Illinois Youth Center-Harrisburg Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Hundreds of individuals have recently come forward about experiencing alleged sexual abuse at the Illinois Youth Center-Harrisburg and other Illinois juvenile detention facilities.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- The Illinois Youth Center-Harrisburg is one of several state-run juvenile detention locations facing allegations of sexual abuse by staff.
- Between 2024 and 2025, more than 900 survivors sued Illinois and the state’s Department of Juvenile Justice for allegedly allowing sexual abuse to run rampant on their watch.
- Survivors of sexual abuse at IYC-Harrisburg and other Illinois juvenile detention centers have legal rights and options for seeking accountability and compensation.
Since early 2024, nearly one thousand alleged victims of sexual abuse at Illinois juvenile detention centers, such as the Illinois Youth Center–Harrisburg, have sued the state for allowing abuse in its juvenile justice facilities. The complaints allege abuse that occurred between 1996 and 2023 and involve purported victims aged 9 to 17. If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse at IYC -Harrisburg or another juvenile detention center in Illinois, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable.
About IYC-Harrisburg
The Illinois Youth Center-Harrisburg is a medium-security juvenile detention center for males in Harrisburg, Illinois. Opened in 1983, it has a capacity of 332. It houses the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice’s juvenile sex offender program and serves as the reception and classification center for male youths aged 15 and older from Central and Southern Illinois.
IYC-Harrisburg has been named in numerous lawsuits by former detainees who allege sexual abuse by staff at the facility. The lawsuits allege abuse by prison officers, sergeants, nurses, therapists, a chaplain, and others at nine IYC locations across the state, including Chicago, Joliet, Harrisburg, Murphysboro, and Warrenville. Several of those locations have since closed.
Sexual Abuse Allegations at Illinois Youth Center-Harrisburg
July 2025
In July 2025, 107 people filed lawsuits against Illinois for allegedly allowing rampant sexual abuse in its state- and county-run juvenile detention facilities, bringing the total number of allegations to nearly 1,000.
Fifteen of the complaints accused current Eldorado Mayor Rocky James of sexual abuse. James worked at the IYC-Harrisburg for 29 years as the juvenile justice supervisor. The suits allege James sexually assaulted and coerced minors for at least 12 years. One victim reported being handcuffed to his bed before being repeatedly sexually assaulted. James has denied all allegations against him.
February 2025
Eight hundred survivors filed suit for alleged sexual abuse that occurred while they were detained in juvenile correction facilities run by the state of Illinois and Cook County. One survivor, Marcus Walker, said he was systemically sexually abused by a state employee while detained at the IYC-Harrisburg in downstate Illinois, and that he has PTSD from the experience.
May 2024
The first lawsuits filed against Illinois juvenile detention centers, including IYC-Harrisburg, arose in May 2024. According to the lawsuits, the abuse occurred between 1996 and 2017 and included gang rape, forced oral sex, groping, and other misconduct by correctional officers, sergeants, nurses, therapists, chaplains, and others. Many plaintiffs allege they were threatened or rewarded to keep quiet. One plaintiff in particular, Stephen Lucas, said he was preyed on at age 13 at IYC -Harrisburg. Survivors accuse the state, the Illinois Department of Corrections, and the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice of failing to investigate abuse allegations.
Rights and Options for Survivors of IYC-Harrisburg Abuse
Juvenile detention center sexual abuse survivors have the right to report their abuse to law enforcement and oversight agencies. Additionally, survivors may be able to file civil lawsuits against the state of Illinois for negligently allowing abuse to occur in state-run facilities.
Filing a Complaint with Oversight Agencies
If you or a loved one was sexually abused or harassed while in the custody of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, you can call 217-557-1030 and dial 1 for Administration to report abuse. The IDJJ asserts that it investigates all allegations of staff sexual misconduct. Sexual abuse and misconduct can also be reported to the Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-2873.
Survivors and their loved ones also may report childhood sexual abuse to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Abuse of children in state care can be reported to the Office of the Inspector General of the DCFS at 1-800-722-9124.
Reporting to Law Enforcement
Any victim can begin the process of reporting juvenile detention center sexual abuse by contacting their local police agency over the phone or visiting the station in person. Most police departments have officers who are trained to interact with sexual assault victims and can help them determine their next steps.
Filing a Civil Lawsuit
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Illinois may be able to file civil lawsuits against the perpetrators and enablers of the abuse, even if it occurred years or decades ago. Under Illinois’ statute of limitations, survivors have until their 38th birthday to file suit.
Illinois Laws on Sexual Abuse
Under Illinois law, “childhood sexual abuse” means any act of sexual abuse that occurs when the victim is under 18, including sexual conduct and penetration. The law dictates that civil lawsuits for damages based on childhood sexual abuse must be commenced within 20 years of the victim’s 18th birthday or within 20 years of their discovery that the abuse caused harm.
Compensation for Illinois Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse Cases
When filing a lawsuit for juvenile detention sexual abuse, survivors may be able to recover three types of compensation through a settlement or jury award: economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
Economic damages compensate victims for quantifiable financial losses, such as medical bills and therapy costs, while non-economic damages compensate victims for intangible losses, including pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Occasionally, courts award punitive damages if the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious or negligent.
Juvenile detention sex abuse settlements are determined by various factors, including the nature and severity of the abuse, the duration of the abuse, the victim’s age when the abuse occurred, and the long-term effects of the abuse on the victim. While various types of compensation may be available, results vary and are not guaranteed.
Want to Speak with a Lawyer?
If you or a loved one endured sexual abuse while detained at the Illinois Youth Center-Harrisburg or at another Illinois juvenile detention facility, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable.
At Helping Survivors, we help heal, educate, and empower sexual abuse survivors by providing information, resources, and connections to our legal partners. These law firms have years of experience litigating sexual abuse cases and work with survivors to file civil lawsuits against the individuals and institutions that perpetrated and enabled the abuse they endured. By providing confidentiality, legal representation, and trauma-informed support, our legal partners help survivors obtain justice and seek accountability.
To learn more about your legal rights and options after experiencing abuse, contact Helping Survivors today.
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