James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
The Kern County Juvenile Detention Center, officially known as James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall, is a juvenile detention facility operated by the Kern County Probation Department in Bakersfield, California. It is a co-ed facility primarily serving as a short-term detention center for juveniles awaiting adjudication and functions as the county’s main secure reception center for youth in the justice system. The facility opened in 1952 and is one of California’s oldest juvenile detention facilities still in operation, housing up to 108 inmates at a time.
Kern County and the James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall have a long history of accusations of sexual abuse and misconduct by staff, including criminal charges lodged against several corrections officers for molestation of detainees. Numerous civil lawsuits have also been filed against the county over alleged abuse at the facility. In fact, Juvenile detention center sexual abuse claims in California have increased significantly since the state extended the statute of limitations in 2019.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- The James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall is Kern County, California’s main juvenile detention facility, serving as a short-term detention center for youth awaiting adjudication.
- Since at least 2014, the Bowles facility repeatedly has come under fire for alleged sexual abuse of minor inmates, with several former corrections officers facing criminal charges.
- If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while detained at the James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall in Kern County, California, Helping Survivors can connect you with an experienced attorney to evaluate your case and determine your legal options.
Allegations of Sexual Abuse at James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall
The James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall has faced multiple lawsuits and criminal charges against its corrections officers over the past decade. In 2022, former staff member Shaleah Ryman was accused of repeatedly molesting a 16-year-old inmate and faced four criminal charges after working at the facility for only three months.
In 2016, three other alleged survivors also sued Kern County and former corrections officer George Anderson for sexual abuse. Anderson worked at the juvenile hall from 2005 to 2015, and according to the lawsuit, the abuse he inflicted resulted from the Kern County Probation Department’s negligence and lack of supervision. In 2020, the survivors’ cases settled with Kern County for $200,000, $250,000, and $400,000, respectively.
Another corrections officer, Cease Navejar, was also arrested and charged in 2014 with assaulting a female detainee. He was acquitted of the charges two years later.
- Allegations of Sexual Abuse at James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall
- How Did Sexual Abuse Occur in California Juvenile Detention Centers?
- Rights and Options for Survivors of California Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse
- How to File a Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
- Types of Compensation for Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse
- Contact Helping Survivors for Support and Legal Resources
How Did Sexual Abuse Occur in California Juvenile Detention Centers?
In many juvenile facilities, a lack of oversight and supervision by county probation departments and other oversight agencies has allowed abuse to occur. Additionally, a lack of proper staff training can contribute to misconduct by corrections officers, guards, counselors, probation officers, and other employees at juvenile detention facilities.
Juvenile detention center sexual abuse survivors are also hesitant to report abuse out of fear of retaliation or threats from perpetrators. Many lawsuits against these California facilities claim that survivors who reported abuse were ignored or even punished.
Rights and Options for Survivors of California Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse
Sexual abuse survivors in California have several options for legal recourse through the criminal and civil justice systems. Reporting the abuse to law enforcement or oversight agencies is not required to file a civil lawsuit. However, it can help establish a paper trail and facilitate an investigation that may prompt criminal charges against the perpetrator.
Reporting the Abuse
Reporting sexual abuse to local law enforcement or California’s Child Abuse Hotline at 858-560-2191 is an important step because it can trigger a criminal investigation. However, it can also help with gathering evidence and holding the perpetrator legally accountable, even if the abuse you endured occurred years or even decades ago. Juvenile detention center sexual abuse survivors also may report abuse to the Bureau of Children’s Justice of the Office of Youth and Community Restoration.
Filing a Lawsuit
After experiencing juvenile detention center sexual abuse, survivors may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit against the facility’s operator and its oversight agencies for allowing the abuse to occur. If your case falls within California’s statute of limitations, you can file suit to recover compensation and hold the responsible parties accountable for perpetrating and enabling the abuse.
How to File a Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
In California, the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases has changed multiple times in recent years.
In 2019, California Assembly Bill 218 significantly extended the statute of limitations for these cases and created a three-year “lookback window” that revived all civil claims stemming from childhood sexual abuse that were barred as of January 1, 2020. After A.B. 218 took effect, survivors had until their 40th birthday or within five years of discovering the harm the abuse caused 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. This law is not retroactive, so if your abuse occurred before 2024, you still have until your 40th birthday or within five years of discovery to file.
Types of Compensation for Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse
Through a juvenile detention sex abuse lawsuit, survivors can seek to recover damages for medical and therapy costs, pain, suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, and more. A 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.
Contact Helping Survivors for Support and Legal Resources
If you or a loved one endured sexual abuse at the James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall in Kern County, California, you have legal rights and options.
At Helping Survivors, we work to help heal, educate, and empower survivors of institutional sexual abuse by informing them of their rights, providing them with access to resources for support, and connecting them with our legal partners. These law firms have experience handling juvenile detention sexual abuse cases and understand the intricacies and complexities of the legal process.
When you work with our legal partners, they will respect your privacy, and you will receive trauma-informed legal guidance throughout the litigation process.
To learn more about your rights and options or to get connected with an attorney, contact Helping Survivors today.
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