Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility Sex Abuse Lawsuit
Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility has multiple lawsuits against it alleging juveniles faced unnecessary strip searches, discrimination, and use of excessive force. Survivors of sexual abuse at Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility have a right to report their experiences and learn about their legal rights and options.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- The Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility is a juvenile detention center located in Fairfield, California, that provides juvenile justice services to youths in Solano County.
- In previous years, Solano County has faced multiple major lawsuits over the treatment of youth in its juvenile detention facility, as well as the general treatment of community members by county law enforcement.
- If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse at the Solano County Juvenile Detention Center, you may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit. Reach out to Helping Survivors to learn more about your legal rights and options.
The Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility in Fairfield is the sole juvenile detention center in Solano County where minor offenders are processed and housed. The California juvenile detention facility provides secure, short-term residential care for youths charged with serious offenses and those awaiting placement in residential programs post-disposition. A variety of staff work at the facility, including juvenile correctional counselors, deputy probation officers, medical and mental health staff, and educational providers.
Allegations of Sexual Abuse at Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility
Across California, counties like San Diego and Los Angeles are facing hundreds of lawsuits filed by survivors alleging probation officers, counselors, and other staff sexually abused them in juvenile detention facilities. 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.
While Solano County has not yet been named as a defendant in any of the latest lawsuits, the county has a decades-long history of legal action against it for its treatment of offenders.
2005: Taggart v. Solano County
In 2005, a class action civil rights lawsuit filed in California federal court challenged Solano County’s policy of subjecting juveniles to strip and visual cavity searches at the Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility.
The plaintiffs in the suit alleged that the facility subjected juvenile detainees to such searches before appearing at detention hearings and without reasonable suspicion. The case settled in 2007, and the county probation department changed its policies.
1984: Jane G. v. Solano County
In January 1984, a federal class action lawsuit was filed against Solano County and its corrections officials on behalf of all juveniles who are, have been, or will be detained at the Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility. The plaintiffs alleged the juvenile hall’s policies and procedures violated their constitutional rights by denying detainees access to the courts and attorneys and instituting arbitrary and “draconian” isolation practices. The facility allegedly confined juveniles to continuous isolation for up to weeks without due process.
In February 1984, the parties agreed to a settlement under which the county admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to adopt different policies for communication with attorneys and isolation.
- Allegations of Sexual Abuse at Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility
- Solano County’s History of Discrimination and Excessive Force
- Legal Rights and Options for Survivors of Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility Abuse
- Victim Support and Legal Representation
- Speak with a Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Attorney Today
Solano County’s History of Discrimination and Excessive Force
In addition to the issues with the Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility, the county and its law enforcement agencies have a further history of legal repercussions for the excessive use of force, racial discrimination, and more. In September 2025, a woman who was knocked unconscious and arrested by two sheriff’s deputies in the county after stopping to change drivers during a family trip in 2020 reached a $17 million settlement with the county.
In 2022, a man asserted that he was racially profiled in a Solano County traffic stop that led to his arrest. He used statewide data to show Black individuals are more likely to be subjected to such traffic stops and claimed that the state had violated the 2020 Racial Justice Act, or RJA. He filed a motion for discovery relating to the county’s charging decisions for the past five years concerning others charged with a similar offense.
The trial court denied his motion, finding he had failed to establish good cause for such discovery. However, an appellate court reversed, finding that he might have good cause under the RJA and remanded the case back to its original court for reconsideration.
Legal Rights and Options for Survivors of Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility Abuse
Juvenile detention center sexual abuse can have profound, long-lasting effects on survivors, who can experience mental health issues and other challenges as a result. Survivors have the right to speak out against the individuals and institutions that failed to protect them, and to hold those responsible accountable.
Over the past five years, hundreds of survivors have filed lawsuits against juvenile detention facilities across California for juvenile detention center sexual abuse. These lawsuits allege that negligence in training, hiring, and supervision allowed sexual abuse to occur between residents and staff. Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse may be reluctant to come forward. However, if you are a survivor, you have legal rights and options available to pursue justice.
Right to Report Abuse
After experiencing juvenile detention center sexual abuse in California, survivors can report the abuse to local law enforcement and various state and county oversight agencies. Abuse can be reported at the state level to the Bureau of Children’s Justice or the Office of Youth and Community Restoration. In Solano County, you can report child abuse or neglect directly to the county’s Child Welfare Services by calling 800-544-8696.
Right to File a Civil Lawsuit
Survivors of juvenile detention center sexual abuse may be eligible to pursue a civil lawsuit against the county for failing to prevent the abuse. In civil sexual abuse lawsuits, survivors can seek compensation for their losses, including medical bills, therapy costs, lost earning capacity, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and more.
Like most states, California has a strict deadline for sexual abuse lawsuits. However, in 2019, Assembly Bill 218 significantly extended the statute of limitations for such cases and revived some previously time-barred claims. 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 a lawsuit.
In 2024, another law abolished 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 must file suit before your 40th birthday or within five years of discovery of the resulting harm. Thus, survivors can still file sexual abuse lawsuits even if the abuse occurred decades ago.
Victim Support and Legal Representation
Skilled legal representation plays a crucial role in the success of an institutional sexual abuse case. Consult an attorney experienced with handling juvenile justice or sexual abuse cases, as experience with similar cases will allow them to provide compassionate, efficient representation. At Helping Survivors, we connect victims of sexual abuse with experienced, trauma-informed attorneys who can guide them through the legal process.
Speak with a Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Attorney Today
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse at the Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility or another California juvenile detention center, you have legal rights and options for seeking accountability.
At Helping Survivors, we help heal, educate, and empower victims of sexual assault and abuse by informing them of their rights, providing access to resources for support, and connecting them with our partner law firms. These firms work with survivors to file civil lawsuits against the individuals, institutions, and government entities that perpetrated and enabled the abuse they endured. All our legal partners work on a contingency fee basis, so survivors don’t have to pay anything unless the firm wins their case.
To learn more about your legal rights and options after experiencing abuse or to get connected with legal support, contact Helping Survivors today.
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