Holley Child Care and Development Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit
Holley Child Care and Development Center, a residential treatment facility for children and adolescents in Hackensack, New Jersey, is facing numerous allegations that staff have sexually abused patients. Additionally, multiple employees have been terminated from the Holley Center in recent years after arrests for sexual misconduct.
If you or a loved one has been sexually abused at the Holley Child Care and Development Center, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the center’s operator, even if the abuser was never charged with a crime. Reach out to Helping Survivors today to learn more about your legal options and be connected with an experienced sexual abuse law firm.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- Holley Child Care and Development Center in New Jersey is facing numerous allegations of child sexual abuse by staff, and several former residents have filed lawsuits against the nonprofit that oversees the center.
- In recent years, Holley Center has also seen several staff members arrested and charged with sex crimes against minor residents of the facility.
- If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse as a resident of Holley Center–even if it was years ago–you have legal rights and options for seeking justice and compensation.
About the Holley Child Care and Development Center
Holley Child Care and Development Center is a New Jersey residential treatment facility for children who suffer from abuse, neglect, or psychiatric issues. Treatment at the Holley Center includes individual and group therapy and behavior modification for people with serious emotional disturbances, trauma, and intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The facility is operated by Youth Consultation Service, or YCS, a New Jersey nonprofit organization that oversees 18 group homes for youths with mental, intellectual, and developmental issues. The facilities serve about 160 children statewide. YCS asserts its mission is to partner with at-risk children with special needs to build healthier lives in their families and communities.
What Is the Holley Child Care and Development Center Accused Of?
In May 2025, six survivors of alleged childhood sexual abuse by staff at several Youth Consultation Service residential treatment facilities, including Holley Child Care and Development Center, filed lawsuits against YCS. The lawsuits allege abuse by a variety of staff members, including counselors, supervisors, teachers, nurses, and more, and the survivors say YCS did not do enough to prevent the abuse from occurring and punish the perpetrators.
Allegations of abuse in youth residential treatment facilities are serious, especially when children with developmental disabilities are involved. Despite previous reports of abuse and the arrests of several staff members in 2021, Holley Center and YCS failed to adequately protect the children in their care and properly supervise staff.
Institutional Negligence and Oversight Failures
Over the past several years, Youth Consultation Service and Holley Child Care and Development Center have faced numerous allegations of abuse by staff, with several staff members even being arrested on criminal charges. In 2021, the Holley Center saw two employees arrested on charges of sexually abusing teens at the facility.
Terrell Wilson, a former cook at the facility, was charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old resident while knowingly infected with HIV. Garry Rucker, a former resident assistant who directly supervised children at the facility, was charged with sexually assaulting another minor resident.
Even after the arrests of its former staff members and the filing of the lawsuits, YCS still defended its “extensive” hiring practices, including background checks. However, neither YCS nor Holley Center has commented on an alleged failure to adequately supervise staff, monitor children, and take disciplinary action against staff when abuse is reported. This pattern of negligence was part of what prompted the lawsuits against YCS.
Legal Rights of Abuse Survivors in New Jersey
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse in New Jersey, you have legal rights and options. Survivors of institutional abuse can report the abuse to law enforcement to begin a criminal investigation. They also have the right to file a lawsuit against the institution that failed to protect them. Through a civil sexual abuse lawsuit, survivors can recover damages for pain and suffering, emotional trauma, medical bills, therapy costs, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
Who Can File an Abuse Lawsuit Against Holley Center?
Anyone who experienced sexual abuse by a staff member at the Holley Child Care and Development Center may have the right to file a lawsuit against the center and YCS, as long as the claim is within New Jersey’s sexual abuse statute of limitations.
New Jersey reformed its civil statutes of limitations for sexual abuse in 2019, so survivors of childhood sexual abuse now have until their 55th birthday to file a lawsuit. Adult survivors of sexual assault have seven years from the assault to file.
Criminal Reporting Options
In New Jersey, the criminal statute of limitations for most sex offenses was eliminated in 1996, so it’s never too late to report abuse to the police. Filing a police report can still be worthwhile even if criminal charges are not filed against the abuser because it will establish a paper trail that can provide evidence in your lawsuit. In general, individuals must report sexual abuse in person, but we recommend contacting the Hackensack police, as you may be able to arrange a time to report with an officer trained in sexual abuse cases.
Reporting to Oversight Agencies
Aside from the police, you can also report childhood sexual abuse in New Jersey to the state’s Department of Children and Families by calling the child abuse hotline at 1-877-NJ-ABUSE. You can report abuse anonymously, and you do not need proof to report an allegation of abuse. When a report indicates that a child may be at risk, an investigator from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency will investigate within 24 hours.
Additionally, the DCF has an Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit that investigates allegations of child abuse in foster homes, residential centers, and more. The unit has regional offices across New Jersey, but the central office can be reached at 609-888-7440.
If you are considering a civil claim, contact a lawyer before speaking to any oversight agency. A lawyer can ensure your rights are protected.
How a Child Sexual Abuse Attorney Can Help
When taking legal action after experiencing sexual abuse, you may feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the legal process. Speak with an experienced sexual abuse attorney who handles this type of litigation to fully understand your options. Your legal team will also investigate your claim, gather evidence, and represent you in civil proceedings should you decide to move forward.
At Helping Survivors, we’re on a mission to help heal, educate, and empower those impacted by sexual assault and abuse. We focus on connecting survivors with skilled sexual abuse law firms that can file civil lawsuits against the individuals, institutions, and organizations that perpetrated and enabled the abuse.
Every law firm we work with offers free consultations and takes these types of cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs to pursuing your legal rights and options.
Contact us today if you have questions about your experience.
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