Rock River Academy Sexual Abuse: Get Help
If you experienced sexual abuse or sex trafficking while at Rock River Academy, you have legal rights and options—and we’re here to help.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- Rock River Academy shut down in 2016 after an investigation by the Chicago Tribune found pervasive sexual abuse perpetrated by staff and many young women lured into sex trafficking after running away from the facility.
- Several lawsuits have already been filed against the facility and its owner, Universal Health Services, citing negligence in hiring, not providing a safe environment, and not reporting abuse to authorities.
- If you experienced sexual abuse while at Rock River Academy, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit to seek monetary compensation for the harm you endured.
Rock River Academy: Abuse Allegations Overview
Rock River Academy was a residential treatment facility for youths with behavioral health issues located near Chicago. It housed up to 59 girls and young women. Like other juvenile detention facilities, it was meant as a place of rehabilitation and mental health support for struggling teen girls. Instead, however, abuse was pervasive at the facility. It was shut down in 2016 after the widespread abuse came to light.
In 2014, the Chicago Tribune published an investigation into Rock River Academy, citing more than 700 reports made to the Rockford Police Department concerning the alleged victimization of girls at Rock River Academy involving rape, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. It is alleged that staff would give the young female residents alcohol and drugs in exchange for sexual favors—a form of sexual assault under the law.
Their investigation also uncovered at least two dozen cases of young girls lured into sex trafficking and engaging in prostitution after running away from the Rock River Academy facility.
The abuse allegations at Rock River Academy include the following conduct:
- Inappropriate comments
- Inappropriate touching, including unnecessary strip searches
- Grooming
- Sexual assault, including forced oral sex and rape
- Staff members providing food, drugs, or alcohol in exchange for sex
- Providing high levels of psychotropic drugs to residents to then coerce them into sex
Rock River Academy is owned by the for-profit company Universal Health Services Inc., which runs more than 190 behavioral health facilities nationwide. The company has been named as a defendant in dozens of sexual abuse lawsuits over the past decade filed by former residents.
The Rock River Academy lawsuits cite that UHS was negligent in inadequately screening staff for potential sex offenders, failed to protect residents from abuse or relocate them to a safer environment, neglected to properly investigate reported incidents, failed to report such incidents to authorities, and was otherwise careless and negligent.
If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse by a staff member of Rock River Academy, ran away from the academy and faced retaliation upon return, or reported or attempted to report abuse and faced retaliation or further harm, you may have the ability to file a Rock River sexual abuse lawsuit.
We’re here to help you understand your rights and options so you can be informed and empowered to take the next step forward.
Legal Rights & Options for Rock River Academy Victims
A facility meant to help rehabilitate young girls and protect them while under its care instead caused further trauma and harm, according to dozens of interviewed residents. From physical violence to sex trafficking, the young women under the care of Rock River Academy have allegedly suffered from horrific abuse since the facility opened.
Now, many of those individuals have started to stand up to the system by speaking to the media, filing lawsuits, or reporting the perpetrators to law enforcement.
If you experienced sexual abuse at Rock River Academy, you have legal rights and options.
We’re here to help you understand these rights and encourage you to speak with us so we can provide specific information regarding your case.
We are here to listen and advocate for you.
Report Sexual Abuse by Rock River Academy Employees Law Enforcement
Reporting to law enforcement can be a daunting task for all survivors of sexual violence. It is even more so for inmates subjected to sexual abuse, especially those at juvenile facilities.
Given that you were incarcerated and harmed, there is likely little to no trust in law enforcement. In addition, you likely fear retaliation. We fully understand this and are here to explain the process of reporting to law enforcement. However, by no means should you feel forced to report the abuse. You can still likely file a sexual abuse lawsuit against Rock River Academy even if you haven’t reported the abuse to law enforcement.
Reporting to law enforcement will trigger a criminal investigation. Prosecutors’ ability to pursue charges will depend on various factors, including the Illinois criminal statute of limitations, which imposes the deadline for filing criminal charges.
An individual cannot press charges against the perpetrator—a prosecutor ultimately decides whether to file charges. However, filing a report can create a valuable paper trail documenting the harm should others come forward or you choose to take further legal action.
To file a police report, you will likely need to go to the police station in the jurisdiction where Rock River Academy was located. You can likely call ahead and schedule a time to file a report with a trained officer and take someone with you for support.
Before filing a police report for sexual abuse by a Rock River staff member, we suggest writing down everything you remember, including dates, times, those involved, any potential evidence, such as camera footage, and any potential witnesses or individuals you told following the incident.
If you have questions about this process, contact us.
File a Rock River Academy Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse lawsuits allow abuse survivors to seek monetary compensation for their losses and impacts on their lives. They can also pursue other potential outcomes, such as required policy changes. Hundreds of juvenile detention center abuse survivors around the country have filed claims against these facilities, including many individuals filing lawsuits against Rock River Academy.
You can still file a claim even though the facility is now closed, a perpetrator has passed away, or you did not file a police report regarding the abuse. The burden of proof for civil cases is lower than for criminal cases, meaning that even if you did report sexual abuse at Rock River Academy and the individual was not convicted, you may still be able to pursue and win a claim against UHS and Rock River Academy.
You may be able to file a civil lawsuit to seek monetary damages for the harm you suffered at Rock River Academy at no upfront cost. We can connect you with an experienced attorney to evaluate your case today. The law firms we work with take these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not have to pay an hourly fee, and the law firm only gets paid if and when they win your case.
Your eligibility to sue depends on the civil statute of limitations. In Illinois, survivors of child sexual abuse generally have 20 years from the date they turn 18—their 38th birthday—to file a civil lawsuit. However, the sooner you file, the more likely you’ll be able to build a strong case due to evidence and witness availability.
Even if you’re only exploring this option and unsure if it makes sense for you, we encourage you to speak with a professional to fully understand this process and the potential outcomes.
How to File a Rock River Academy Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse
If you were subjected to sexual assault, abuse, or sex trafficking while at Rock River Academy or another Illinois juvenile detention facility, you may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit against the institution, its owner, the state, and other relevant parties.
A civil lawsuit can help you secure compensation to cover the resulting financial costs, such as therapy bills, lost wages, and lost economic opportunities. You can pursue compensation for the less tangible impacts on your life, such as pain, suffering, and emotional distress. You may also be entitled to punitive damages, which aim to punish those who engage in egregious behavior and deter them from future harm.
An experienced attorney specializing in abuse at juvenile facilities can advise you of your legal rights and take the following steps:
- File a report with the appropriate authorities, such as the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission or law enforcement
- File a sexual abuse lawsuit against Rock River Academy and other relevant parties on your behalf
- Handle all communications, including with the opposition’s legal representatives and the courts
- Investigate and gather evidence of the abuse
- If necessary, prepare you for a deposition, where you will testify under oath
- Litigate your case and represent you in all court proceedings
- Negotiate with the facility’s representatives for a potential settlement
- File the lawsuit under seal or anonymously, if permitted, to protect your identity
- Advocate for your best interests throughout the legal process
- Try your case before a judge and jury if a full and fair settlement cannot be reached
In general, the claims against UHS and Rock River Academy involve negligent hiring practices, failure to provide a safe environment for residents, and failure to report sexual abuse to the proper authorities, among other causes of action.
We can connect you with an experienced attorney who can provide a free consultation to determine if a Rock River Academy lawsuit is the right step for you. They can also represent you on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs, and they only get paid if they recover compensation for you.
Before speaking with an attorney, we recommend writing down everything you remember about the incident. This ensures the lawyer knows all the relevant facts and circumstances to fully evaluate your case.
Rock River Academy Lawsuit FAQs
We have helped many individuals who experienced sexual abuse at youth detention or rehabilitation facilities around the country. Thus, we’ve compiled this list of common questions individuals may have about filing a Rock River Academy lawsuit.
However, if you are exploring this option, we encourage you to contact us. We can connect you with an experienced attorney today who can answer questions about your case.
Can I sue Rock River if this happened years ago?
Yes, you likely can file a lawsuit against Rock River Academy and other relevant parties even if the harm happened years ago.
Under the civil statute of limitations in Illinois, child sexual abuse victims have until their 38th birthday to file suit.
What if I don’t have physical evidence?
Many individuals who file sexual abuse lawsuits against youth detention centers do not have physical evidence. It is common not to have physical evidence when the harm occurred years ago, the perpetrator has intentionally committed the abuse in an area without video surveillance, or the perpetrator has destroyed the evidence.
The burden of proof is far lower in civil cases than in criminal cases. Thus, many individuals obtain verdicts or settlements even without physical evidence.
How much is a Rock River Academy sexual abuse lawsuit settlement?
Every sexual abuse lawsuit is unique, and the potential outcomes vary.
In general, the amount of a verdict or settlement in a sexual abuse lawsuit depends on the nature and severity of the abuse, the age of the victim, how long the abuse occurred, the available evidence, and the impact on the victim.
An experienced attorney may be able to provide an estimate after evaluating the specific facts and circumstances of your case.
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