Sexual Abuse Laws
- Compensation for Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Claims
- How a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Can Help
- Speak With an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney
Riverside County’s History of Misconduct
Riverside County’s probation and social services departments have been at the center of numerous misconduct allegations in recent years. In 2019, the county settled a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union that alleged Riverside County’s Youth Accountability Team program created a pipeline to prison for youth of color. The settlement agreement required the county to cease referring youth to the probation program, which had treated non-criminal adolescent behavior, such as truancy or academic issues, as a criminal matter.
A year earlier, Riverside County’s top social services official resigned amid allegations that social workers in her department failed to report and adequately investigate child abuse and neglect claims. Two lawsuits filed against the county alleged botched child abuse investigations, stating that county workers did not protect the children involved despite having multiple opportunities to intervene.
Rights and Options for Survivors of Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse in California
Survivors of juvenile detention center sexual abuse at the Riverside Juvenile Hall or other juvenile facilities in the county generally have the right to report abuse to the authorities and file civil lawsuits. While reporting sexual abuse to law enforcement may lead to criminal charges against individual perpetrators, civil lawsuits allow victims to hold the institutions that enabled the abuse accountable.
Reporting the Abuse
While not required for a civil lawsuit, reporting sexual abuse to the authorities and state oversight agencies can be a helpful step in investigations and could potentially lead to criminal charges against perpetrators. However, prosecutors ultimately decide whether to bring charges, and victims have little control over the process.
Survivors can report to the Office of Youth and Community Restoration by calling 1-844-402-1880 or submitting a complaint online. The California Bureau of Children’s Justice also protects children’s rights in the California juvenile justice system and encourages detainees to submit complaints about violations online.
According to the Riverside County Probation Department’s juvenile facilities handbook, the county has zero tolerance for anyone engaged in any form of sexual abuse or sexual harassment of youth. Youth can report any concerns to their parent or legal guardian via confidential grievance, talk to a staff member, request behavioral health assistance, or make a confidential, free phone call to the Prison Rape Elimination Act ombudsperson.
Filing a Civil Lawsuit
Survivors of sexual abuse at Riverside Juvenile Hall or another California juvenile detention center may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit to hold the responsible parties accountable and recover compensation.
In California, the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases has changed multiple times in recent years. In 2019, Assembly Bill 218 significantly extended the statute of limitations and revived some previously time-barred claims. Survivors who experienced abuse when they were under 18 years old now have until their 40th birthday or within five years of discovering the harm the abuse caused to file a lawsuit. Survivors who were 18 or older have 10 years from the date of the assault to file a lawsuit.
California Sexual Abuse Laws
California gives survivors of sexual violence, including juvenile detention center abuse, certain legal protections. The Victims’ Bill of Rights, also known as Marsy’s Law, grants survivors of sexual violence specific protections throughout the criminal or juvenile justice process.
Additionally, the state’s Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights further protects victims from retaliation and ensures their rights, privacy, and well-being are maintained throughout the legal process.
Compensation for Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Claims
Through a successful juvenile detention sex abuse lawsuit, survivors may be able to recover damages for medical and therapy costs, pain, suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, and more. The court may also award punitive damages if it determines the defendants’ conduct was egregiously negligent or reckless.
Every case is different, and there is no guaranteed amount of compensation for child sexual abuse lawsuits. An experienced sexual abuse attorney can provide an estimate for how much compensation you may be able to recover.
How a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Can Help
Civil lawsuits are complex, so it is vital to have experienced legal representation to guide you through the legal process. A lawyer with experience in sexual abuse cases in juvenile detention facilities understands the legal challenges of such cases and how to handle them. Working with an experienced sexual abuse attorney gives survivors the best chance at recovering the compensation they deserve.
Speak With an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse or misconduct while detained at Riverside Juvenile Hall or another juvenile detention facility, you have rights and options for pursuing justice.
At Helping Survivors, we help heal, educate, and empower survivors of sexual abuse by informing them of their rights, referring them to resources for support, and connecting them with our partner law firms. These firms have deep experience with sexual abuse cases and provide trauma-informed legal support to survivors. All our legal partners work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay anything unless they win your case.
To learn more about your rights and legal options or to get connected with an experienced attorney, contact Helping Survivors today.
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