Wolverine Secure Treatment Center Sex Abuse Lawsuit
The Wolverine Secure Treatment Center was a juvenile detention facility in Saginaw, Michigan, that closed in 2021 following reports of abuse and misconduct by staff. Now, survivors of abuse at the facility are taking legal action against its owner, Wolverine Human Services, to seek accountability.
- Former detainees of the now-shuttered Wolverine Secure Treatment Center in Michigan have begun taking legal action for alleged abuse they experienced while incarcerated at the facility.
- If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while detained at Michigan’s Wolverine Secure Treatment Center, Helping Survivors can help you determine your legal rights and options.
The Wolverine Secure Treatment Center housed juvenile offenders in Saginaw, Michigan, for decades before it ceased operations in 2021. Shortly after the facility closed, allegations of physical and sexual abuse by staff began to arise, resulting in a lawsuit by over a dozen former detainees in 2024. The victims alleged a culture of abuse at the facility caused by systemic failures like inadequate background checks, insufficient supervision, and a failure to respond to complaints.
Juvenile detention center sexual abuse in Michigan can have a devastating lifelong impact on survivors. For this reason, holding the responsible parties accountable is crucial. Helping Survivors is here to help survivors and their families learn more about their legal rights and options after experiencing abuse.
What Was the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center?
The Wolverine Secure Treatment Center, or WSTC, was a 100-bed juvenile detention center in Saginaw, MI, serving juvenile offenders aged 12 to 21. Owned by Wolverine Human Services, it opened in 1997 as the state’s first privately owned and operated secure detention facility for juvenile offenders.
In March 2021, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services revoked WSTC’s operating license due to systemic violations of safety, training, and abuse standards. The facility was permanently closed the next month. Reported incidents leading to the closure included the suicide of a 14-year-old girl in the facility, a relationship between a staff member and a youth, staff misconduct like physical abuse, and failure to report incidents of abuse and misconduct.
Table of Contents
- What Was the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center?
- Overview of Sexual Abuse Allegations at Wolverine Secure Treatment Center
- Lawsuits Against the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center
- Legal Rights and Options for Survivors of Wolverine Secure Treatment Center Sex Abuse
- Steps to Take if You Were Abused at Wolverine Secure Treatment Center
- Michigan Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Cases
- Frequently Asked Questions About Wolverine Secure Treatment Center Sexual Abuse
- Seeking Justice: Next Steps for Survivors
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Overview of Sexual Abuse Allegations at Wolverine Secure Treatment Center
Allegations of sexual abuse at the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center began surfacing shortly after the facility’s closure in 2021, and the first related lawsuit was filed in 2024. Additionally, in January 2023, a former Wolverine Secure Treatment Center resident accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at the facility pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The assailant was 17 at the time of the incident.
Lawsuits Against the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center
May 2024 – 13 Former Detainees Sue Wolverine Human Services for Alleged WSTC Abuse
In May 2024, more than a dozen former residents of the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center filed a lawsuit alleging they were sexually abused by staff, and that Wolverine Human Services failed to protect them and ignored warning signs of abuse. The lawsuit described staff preying on 13 boys and girls in their rooms, showers, and elsewhere.
According to the lawsuit, multiple instances of harassment and abuse were reported to center officials, but no action was taken. The survivors accused WHS of gross negligence, asserting that the company failed to implement adequate background checks for staff, ignored complaints, and allowed a culture of abuse to fester at WSTC.
Legal Rights and Options for Survivors of Wolverine Secure Treatment Center Sex Abuse
Survivors of child sexual abuse at the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center have rights and legal options for holding the responsible parties accountable and potentially seeking compensation. By reporting the abuse to law enforcement, survivors can initiate a criminal investigation that could lead to prosecutors filing charges against the perpetrator. Additionally, some survivors may be eligible to file a civil lawsuit to seek monetary damages for harm caused by the perpetrator, the institution, or any other party who enabled the abuse.
Steps to Take if You Were Abused at Wolverine Secure Treatment Center
Report the Abuse
If you or a loved one experienced abuse at the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center before its closure in 2021, you can report the abuse to your local law enforcement agency, which may prompt a criminal investigation. Prosecutors will ultimately decide whether to bring criminal charges against the perpetrator.
Additionally, anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect in Michigan can make a report to Children’s Protective Services by calling 855-444-3911.
Gather Evidence
Survivors should gather any relevant documentation or other evidence that may help prove their claim of abuse, including medical records, incident reports, and more. Most importantly, consult a lawyer about your options and for assistance in gathering further evidence.
Seek Legal Representation to File A Civil Lawsuit
Victims of juvenile detention center sexual abuse in Michigan may be eligible to file civil lawsuits to hold the responsible parties accountable and pursue compensation for their losses. An experienced juvenile detention center sexual abuse attorney can assist with gathering evidence, filing a lawsuit, negotiating a potential settlement, and litigating your case in court if necessary. Contact Helping Survivors for a free case evaluation.
Michigan Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Cases
In Michigan, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have until their 28th birthday to file a civil lawsuit, or within three years after discovering the harm caused by the abuse, whichever is later. For juvenile detainees who were 18 or older when they experienced sexual violence, the statute of limitations gives survivors 10 years from the date of the assault to file a lawsuit.
In June 2026, the Michigan legislature reintroduced its Justice for Survivors bill package. The bills, which were originally introduced several years ago, would extend the statute of limitations for criminal sexual conduct and open a one-year revival window for civil sexual abuse lawsuits.
If you aren’t sure whether the deadline to file your case has passed, consult an attorney to learn how the statute of limitations applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wolverine Secure Treatment Center Sexual Abuse
Can I File A Lawsuit if the Abuse Occurred Years Ago?
You may still be able to file a juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawsuit in Michigan if the abuse occurred years ago. The state gives survivors of child sexual abuse until their 28th birthday to file a lawsuit, or three years after discovering the harm caused by the abuse, whichever is later. Juvenile detainees who were 18 or older when they experienced sexual violence have 10 years from the date of the assault to file a lawsuit.
What Compensation Can Survivors of Abuse at Wolverine Secure Treatment Center Recover?
Compensation for sexual abuse at Wolverine Secure Treatment Center may include funds for medical bills, therapy costs, lost educational and career opportunities, emotional trauma, pain and suffering, and more.
Seeking Justice: Next Steps for Survivors
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse by staff at the Wolverine Secure Treatment Center in Saginaw, Michigan, you have legal rights and options for seeking accountability and compensation.
At Helping Survivors, we work to inform survivors and their families of their legal rights after experiencing harm. We help survivors access resources for support and connect them with our partner law firms, who file civil lawsuits on behalf of survivors against the individuals and institutions that perpetrated and enabled abuse.
Our experienced legal partners work tirelessly to provide survivors with confidential, trauma-informed representation.
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