Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit
Over the past year, nearly 1,000 lawsuits have been filed over alleged sexual abuse of detainees at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center and other Illinois state-run juvenile facilities. The allegations date range from as far back as 1995 to as recently as 2023. If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse, harassment, or assault at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, you may be entitled to compensation.
Have you experienced sexual assault or abuse?
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.
"*" indicates required fields
Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, or JTDC, is a juvenile detention facility in Chicago that houses minor offenders as they move through the criminal justice system.
- Hundreds of former JTDC residents have come forward in recent months with accusations of sexual abuse at the facility, allegedly perpetrated by staff and ignored by supervisory officials.
- If you experienced sexual abuse at a Chicago juvenile detention center, Helping Survivors can help you understand your legal rights and options and connect you with an experienced juvenile detention center abuse attorney to evaluate your case.
About the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC)
The Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, or JTDC, in Chicago, Illinois, provides temporary secure housing for youth aged 10 through 16 awaiting adjudication of their cases by the Juvenile Division of the Cook County Circuit Court. The center also holds youths who have been transferred from the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court to the Criminal Court system. Formerly known as the Arthur J. Audy Home, the facility is the largest of its kind in the country.
The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center purports to comply with the Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA, by having a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse, harassment, and misconduct between residents, staff, and third parties inside the facility. Its policies mandate training and immediate action if a resident reports sexual abuse or harassment. Nevertheless, hundreds of former detainees allege abuse has occurred anyway, with oversight agencies ignoring it.
- About the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC)
- Reports of Sexual Abuse and Misconduct at the JTDC
- Developments in Cook County Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse Lawsuits
- Legal Options for Juvenile Detention Survivors in Illinois
- Frequently Asked Questions about Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse in Illinois
- Speak With an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney
- Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
Reports of Sexual Abuse and Misconduct at the JTDC
As of July 2025, nearly 1,000 lawsuits have been filed alleging sexual abuse by staff at Illinois Youth Centers and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
The majority of the alleged victims say the abuse occurred in the early 2000s and involved rape, forced sexual acts, and prolonged emotional trauma that have caused long-term psychological effects like PTSD. Most victims were boys between 14 and 16 when abuse occurred, but some were as young as nine. According to the lawsuits, the abuse occurred between 1996 and 2023, with nearly a third of the reported abuse occurring at the JTDC.
In June, the Illinois Attorney General attempted to dismiss the hundreds of cases against the state, arguing that victims should have come forward before they turned 19. Survivors and their attorneys disagree, arguing that Illinois law gives them unlimited time to file lawsuits for child sexual abuse. The suits allege a pattern of abuse and institutional neglect made worse by failures in staff supervision, monitoring, and retaliation.
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.
Developments in Cook County Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse Lawsuits
November 2025
As of Nov. 14, 2025, Leonard Dixon submitted his resignation as superintendent of Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, effective Dec. 1. At least 19 of the current lawsuits against the facility allege abuse happened during Dixon’s tenure.
July 2025
As of mid-July, more than 900 people have joined a mass lawsuit against state-operated Illinois youth centers and the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center for alleged child sexual abuse by facility staff.
June 2025
The Illinois Attorney General attempted to dismiss the hundreds of cases filed against the state regarding alleged abuse at state-run juvenile detention centers like the JTDC, asserting that victims should have filed suits before turning 19. Survivors disagree, saying Illinois’ statute of limitations allows unlimited time for filing sexual abuse lawsuits.
February 2025
New lawsuits regarding sexual abuse at Illinois juvenile detention facilities include more than 130 people with allegations dating back to the 1990s, bringing the total number of lawsuits against the state to about 800.
Legal Options for Juvenile Detention Survivors in Illinois
In Illinois, you may have grounds to file a civil child sex abuse lawsuit if you or your minor child experienced sexual assault or other misconduct while detained at a state-run juvenile detention center like the JTDC. You may have grounds to sue even if the perpetrator of the abuse was never charged with or convicted of a crime, or if they are no longer alive.
You can also report the abuse to local law enforcement, the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice directly by calling 217-557-1030, or the sexual abuse hotline at 1-800-252-2873.
Frequently Asked Questions about Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse in Illinois
Can I File a Lawsuit if the Abuse Occurred Years Ago?
Under Illinois law, lawsuits for damages based on childhood sexual abuse may be commenced at any time if the action arose before January 1, 2014. The previous statute of limitations of 20 years from the victim’s 18th birthday still applies to older claims. The discovery rule may also apply to extend the filing deadline for survivors if they did not realize the harm was connected to abuse until years later.
In 2019, Illinois became the eighth state to completely remove the statute of limitations for prosecuting felony sex crimes. Prosecutors previously only had 10 years to file criminal charges against a perpetrator of sexual abuse if the offense was reported to law enforcement within three years of it occurring. Now, survivors of childhood sexual abuse can report the abuse to law enforcement at any time, giving prosecutors the chance to pursue a criminal case.
What Compensation Can Survivors Receive?
By filing a lawsuit for juvenile detention center sexual abuse, survivors may be able to recover damages for medical expenses, pain, suffering, emotional distress, and more. Courts may also award punitive damages if the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious or negligent.
However, results are not guaranteed, and there is no set amount of compensation survivors will receive if they file a lawsuit. The amount of compensation you can receive depends on the frequency and severity of the abuse, the negligence of the detention center and its oversight agencies, and the long-term effects the abuse has had on you and your life. It can also depend on whether your lawsuit results in a settlement or ends in a jury trial.
Speak With an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney
If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse as a minor at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center or another Illinois-run juvenile detention facility, you have legal rights and options. At Helping Survivors, we work to inform survivors of their rights and connect them to our partner law firms with experience in juvenile and institutional abuse claims. These firms prioritize confidentiality and a trauma-informed approach, helping survivors of abuse achieve justice and compensation.
Our partner law firms offer free, confidential consultations and take no legal fees unless they win your case. To learn more about your rights and options or to be connected with our legal partners, contact Helping Survivors today.
Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
