Camp Erwin Owen Sex Abuse Lawsuit
Camp Erwin Owen is a 65-bed forestry camp in Kernville, California, for male offenders ages 14 to 18. The camp opened in 1938 as an “honor and work camp,” promoting discipline, a strong work ethic, and individual responsibility for detainees. Under the jurisdiction of the Kern County Probation Department, the camp offers juvenile offenders educational, therapeutic, counseling, and vocational services.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- Camp Erwin Owen is a Kernville, California, boys’ juvenile detention camp that houses nonviolent felony and misdemeanor offenders.
- Numerous California counties and juvenile detention centers have faced hundreds of lawsuits in recent years over alleged sexual abuse.
- If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse in a facility such as Camp Erwin Owen, Helping Survivors is here to help you understand your legal rights and options.
Abuse and Neglect Allegations at Camp Erwin Owen
Since 2019, hundreds of individuals have filed lawsuits against juvenile detention facilities across California for juvenile detention center sexual abuse. The lawsuits allege that negligence by the county in training, hiring, and supervision allowed sexual abuse to occur between residents and staff. If you experienced abuse at Camp Erwin Owen or similar facilities, you may feel reluctant to come forward, but your voice matters.
While Camp Erwin Owen is not yet the subject of any lawsuits, the facility has a documented history of staffing issues that have negatively impacted the performance of its youth services officers. Following an investigation, the Kern County Grand Jury published a report in March 2025 that identified chronic understaffing, low starting wages, job burnout resulting from mandatory overtime, and an inability to attract qualified applicants as issues negatively affecting existing staff.
Legal Rights and Options for Youth in Detention
Minor detainees in California juvenile detention facilities, such as Camp Erwin Owen, should know that they are protected by state and federal laws prohibiting youth inmates from abuse of any kind, including sexual misconduct. Additionally, these laws provide abuse survivors with options for holding the responsible parties accountable, such as reporting the abuse to law enforcement or oversight agencies and filing civil lawsuits to recover compensation.
California’s Victims’ Bill of Rights, also known as Marsy’s Law, grants sexual violence survivors specific protections throughout the criminal or juvenile justice process. 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.
Report the Abuse
Juvenile detention center sexual abuse survivors have the right to report abuse to the authorities, file a civil lawsuit, and access legal and mental health support services. If you experienced abuse at Camp Erwin Owen as a minor, you can report it to attorneys, social workers, advocacy groups, or other trusted adults. You can also inform external authorities, such as local law enforcement, the Office of Youth and Community Restoration, or the California Bureau of Children’s Justice, even if the abuse occurred years ago.
File a Civil Lawsuit
Survivors of sexual abuse at Camp Erwin Owen or other California juvenile detention facilities may potentially file a civil lawsuit to hold the responsible parties accountable and recover compensation.
Unlike criminal charges, civil lawsuits do not result in jail time for the perpetrator. Rather, they allow victims to seek justice, accountability, and monetary compensation for their damages from the abuse. It’s important to contact an experienced juvenile detention sex abuse attorney to better understand your legal rights and options after experiencing harm.
California has a deadline for sexual abuse lawsuits. In 2019, Assembly Bill 218 significantly extended the statute of limitations for these cases and revived some previously time-barred claims. After AB 218 took effect, survivors had until their 40th birthday or within five years of discovering their injuries to file suit. In 2024, another bill, A.B. 452, eliminated the statute of limitations for any child sexual abuse actions arising on or after January 1, 2024. If the abuse you endured occurred before that date, you still have until your 40th birthday or within five years of discovery to take action.
How a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Can Help
If you were abused as a minor at Camp Erwin Owen, you may be entitled to sue the Kern County Probation Department for medical expenses, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other damages. Filing a civil lawsuit can be complex, so it’s vital to have experienced legal representation. A lawyer specializing in sexual abuse cases in schools understands the legal challenges specific to these types of cases and knows how to advocate for survivors in court.
Speak With an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse as a minor detained at Camp Erwin Owen, even if it was years or even decades ago, you may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit to hold the responsible parties accountable.
At Helping Survivors, we work to help heal, educate, and empower sexual abuse survivors by informing them of their rights, referring them to support resources, and connecting them with our partner law firms. The lawyers at these firms possess years of experience with institutional sexual abuse cases and work with survivors to file actions against the individuals and organizations that perpetrated and enabled their abuse.
There’s no right or wrong answer after experiencing sexual violence, and survivors should only come forward when they feel ready. To learn more about your rights and legal options with a free, confidential consultation and trauma-informed legal support, contact Helping Survivors today.
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