New Jersey Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse
Recent cases in New Jersey’s juvenile justice system have shed light on the ongoing abuse of minors in state-run facilities, with dozens of survivors coming forward to seek justice. If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while in a juvenile detention center, it’s important to understand your legal rights and options for pursuing justice and compensation.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
- Survivors of sexual abuse in New Jersey juvenile detention centers have legal rights and may be eligible to file lawsuits against those responsible.
- Recent investigations and lawsuits have exposed systemic abuse in NJ youth detention facilities, highlighting failures in oversight and accountability.
- New Jersey law allows survivors to file claims even years after the abuse, with special protections under the state’s Victims’ Rights laws.
- Lawsuits can help hold institutions accountable and provide compensation for medical expenses, trauma, and other damages.
- Helping Survivors connects victims with experienced attorneys for free consultations and legal guidance on pursuing justice.
Sexual Abuse in New Jersey Juvenile Detention Centers
Sexual abuse in New Jersey juvenile detention facilities has been a widespread systemic issue for decades. In 2009, a U.S. Department of Justice special report on sexual victimization in juvenile facilities reported that some New Jersey juvenile detention facilities had nearly a quarter of their residents report experiencing sexual abuse. In particular, the New Jersey Training School and the Juvenile Medium Security Facility for Males had the highest rates of reported abuse in the state.
Much of the child sexual abuse that occurs in juvenile detention centers occurs due to negligence at an operational level. In state-run facilities, there may be an overall lack of supervision of staff and residents, an unreliable reporting system, or negligent hiring practices that lead to likely offenders becoming staff. Recent allegations against New Jersey’s juvenile detention facilities have led to multiple lawsuits and investigations.
Notable Cases of Abuse in NJ Juvenile Detention Facilities
NOVEMBER 2024
In late 2024, four now-adult men filed a lawsuit alleging that they experienced rampant sexual abuse at a Cumberland County juvenile detention center between 1986 and 2005. The lawsuit alleges that the men were subjected to sexual abuse and assault by staff while in custody as minors.
The Cumberland County facility operated for decades without adequate procedures for reporting abuse, and each survivor in the lawsuit said they were either afraid to report abuse or believed they would not be taken seriously. Similar lawsuits were filed in early 2024 against facilities in three other counties, including Passaic, Mercer, and Hudson, for the alleged abuse of nine men and two women at their detention sites.
OCTOBER 2024
In October 2024, the New Jersey Attorney General and Division of Criminal Justice announced that two Juvenile Justice Commission Senior Corrections Officers were criminally charged for the alleged repeated sexual assault of a female detention center resident. The abuse is said to have taken place at the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility in Bordentown, New Jersey, in August 2024.
JANUARY 2024
Fifty former residents of the New Jersey Training School youth detention center in Monroe Township filed a lawsuit in January 2024, alleging a “culture of abuse” that endured for decades. The lawsuit alleges that sexual abuse by guards, counselors, and other agents of the state was virtually unchecked between the 1970s and 2010s. Several survivors said they were threatened with further confinement if they reported abuse, and others did report abuse but were not taken seriously.
Following years of abuse allegations and reports alleging high rates of sexual assault at the facility, the U.S. Department of Justice announced plans to close the Training School in 2018, but that closure has been repeatedly stalled.
Understanding Legal Rights for Juvenile Detention Abuse Survivors
If you or a loved one endured sexual abuse at a New Jersey juvenile detention center as a minor, you have legal rights and options for pursuing justice and compensation. You may be able to file a civil lawsuit against the individual perpetrator(s) of your abuse, as well as the institutions, organizations, and government entities that employed them and enabled the abuse via negligent hiring, supervision, or retainment.
In addition to a civil lawsuit, you may be able to take criminal legal action against a detention center or other supervisory government agency. The first step in this process is reporting the abuse you endured to law enforcement, who will then conduct an investigation and decide whether to press charges.
Statute of Limitations for Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse in New Jersey
Under the New Jersey Child Sexual Abuse Act of 2019, victims of childhood sexual abuse have until they turn 55 or within seven years of their first realization that the abuse caused them harm to file a civil lawsuit. Before this law was enacted, the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases was until the victim’s 20th birthday or two years after the realization that they were harmed. This means that even if the abuse you endured occurred decades ago, you may still be eligible to file a lawsuit–but it’s important to consult an attorney to ensure you do not miss a filing deadline.
How to File a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against a New Jersey Juvenile Detention Center
You may have grounds to file a juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawsuit if you were sexually abused by a guard, counselor, nurse, or other juvenile detention center staff member while at the facility as a minor. Even if the perpetrator is no longer alive or was never charged with or convicted of a crime, you may still be able to file a lawsuit. Civil lawsuits are critical for holding institutions accountable for their actions and securing compensation for victims’ suffering.
If you choose to pursue a civil lawsuit against the individuals and institutions that caused your abuse, contacting an experienced sexual abuse attorney is a good first step. A lawyer can review your case, explain all applicable statutes and laws, and determine your eligibility for filing a suit. If they determine that you have a case, an attorney can then assist with the investigation, evidence gathering, witness testimony, filing the lawsuit, and representing you in settlement negotiations or a trial.
What Compensation Can Survivors Receive?
The compensation survivors of childhood sexual abuse may be able to recover in a civil lawsuit is highly variable and depends on several factors, including the severity of the abuse. Only an attorney can evaluate your case and accurately estimate the damages you may be eligible to recover. In many cases, survivors can recover compensation for:
- Medical and therapy costs related to trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Get Legal Help Today
At Helping Survivors, we provide resources, education, and connections to top attorneys experienced in juvenile detention abuse cases. We focus on connecting survivors to law firms that can file civil lawsuits against the individuals, institutions, and organizations that enabled their abuse to compensate victims for their suffering.
Every survivor’s experience is unique, and what you choose to do after experiencing harm is ultimately your choice–there is no right or wrong answer. Nevertheless, it is important to understand your legal rights so that if you choose to assert them, you can do so in full confidence. If you or a loved one survived sexual abuse at a New Jersey juvenile detention center, reach out to Helping Survivors today to get legal help from an experienced sexual abuse law firm.
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