Camden County Youth Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit
Camden County Juvenile Detention Center is a pre-trial detention center in Blackwood, New Jersey, that holds Camden County boys and girls accused of delinquent behavior and awaiting action by the Family Court.
The facility is the subject of a slew of recent lawsuits against the county, which allege a pattern of sexual abuse of juvenile detainees and a systemic cover-up by staff. If you or a loved one survived sexual abuse at the Camden County Youth Detention Center, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- Camden County Juvenile Detention Center in New Jersey has faced nearly a dozen lawsuits from prior residents who allege they experienced sexual abuse by staff.
- The lawsuits allege abuse that occurred as far back as the 1980s and as recently as 2009 involving children as young as 12 years old.
- Survivors of sexual abuse at the Camden County Youth Detention Center have legal options, including filing civil sexual abuse lawsuits against the center and the county for allowing the abuse to occur.
Overview of Abuse Allegations at Camden County Youth Detention Center
In June 2025, 11 adults filed lawsuits against Camden County, alleging they were sexually abused as youths detained at Camden County Juvenile Detention Center decades ago. The suits, filed in New Jersey Superior Court, allege that officers and other staff assaulted the plaintiffs, and nothing was done to stop the mistreatment. The allegations arise from incidents between 1983 and 2009 and involve children as young as 12. The alleged mis includes rape, forced sexual activity, grooming, groping, and beating by officers and staff.
The plaintiffs include nine men and two women. According to the lawsuits, staff members allegedly threatened their victims with beatings, solitary confinement, and extended detention times if they reported the abuse. Because of this, the incarcerated children rarely filed complaints. When victims complied with the abuse, they were allegedly rewarded with food and extra privileges.
The survivors say they have since experienced severe long-term impacts from enduring child sexual abuse, including mental health problems and drug addiction. They seek to hold Camden County accountable for allowing the abuse to occur, asserting that the county was negligent in hiring, training, supervising, and retaining center staff who abused detainees.
Institutional Accountability and Legal Violations
The Camden County Juvenile Detention Center asserts that it is committed to ensuring a “safe and humane” environment for detainees and does not tolerate any form of sexual abuse or harassment. The center asserts it has a zero tolerance policy towards all forms of sexual harassment and abuse, and claims all staff and volunteers receive training to understand and comply with the Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA.
Under PREA, juvenile detention centers nationwide are required to protect detained youth from sexual abuse by staff and other detainees, as well as report and investigate abuse when it occurs. By failing to adequately report and investigate youth detainees’ claims of abuse and by fostering an environment that discourages reporting, the Camden County Juvenile Detention Center has gone against PREA guidelines.
Have You Been Abused at a Juvenile Detention Center?
If you or a loved one has suffered sexual abuse while in a juvenile detention center, you have the right to seek justice. Our team of experienced attorneys is here to provide you with the legal support and guidance you deserve.
Legal Rights & Options for Survivors
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse in New Jersey, you have legal rights and options. Survivors of institutional abuse can report the abuse to law enforcement. Police will investigate, and prosecutors will ultimately decide whether to pursue criminal charges against the abuser. Survivors also have the right to file civil lawsuits against the institution that failed to protect them. Through a civil sexual abuse lawsuit, survivors can recover damages for pain and suffering, medical bills, therapy costs, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
How to File a Civil Lawsuit for Youth Detention Abuse
Survivors of abuse at the Camden County Youth Detention Center may be eligible to file a civil sexual assault lawsuit against the center and the Camden County Department of Corrections, which oversees the operations. However, the ability to pursue a claim depends on New Jersey’s civil statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases. In 2019, New Jersey passed the Child Sex Abuse Law to amend the statute of limitations, so survivors of childhood sexual abuse now have until their 55th birthday to file a lawsuit. Adult survivors of sexual assault have seven years from the assault to file.
Your claim may result in an out-of-court settlement or proceed to court, and the process generally takes several months to a few years, depending on the circumstances of the case. We recommend speaking to an experienced juvenile detention center sexual abuse attorney to understand your rights, options, and potential outcomes.
Reporting Abuse to Law Enforcement and Oversight Agencies
New Jersey eliminated the criminal statute of limitations for most major sex offenses in 1996, so it’s never too late to report abuse to police. Even if prosecutors do not pursue charges against the abuser, filing a report creates an important paper trail documenting the abuse. This could provide evidence for your claim and help others who come forward.
Aside from the police, you can also report childhood sexual abuse in New Jersey to the state’s Department of Children and Families by calling the child abuse hotline at 1-877-NJ-ABUSE. You can report abuse anonymously, and you do not need proof to report an allegation of abuse. When a report indicates that a child may be at risk, an investigator from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency will investigate within 24 hours. The DCF also has an Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit that investigates allegations of child abuse in institutions like juvenile detention centers and foster homes.
How a Sex Abuse Attorney Can Help
When deciding whether to take action after experiencing sexual abuse, you may feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the legal process. For this reason, it can be helpful to speak with experienced, trauma-informed sexual abuse attorneys who specialize in these types of cases to fully understand your options.
Every law firm we work with offers free consultations and takes these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if and when they recover compensation for you. Thus, there are no upfront costs for pursuing a claim.
Speak With a Lawyer About Camden County Youth Detention Abuse
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while detained at Camden County Youth Detention Center in New Jersey, you’re not alone. Helping Survivors is here to help. We provide resources to survivors of abuse and can connect them with experienced, trauma-informed attorneys who can help them understand their rights and options.
To learn more about your rights, contact us today.
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