More than 1,200 sexual assault survivors helped since 2023.
More than 1,200 sexual assault survivors helped since 2023.

New York Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Assault

For decades, sexual abuse at New York’s juvenile detention centers has been a pervasive and systemic issue. The state’s centers have faced heavy scrutiny for failing to protect young inmates from misconduct and sexual abuse, often committed by staff members. Now, survivors who were abused while detained at these facilities are stepping forward to file civil lawsuits against the institutions that ignored or enabled the harm, seeking justice and accountability.

Helping Survivors is on a mission to help heal, educate, and empower those impacted by sexual assault and abuse in New York juvenile detention centers. If you or a loved one was sexually abused at a juvenile detention center in New York—even if it was years or decades ago—you have rights and legal options.

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Survivor Advocate

Overview of New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse

By the end of January 2025, survivors have filed at least 539 sexual abuse claims against several New York City juvenile detention centers. The allegations in the complaints date back decades at facilities in Brooklyn and the Bronx, with 115 new lawsuits filed on January 28 alone. Twelve of those cases identify repeat offenders from various juvenile detention centers who have already faced other lawsuits and criminal charges.

Each of the 539 lawsuits seeks to hold the city responsible for the abuse the plaintiffs say they experienced as minors in the custody of four different New York City juvenile detention centers—Horizon Juvenile Detention Center, Crossroads Juvenile Center, Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, and Rikers Island. However, city lawyers have denied the charges, claiming the city is not responsible for individual perpetrators’ actions.

Examples of New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse

In the complaints filed so far, many victims accuse New York juvenile detention center staff members of creating a culture of abuse and silence, often offering cash or other rewards in exchange for sexual favors. One former detainee spoke about being molested at the Crossroads Juvenile Facility, while another detailed repeated rapes at the now-closed Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in 1998.

Survivors accuse the City of New York of allowing systemic child sexual abuse to continue on its watch for decades. In particular, lawsuits have named the New York City Administration for Children’s Services and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services Bureau of Detention Services, accusing the offices of enabling cultures of systemic abuse and failing to protect young inmates.

Rights and Options for Individuals Impacted by New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse

Every survivor’s experience is unique; what they choose to do afterward is ultimately their choice. There is no right or wrong answer after experiencing harm, but it’s important to understand your legal rights and options to make your decision in full confidence.

However, if you survived sexual abuse in a New York juvenile detention center and choose to pursue justice, there are multiple ways to report the abuse you endured. You can contact your local police department or the government agencies that oversee the facility. Additionally, organizations like Safe Horizon offer hotlines and support services to assist survivors in reporting abuse and accessing necessary resources.

File a Civil New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse Complaint with an Oversight Agency

If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse while detained at a New York juvenile detention center, you can report instances of abuse to the New York State Justice Center by calling the Vulnerable Persons Central Register hotline at 1-855-373-2122. A call center representative will collect your information, classify the incident as reportable or non-reportable, and assign your case to the appropriate entity for investigation or review.

However, we strongly recommend consulting an experienced New York juvenile detention center abuse lawyer before contacting any agency. A lawyer can protect your rights throughout the reporting process. Helping Survivors can connect you with a qualified attorney today.

Report New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse to Law Enforcement

Filing a police report will trigger a criminal investigation, potentially leading to the perpetrator’s prosecution. Ultimately, prosecutors will decide whether to file criminal charges. It’s important to provide as much detail as possible and to seek support from advocacy groups during this process.

Even if charges do not result, the police report will create a valuable paper trail documenting the abuse. This documentation can support a civil lawsuit and potentially encourage other survivors to come forward.

How long do I have to file a New York juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawsuit?

Under New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act, survivors of sexual abuse have the right to file civil lawsuits against their abusers and the institutions that failed to protect them. A 2022 amendment to the law added a two-year look-back window, allowing survivors to file claims for abuse that occurred any time in the past until February 28, 2025.

Current Lawsuits Against New York Juvenile Detention Facilities

New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse in the News

January 2025

On January 28, 2025, 115 new lawsuits were filed against various New York juvenile detention facilities, accusing them of decades of sexual abuse by staff. Nine of the new suits accused Natalie Medford, an ex-counselor at Horizon Juvenile Center, of sexual abuse between 2005 and 2015. Medford now faces 21 total complaints of sexual abuse.

October 2024

The lawsuits survivors have filed against various juvenile detention centers in New York City seek to hold the city itself accountable for failing to protect the children under its care. However, in October 2024, the city filed a motion to dismiss all the complaints, arguing that under the 2022 amendment to the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, only individual perpetrators can be held liable, not institutions. Attorneys for the victims responded that the city’s interpretation of the law was inconsistent with the City Council’s intent when passing it. The motion is still pending.

April 2024

The first lawsuit in the group of 539 was filed in April 2024 by 150 victims of alleged abuse at the Horizon Juvenile Detention Center.

List of Juvenile Detention Centers in New York With Reports of Abuse

The following juvenile detention centers have been the subject of sexual abuse allegations:

  • Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, formerly known as Bridges Juvenile Detention Center – Spofford Juvenile Detention Center was closed by the city of New York in 2011 after operating in the Bronx for over 50 years. The center was the subject of numerous abuse and misconduct allegations beginning in the 1960s, and several former guards and counselors were terminated or arrested for abuse.
  • Horizon Juvenile Detention Center – In 2023, a Gothamist report chronicled misconduct among facility staff, reporting that inmates were given cash, weapons, and drugs in exchange for sexual acts. The center also faced investigations in 2015 and 2018 about workers failing to report known abusers.
  • Crossroads Juvenile Center – Crossroads Juvenile Center has faced allegations of sexual abuse by staff for years, with former youth inmates and advocates alleging a culture of secrecy that prevented justice.
  • Rikers Island – In 2023, more than 700 lawsuits against Riker’s Island were filed, alleging decades of sexual abuse.
  • Brentwood Residential Center for Girls – In December 2023, a youth support specialist pleaded guilty to the rape of a 15-year-old inmate on multiple occasions at Brentwood Residential Center for Girls.
  • Children’s Village – In 2020, nearly a dozen lawsuits were filed by former incarcerated youths who alleged Children’s Village staff sexually abused them from the 1970s to 1990s. The suits accused the facility of failing to supervise staff and creating a culture of abuse.

How New York Juvenile Detention Center Abuse Lawyers Can Help

If you or a loved one was sexually abused by a guard, counselor, nurse, or other staff member at a youth residential treatment facility or juvenile detention center in New York, you may have grounds to file a civil lawsuit—even if the abuse occurred years ago. Through a lawsuit, you can pursue financial damages for medical and therapy expenses, lost wages and income, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and more.

When pursuing justice for sexual abuse at a New York juvenile detention center, it’s crucial to have an experienced attorney by your side. At Helping Survivors, we focus on connecting survivors with experienced law firms that handle such cases. They can file suit against the individuals and organizations responsible for your abuse and seek compensation for the harm you suffered. Contact us to get legal help today.

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