Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit
After Maryland’s Child Victims Act took effect in 2023 and eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits, thousands of formerly incarcerated people have come forward with allegations against the state’s juvenile justice system. Survivors from across the state are filing lawsuits against the state’s Department of Juvenile Services for its mishandling of juvenile detention facilities, which allowed sexual abuse to occur en masse. The Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center (BCJJC) was no exception.
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Maryland juvenile detention centers like the BCJJC should know that they have legal rights and options for seeking justice, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.
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- Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center is a multi-purpose juvenile justice building that includes a 120-bed detention center for male youth from Baltimore City.
- In recent years, thousands of victims of child sexual abuse at Maryland’s juvenile detention facilities have come forward, filing civil lawsuits to seek justice for the abuse they endured years or even decades ago.
- If you or a loved one experienced childhood sexual abuse at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, you have legal rights and options for seeking justice. Reach out to Helping Survivors today to learn more and get connected with legal experts.
What is The Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center?
The Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center (BCJJC) is a juvenile justice building in Baltimore, Maryland that houses courtrooms, law enforcement offices, social services offices, Baltimore Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) employees, and a detention center. The detention center houses 120 male youth, primarily from Baltimore City, who receive social services and attend school in the facility year-round.
At the BCJJC, the DJS performs intake and assessment services for youth brought into the city’s juvenile justice system. Juveniles enter this system through police arrest or citizen complaints. According to the center’s facility information sheet, all its staff are trained in trauma-informed care.
- What is The Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center?
- History of Abuse Allegations at Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center
- Lawsuits Against the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center
- Baltimore City Sex Abuse in the News
- Rights and Options for Individuals Impacted by Abuse at Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center
- How a Sex Abuse Attorney Can Help
- Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
History of Abuse Allegations at Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center
Since the Child Victims Act became law, an estimated 6,000 people have retained attorneys regarding past juvenile detention center sexual abuse, and at least 4,000 alleged victims have already filed lawsuits. Some of the alleged cases of abuse in Maryland’s juvenile detention facilities date as far back as the 1960s.
These lawsuits are not just aimed at recovering monetary compensation for victims–they demand mandated reform of Maryland’s juvenile justice system as a whole. The thousands of lawsuits and survivor testimonials paint a grim picture of the system, showing a statewide culture of abuse that persisted for decades and that the DJS repeatedly failed to repair. Systemic failures in juvenile justice oversight led to unthinkable trauma for thousands of children across Maryland’s juvenile detention centers, including the BCJJC.
Lawsuits Against the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center
It can take decades for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to come forward, especially when the abuser is of a higher social standing–for example, clergy members and correctional officers. Because of this, many survivors missed their opportunity to bring forth legal claims, as the previous statute of limitations barred lawsuits after 20 years.
The BCJJC is one of many juvenile justice centers across Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services to have faced accusations of abuse, negligence, and cover-ups. These facilities now face innumerable child sexual abuse lawsuits, most of which are still pending.
Baltimore City Sex Abuse in the News
Because Maryland is now the subject of thousands of lawsuits alleging decades-old child sexual abuse by Department of Juvenile Services staff, the state is facing billions of dollars in potential liability. In response, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed a law in April slashing the total damages that may be awarded in child abuse claims in half. The maximum potential compensation in civil suits against the state and its agencies has been cut from $890,000 to $400,000, and the damage cap for lawsuits against private entities like churches was cut from $1.5 million to $700,000.
The new damage caps do not take effect until June 1, 2025, and many survivors are rushing to file their claims before this deadline. Advocates for child sexual abuse survivors say the damage caps are unconstitutional and plan to challenge them in court.
Rights and Options for Individuals Impacted by Abuse at Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center
If you or someone you love was abused as a child at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, it’s important to know that you are not alone, and you have legal rights. Survivors can pursue justice through both the criminal and civil legal systems. The first step in both cases is reporting the abuse to law enforcement and/or the appropriate government agencies.
Maryland’s Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
Before the Child Victims Act became law in 2023, Maryland’s statute of limitations for child sexual abuse was 20 years. The CVA eliminated that deadline, allowing survivors to file at any time, and the Maryland Supreme Court upheld the law’s constitutionality in February 2025.
File a Civil Lawsuit Against Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center Youth Detention Center
Civil lawsuits allow survivors of child sexual abuse to hold the perpetrators of their abuse accountable, as well as any institutions that enabled the abuse or neglected to stop it. This can lead to systemic change, protecting future juvenile detention center detainees from abuse. Additionally, civil suits can provide financial compensation for victims, covering damages like emotional distress, medical expenses, therapy costs, and lost opportunities.
Report Abuse to Law Enforcement & Oversight Agency
For prosecutors to file criminal charges against perpetrators of abuse and negligent institutions, victims must report the abuse to police or the relevant government agencies. In Maryland, suspected or known child sexual abuse can be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 855-821-2103. Law enforcement and prosecutors will then investigate the claim and decide whether to criminally prosecute the perpetrator.
How a Sex Abuse Attorney Can Help
After experiencing sexual abuse at BCJJC or another juvenile detention center in Maryland, it’s important for survivors to understand their legal rights so they can assert them in full confidence if they so choose. Helping Survivors aims to offer compassionate support, confidentiality, and the legal connections necessary to seek justice.
Helping Survivors is on a mission to help heal, educate, and empower people who have been impacted by sexual assault and abuse by informing them of their reporting rights and options and making legal introductions to partner law firms. By connecting survivors to experienced sexual abuse law firms, we provide them the resources needed to file civil lawsuits against the individuals, institutions, and organizations that enabled their abuse.
If you or a loved one endured child sexual abuse at BCJJC or another Maryland juvenile detention center, you have rights and options for seeking justice. Get legal help here today.
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