Twin Pines Ranch Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse at Twin Pines Ranch, you may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit. Contact Helping Survivors to learn more about your legal rights and options.
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- The Twin Pines Ranch was a wildlife rehabilitation program for juvenile offenders in Riverside County, California, that closed in 2014.
- Riverside County has since faced numerous allegations of mistreatment and potential abuse of youth in custody at Twin Pines Ranch and other county juvenile detention facilities
History of Twin Pines Ranch
Twin Pines Ranch was a juvenile detention and rehabilitation center located in the San Jacinto Mountains above Banning, California. The Riverside County Probation Department closed the ranch in 2014, citing the program’s cost and effectiveness as the reasons. Juvenile offenders’ needs had changed, and large fires had prompted residents to be evacuated.
Over its 67-year history, thousands of boys between the ages of 14 and 18 were sent to Twin Pines Ranch for rehabilitation. During its years of operation, Twin Pines Ranch was widely praised as a model wilderness rehabilitation program and military-style boot camp with low rates of recidivism.
The last teens graduated from the program in May 2014. Juvenile offenders who would have gone to the ranch now go to other locked treatment facilities in Riverside County.
Allegations of Abuse at Twin Pines Ranch
The Riverside County Probation Department, which oversaw the Twin Pines Ranch juvenile facility until its closure in 2014, has a history of mistreating youth and 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.
Several other California counties are also facing accusations and 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, which can have a devastating, lifelong impact on survivors.
How Did Sexual Abuse Occur at Twin Pines Ranch?
Across California, other counties like San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino have faced hundreds of lawsuits from survivors who say they were sexually abused in county juvenile detention facilities. Most of the lawsuits allege abuse at the hands of probation officers, counselors, and other staff.
The lawsuits filed so far accuse county and state officials of failing to adequately screen officers before hiring them, failing to intervene and prevent abuse, failing to properly investigate complaints of abuse, and failing to discipline abusive officers. Additionally, some survivors say these facilities created conditions that made sexual abuse easier for staff to commit and get away with, including isolation and a lack of oversight. Twin Pines Ranch’s remote location and large size likely provided such conditions.
Rights and Options for Survivors of Abuse at Twin Pines Ranch
Survivors of juvenile detention center sexual abuse at Twin Pines Ranch or other juvenile facilities in California generally have the right to report abuse to the authorities, file a civil lawsuit, and access legal and mental health support services.
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, too. Because Twin Pines Ranch itself is now closed, survivors may be able to hold the Riverside County Probation Department accountable for abuse instead.
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.
In California, survivors of child sexual abuse can report it 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. Finally, you can reach the state’s 24-hour CPS Child Abuse Hotline at 916-875-5437.
Filing a Civil Lawsuit
After experiencing sexual abuse in a California juvenile detention or rehabilitation facility like Twin Pines Ranch, survivors and their loved ones may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit to hold the responsible parties accountable and recover compensation. Some survivors may be eligible to take civil legal action even if the abuse occurred years or even decades ago.
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.
RAINN
If you need emotional support after experiencing harm, you can contact RAINN, a national advocacy organization that provides support to survivors of sexual abuse. While they do not directly investigate abuse, they can connect victims with local resources, including counseling for mental health needs. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) to talk confidentially with a trained professional from RAINN.
California Sexual Abuse Laws
California law provides survivors of sexual violence with certain legal protections. The Victims’ Bill of Rights, also known as Marsy’s Law, grants survivors special protections throughout the criminal or juvenile justice process. Additionally, the state’s Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights protects victims’ rights, prohibits retaliation against them, and aims to maintain their privacy and well-being throughout the legal process.
Compensation for Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse
Juvenile detention sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to pursue compensation for their damages, such as medical bills, therapy costs, pain, suffering, emotional distress, lost earning capacity, and more. In some cases, courts may also award punitive damages if they determine the defendants’ conduct was malicious, fraudulent, or oppressive.
Every case is unique, and there is no guaranteed amount of compensation for child sexual abuse lawsuits. However, an experienced juvenile detention center sexual abuse attorney can provide an estimate for how much compensation you may be able to recover.
Contact Helping Survivors for Legal and Support Resources
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while detained at the Twin Pines Ranch or another California juvenile detention center, you have legal rights and options for healing and accountability.
Helping Survivors works to help heal, educate, and empower survivors of sexual assault and abuse by informing them of their rights, providing access to resources for support, and connecting them with our partner law firms. The lawyers at these firms have years of experience in sexual abuse cases, providing trauma-informed legal guidance and representation throughout the lawsuit process. The lawyers we work with represent survivors on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and the firms only get paid if they recover compensation.
To learn more about your legal rights and options as a survivor of juvenile detention center sexual abuse in California, reach out to Helping Survivors today.
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