Essex County Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit
The Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in Newark is the largest juvenile detention center in New Jersey, holding up to 200 youth at a time. However, the center has been plagued by accusations of abuse and neglect by staff for years. Now, survivors are coming forward to file lawsuits against the center and the government agencies overseeing it for allowing child sexual abuse to occur on their watch.
Have you experienced sexual assault or abuse?
We can help answer your questions and connect you with an attorney if you may have a case.
"*" indicates required fields
Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- The Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, New Jersey’s largest juvenile detention facility, has been at the center of several lawsuits alleging widespread abuse and neglect of inmates.
- A lawsuit filed by a New Jersey nonprofit alleges the conditions at the Essex County center are unfit for youth detainees. In late 2024, a judge issued a preliminary injunction allowing the nonprofit to continue its investigation.
- If you or a loved one endured sexual abuse while detained at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in New Jersey, Helping Survivors can help.
About Essex County Juvenile Detention Center
The Essex County Juvenile Detention Center is one of New Jersey’s seven youth detention facilities. With a maximum capacity of 200 youths, the center is a maximum-security facility that holds minors charged with crimes from four counties–Essex, Passaic, Union, and Hudson–while they await adjudication or sentencing.
On average, detained youth in the New Jersey juvenile justice system who are awaiting waiver hearings, which determine whether they will be prosecuted as adults, spend 521 days moving through the court process.
Located in Newark, the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center is run by the Essex County Division of Youth Services, which works to rehabilitate detained youth to deter them from future criminal activity. The Division facilitates medical, housing, recreation, education, holistic, and social services programs for youth ages 9 to 17 at the juvenile detention center.
- About Essex County Juvenile Detention Center
- Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Essex County Juvenile Detention Center
- Legal Options for Juvenile Detention Abuse Survivors in New Jersey
- Reporting Juvenile Detention Center Abuse in New Jersey
- How to File a Lawsuit Against Essex County Juvenile Detention Center
- Speak With a Lawyer Today
- Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Essex County Juvenile Detention Center
Though it claims to have a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse and harassment, the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center has faced numerous accusations and lawsuits alleging abuse and neglect by staff. In June 2024, six survivors filed lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by staff at Essex County Juvenile Detention Center and other county-run detention facilities in New Jersey.
In August 2024, the nonprofit organization Disability Rights New Jersey sued the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, alleging that the facility had denied it proper access to investigate reports of abuse and neglect. Disability Rights New Jersey, the state’s designated protection and advocacy agency under federal law, claims it had received several reports regarding extremely poor conditions at the facility. The allegations include inmate-on-inmate violence, inadequate access to mental health care, insufficient educational services, and improper use of prolonged isolation as a form of punishment.
In October 2024, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction granting Disability Rights access to proceed with its investigation at the facility. The facility cannot deny the nonprofit’s request for records, block access to staff and inmates, and must allow it to photograph certain areas.
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 Options for Juvenile Detention Abuse Survivors in New Jersey
Survivors of abuse at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center have the right to pursue justice and compensation for the trauma they’ve endured, as well as reimbursement for medical costs and other damages. Under New Jersey’s legal system, abuse survivors have multiple legal options for seeking justice, including civil lawsuits and criminal charges.
The state imposes certain time limits for some of these options. Under New Jersey’s recently expanded statutes of limitations, civil childhood sexual abuse lawsuits generally must be filed by the victim’s 55th birthday. Adult sexual assault lawsuits generally must be filed within seven years of the act. However, New Jersey has not had a deadline for criminal charges for severe sexual offenses since 1996.
Reporting Juvenile Detention Center Abuse in New Jersey
For survivors of childhood sexual abuse, reporting the abuse can seem daunting, but it’s an important step to begin the process of filing a civil lawsuit or starting a criminal investigation. In New Jersey, you can report child abuse to several agencies, including local law enforcement, the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency’s Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit, and the state’s Attorney General.
The Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit investigates allegations of abuse in detention centers and other out-of-home settings. The state hotline for child abuse reports is 1-877-NJ-ABUSE, or 1-877-652-2873. You can use this hotline even if you are still incarcerated. You can also report abuse at New Jersey-run facilities by filing a complaint with the Juvenile Justice Commission’s Office of Investigations, part of the New Jersey Attorney General’s office.
How to File a Lawsuit Against Essex County Juvenile Detention Center
Filing a civil lawsuit against the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center and the agencies that oversee it is one way for survivors to hold the parties responsible for their abuse accountable. Initiating a lawsuit begins with gathering evidence like medical records, witness testimony, and more. By working with an experienced, trauma-informed attorney, you can focus on healing and recovery while your legal team fights for you in court.
Speak With a Lawyer Today
At Helping Survivors, we’re on a mission to help heal, educate, and empower people who have been impacted by sexual assault and abuse at juvenile detention facilities like the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center. We work to inform survivors of their rights and options, providing resources and educational content.
We can also connect you with our partner law firms. An experienced sexual abuse lawyer can advise you of your rights and options. If you are eligible, a lawyer can file a civil lawsuit on your behalf against the individuals, institutions, and organizations that perpetrated and enabled your abuse.
Every survivor’s experience is unique, and what they choose to do afterward is ultimately their choice. It’s important to know that if you or a loved one experienced abuse at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, you have rights and paths for seeking justice.
To learn more about your legal options after experiencing sexual abuse, contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.
Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
