Orange County Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuit
The Orange County Juvenile Hall is a juvenile detention facility in Orange, California, with 380 beds for juvenile law violators of all genders. Youths are detained at the facility while awaiting adjudication or transfer, or serving commitments as serious offenders. In 2012, an Orange County Grand Jury report noted that the facility showed extensive wear and tear, and that staff showed “an apparent lack of attentiveness” to the behavior and needs of juveniles in the unit.
Over the past several years, numerous counties and juvenile detention centers across California have been named in hundreds of lawsuits alleging a widespread epidemic of sexual abuse in juvenile detention facilities. While Orange County Juvenile Hall is not yet involved in any such lawsuits, the facility does have a history of sexual misconduct, including a 2012 incident that led to the firing of six staff members and the suspension of seven others.
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Helping Survivors can connect you with an attorney if you may have a case. While we cannot report a crime on your behalf, your safety is important. Please contact your local authorities for further assistance.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- The Orange County Juvenile Hall is a co-ed facility in California that serves as the county’s main youth detention center.
- Though the facility has a history of sexual misconduct among detainees, no allegations involving the Orange County Juvenile Hall have been raised in the recent slew of juvenile detention sexual abuse lawsuits filed against counties across California.
- If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse in a facility like Orange County Juvenile Hall, Helping Survivors is here to help you understand your legal rights and options.
What is the Orange County Juvenile Hall?
Located in Orange, California, the Orange County Juvenile Hall houses youth of all genders aged 12-25 who are pending disposition, awaiting transfer, or serving commitments as serious offenders or probation violators. Most detainees at the facility are between 12 and 18 years old. Youths at the facility are assigned to living units by age group and gender, accommodating between 20 and 60 people. Deputy Juvenile Correctional Officers supervise the units, provide counseling, oversee daily activities, and maintain safety and security.
In addition to the Orange County Probation Department, the juvenile hall is monitored by representatives from the Board of State and Community Corrections, the Juvenile Court, the Orange County Grand Jury, and the Orange County Juvenile Justice Commission.
Orange County Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse
In 2010, a study of sexual victimization in juvenile detention facilities nationwide found that about 12% of minors in juvenile detention suffered sexual violence, either at the hands of other minors or facility staff. The study showed that minors in private and government facilities were three to four times more likely to be victims of sexual abuse than adult inmates. The Orange County Juvenile Hall was included in this study, and of the 28 minors from the hall who completed the survey, one person reported sexual victimization in detention.
Countless California juvenile detention centers and their oversight agencies have come under fire in recent years, with hundreds of survivors taking legal action for alleged sexual abuse that occurred at these facilities. Most of the lawsuits allege abuse at the hands of probation officers, counselors, and other staff. The lawsuits accuse county 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.
2012 Sexual Misconduct Incident
In February 2012, two teenagers of opposite genders were found engaged in sexual activity in a high-security unit of the Orange County Juvenile Hall, left unsupervised for hours. A subsequent investigation found that regular safety checks of minors in detention were skipped, and logs were inaccurate.
A subsequent report by the county grand jury recommended that the probation department review and revise its policies, procedures, training, and performance of the staff responsible for supervision and security in the unit where the alleged misconduct occurred. As a result, the Orange County Probation Department fired six employees and suspended seven others for allowing the security lapses to occur.
Legal Rights and Options for Survivors of Orange County Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse
Survivors of juvenile detention center sexual abuse at the Orange County Juvenile Hall generally have the right to report abuse to the authorities, file a civil lawsuit, and access legal and mental health support services.
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. To report sexual abuse or harassment directly to the Orange County Probation Department, current or former detainees can call the Orange County Juvenile Hall at 714-935-6660 or the probation department’s Prison Rape Elimination Act Hotline at 714-567-PREA.
Survivors can also report 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.
Filing a Civil Lawsuit
Survivors of sexual abuse in a California juvenile detention facility, like the Orange County Juvenile Hall, may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit to hold the responsible parties accountable and recover compensation for their losses. However, your eligibility to take civil or criminal legal action depends on how old you were when the abuse occurred and how long ago it took place.
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 of abuse that occurred before they were 18 years old now have until their 40th birthday or within five years of discovering the harm the abuse caused to file a lawsuit.
A recent law has abolished the deadline for lawsuits over abuse that occurred on or after January 1, 2024. However, that law is not retroactive, and the old law still applies to abuse occurring before that date.
Some detainees at the Orange County Juvenile Hall are 18 years old or older. If you or a loved one experienced sexual assault at the juvenile hall when you were 18 or older, the California statute of limitations for your case is likely 10 years, or three years from the date you discovered the harm related to the abuse.
How a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Can Help
Civil lawsuits are complex, so it is vital to have experienced legal representation. A lawyer specializing in juvenile detention center sexual abuse cases will understand how to handle the legal challenges specific to these types of cases and be prepared to advocate for you in court.
Speak With an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while detained at the Orange County Juvenile Hall or another California juvenile detention center, you have legal rights and options.
At Helping Survivors, we work to connect survivors of sexual abuse with experienced attorneys who specialize in sexual abuse cases to provide trauma-informed legal support throughout the lawsuit process. Our legal partners work with survivors to file civil lawsuits against the individuals and institutions that perpetrated and enabled the abuse so survivors can receive compensation for their suffering. All the law firms we work with operate on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay anything unless they win your case.
To learn more about your rights and options and get connected with legal support, contact Helping Survivors today.
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