Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
New Jersey closed the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center in 2005 following countless reports of misconduct, abuse, and neglect at the children’s psychiatric hospital. Now, former patients who received treatment at the facility in their youth are suing the state for allowing mistreatment to occur on its watch.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- The Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center, or “Brisbane,” was a state-run New Jersey psychiatric hospital for children that operated from the 1940s to 2005.
- The state shut down the Brisbane facility in the early 2000s following reports of widespread patient abuse and staff misconduct.
- If you or a loved one endured sexual abuse while receiving treatment at the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center, you’re not alone, and Helping Survivors can help.
What Was the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center?
The Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center was a state-run psychiatric treatment center for children in Wall Township, New Jersey, that was founded in the 1940s and closed in 2005. Brisbane was designed to treat New Jersey youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues. Beginning in the 1980s, reports surfaced of staff intimidation, outdated restraint methods, violence, a lack of training and supervision, and a lack of meaningful treatment for facility patients.
Sexual Abuse Allegations at Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center
In April 2025, 13 men and women filed sexual abuse lawsuits against New Jersey for the alleged abuse they suffered while being treated at the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center as children. The number of lawsuits alleging sexual assaults and other abuse at state-run New Jersey child treatment centers has risen to more than 150. The suits describe a systemic pattern of misconduct and mismanagement by the state, leading to the failure to protect the children in its care.
Key dates in the facility’s history include the following:
- 1947: The Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center opens in Wall Township, New Jersey.
- 1980: The first investigation into conditions at Brisbane reveals overcrowding and potential neglect.
- 2004: New Jersey’s Office of the Child Advocate conducts an extensive investigation into the Brisbane facility, revealing widespread abuse, neglect, overcrowding, and lack of meaningful care for patients.
- 2005: The state shuts down the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center.
- 2025: 13 survivors of sexual abuse at the Brisbane center file lawsuits against the State of New Jersey for the repeated assaults they suffered while confined as children at the center.
- What Was the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center?
- Sexual Abuse Allegations at Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center
- Legal Options & Rights for Survivors of Abuse in New Jersey
- How to Report Abuse in New Jersey
- How to File A Lawsuit Against Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center
- Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
- What is Doctor Sexual Assault?
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- Major Michael Stockin Sexual Abuse Allegations
- New York Dr. Darius Paduch Accused of Sexual Assault & Misconduct
- New York Dr. Cheng Accused of Sexual Assault & Misconduct
- UCLA Gynecologist: Dr. James Heaps Convicted
- Dr. Hadden Lawsuit in New York
Investigations into Conditions at Brisbane
In 2004, New Jersey’s Office of the Child Advocate published a report summarizing its investigation into conditions for youth at the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center. Based on a comprehensive seven-month probe, the OCA concluded that Brisbane generally failed to provide high-quality and cost-effective mental health services to children. The OCA said the system is “plagued by gaps” that prevent children from leaving when ready.
According to the OCA’s report, the Brisbane center consistently operated over capacity, exceeding its maximum capacity on 132 days in 2003 alone, with four or five children assigned to each bedroom. Investigators also identified multiple suicide risks and safety concerns throughout the facility.
As part of the investigation, the OCA identified the 10 employees most frequently accused of abuse and neglect of children at Brisbane between April 2002 and December 2003. These employees were allegedly involved in 62 separate incidents. Most had no prior work experience with children and no previous professional experience with mentally ill children. The OCA recommended that the state not rely on Brisbane as its safety net for sick children, asserting that it had ignored “fundamental flaws” and “crisis-level deficiencies” at the facility.
Legal Options & Rights for Survivors of Abuse in New Jersey
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse at the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center have multiple legal options for seeking justice, including reporting the abuse to law enforcement or filing a civil lawsuit to seek compensation for their losses.
However, the state imposes time limits for some of these options. Under New Jersey’s statutes of limitations, civil childhood sexual abuse lawsuits must be filed by the victim’s 55th birthday. Adult sexual assault lawsuits must be filed within seven years of the act. New Jersey has not had a deadline for criminal charges over severe sexual offenses since 1996.
How to Report Abuse in New Jersey
For childhood sexual abuse survivors, reporting the abuse is an important step to begin the process of filing a civil lawsuit or starting a criminal investigation. In New Jersey, you can report child abuse to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency’s Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit, which investigates allegations of abuse in detention centers and other out-of-home settings. The state hotline for child abuse reports is 1-877-NJ-ABUSE, or 1-877-652-2873. You can also report abuse at New Jersey-run facilities by filing a complaint with the Juvenile Justice Commission’s Office of Investigations.
Even if the abuse you endured occurred decades ago and no police report was ever filed, filing a report now can still help your case. However, you may still be eligible to file a civil lawsuit without a report. An experienced sexual abuse attorney can assist you with identifying and gathering all possible evidence to build a strong case.
How to File A Lawsuit Against Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center
As a childhood sexual abuse survivor, it takes immense courage to speak out about what happened to you and make your voice heard. It’s important to know that the justice you seek is possible with the help of a skilled sexual abuse attorney, even if the abuse you endured occurred decades ago.
At Helping Survivors, our advocates work to help heal, educate, and empower people impacted by sexual assault and abuse. We accomplish this by providing information, resources, and legal introductions to partner law firms that can file civil lawsuits against the individuals, institutions, and organizations that perpetrated and enabled the abuse. For survivors, it’s crucial to fully understand your legal rights and options so you can assert them in full confidence.
To get started with a free, confidential consultation, contact Helping Survivors today.
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