Sexual Abuse at Garrett Children’s Center
The abuse that you or your loved one experienced in a juvenile facility can result in deep, long-lasting trauma. The now-closed Garrett Children’s Center was a secure, state-run facility with a complicated legacy. While no specific sexual abuse allegations have been made public against this center, its role within Maryland’s troubled juvenile justice system raises significant concerns.
Helping Survivors exists to inform and empower those impacted by sexual abuse, offering education about legal rights and compassionate support. We advocate for families of loved ones who have gone through injustice and seek to connect them with a dedicated attorney to handle their case. For assistance with a Garrett Children’s Center sex abuse lawsuit, call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
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- The Garrett Children’s Center is a state-run juvenile treatment facility in Maryland. The facility has faced scrutiny due to systemic issues in youth detention environments.
- Although no one has publicly documented sexual abuse allegations, survivors and advocates continue to call for greater transparency about the conditions and treatment of youth housed at the center.
- Legal changes in Maryland, such as statute of limitations reforms and the Child Victims Act, are allowing survivors to pursue justice, even for abuse cases that took place years ago.
- At Helping Survivors, we encourage survivors and their families to contact us, connect with a compassionate attorney, and explore their legal options.
What Was the Garrett Children’s Center?
The Garrett Children’s Center, located in Garrett County, Maryland, was a juvenile detention facility operated by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. It initially performed under the name Savage Mountain Youth Center but was later renamed in 2020. Garrett Children’s Center provided long-term residential treatment for male adolescents, ages 14 to 18.
However, the facility closed in late 2020 amid operational shifts and facility consolidations. More specifically, closure occurred due to the center’s efforts to consolidate or streamline its locations. Even after it shut down, Garrett Children’s Center remains part of a broader system that critics have scrutinized for inadequate oversight and staff misconduct, including sexual abuse.
- What Was the Garrett Children’s Center?
- Mistreatment in Maryland’s Juvenile Facilities
- Legal Developments Related to Garrett Children’s Center and State Facilities
- Empowering Survivors: Legal Options After Abuse at Garrett Children’s Center
- Filing a Civil Lawsuit Against Garrett Children’s Center
- How a Sexual Abuse Attorney Can Help Survivors Today
- Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
Mistreatment in Maryland’s Juvenile Facilities
Maryland’s juvenile detention centers are no strangers to allegations of mistreatment. These alleged claims have included abuse, neglect, understaffing, and a lack of transparency. Several facilities in the state have been under fire as more survivors have come forward to share their stories. Oversight bodies, such as the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit (JJMU) and the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), have documented these concerns in various reports.
- One lawsuit filed by 37 men alleged that staff at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, which housed juvenile offenders, systemically sexually assaulted the inmates from the 1970s to 2009.
- At the Thomas J.S. Waxter Children’s Center in Laurel, Maryland, twenty women came forward, claiming that the staff sexually abused them from the 1990s to the 2000s.
- At least 25 individuals have filed lawsuits alleging sexual abuse at the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center in Prince George’s County.
- Montrose School, which closed in 1988, has faced lawsuits claiming sexual abuse that dates back to the 1970s.
Although the Garrett Children’s Center has no public sexual abuse allegations documented, these historical patterns at similar facilities point to a need for investigations and reform.
Legal Developments Related to Garrett Children’s Center and State Facilities
In 2023, Maryland passed the Child Victims Act to support abuse allegations. The act eliminated the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse claims, allowing survivors to seek justice without a strict deadline.
Since the passage of the Child Victims Act, individuals and families have filed over 1,500 lawsuits against the state, with more than 4,000 claims expected to be filed. These filings involve allegations of abuse across numerous juvenile detention centers in Maryland, dating back to the 1960s and as recent as the 2010s.
In response to these lawsuits, state lawmakers have passed legislation to cap future liabilities. They have reduced settlement caps from $890,000 to $400,000 for state entities and from $1.5 million to $700,000 for private institutions. This applies to all cases filed after May 31, 2025. Additionally, the legislation prohibits claimants from receiving more than one payment per lawsuit, even if their claim involves multiple incidents.
Both survivors, their loved ones, and advocates have rallied together in public demonstrations to demand justice and raise awareness about alleged abuse at these facilities. Along with increasing numbers of individuals and groups speaking out, numerous organizations, including Helping Survivors, are coming alongside survivors and helping them navigate the process of filing claims under the new law. These entities also offer resources and support to the victims and their families.
Previous silence or absence of records does not diminish a survivor’s experience or their right to justice. At Helping Survivors, we can connect you to a compassionate attorney who is willing to fight for your rights and seek compensation for the abuse you endured.
Empowering Survivors: Legal Options After Abuse at Garrett Children’s Center
If you or a loved one has experienced harm at Garrett Children’s Center, whether that be neglect, sexual abuse, or physical assault, know that you are not alone. Civil and criminal legal paths are available to you and your family to seek justice.
Criminal Lawsuits
Both state and federal governments file criminal charges to represent societal interests. They aim to punish and prevent harmful actions, including sexual abuse. Convictions can result in various penalties, including jail or prison time, probation, and fines.
Civil Lawsuits
A person or entity, known as a plaintiff, initiates a civil lawsuit. This process aims to address conflicts and provide restitution to survivors for the harm they have experienced—a favorable verdict results in monetary compensation for the plaintiff’s losses. At Helping Survivors, we offer guidance in navigating and filing civil lawsuits.
Survivors can now come forward, even without previous public allegations, due to recent legal reforms. If you are unsure about whether your experience is eligible for compensation, consult our team today for a free consultation. We can review the incident or incidents with care and compassion, and help connect you with a knowledgeable attorney who knows how to navigate these complex cases.
Filing a Civil Lawsuit Against Garrett Children’s Center
Although monetary rewards cannot take back the harm you endured, a civil lawsuit can provide compensation for pain, trauma, therapy, and other related damages. Along with personal healing, a civil claim can also raise public awareness and promote institutional accountability, prompting lawmakers to make changes and improve these systems.
You do not need documentation or prior lawsuits to explore your legal options. We can review your case, help secure an experienced attorney, and begin the process of seeking compensation on your behalf.
How a Sexual Abuse Attorney Can Help Survivors Today
Helping Survivors partners with dedicated and well-versed attorneys who are trauma-informed and sensitive to abuse-related cases. We offer free consultations, complete confidentiality, and no upfront legal fees.
Getting the legal support you deserve can help you reclaim your story, hold institutions accountable for their wrongdoing, and find healing through justice. Call Helping Survivors today to schedule an initial meeting.
Want To Speak With A Lawyer?
