Camp Barrett Sex Abuse Lawsuit
According to lawsuits, San Diego’s juvenile justice system created conditions that enabled abuse, giving officers access to children in private spaces, ignoring complaints of abuse, and failing to take disciplinary action against accused officers. Recent updates to California’s statute of limitations for child sexual abuse have given victims more time to file lawsuits for abuse, so many survivors who resided at Camp Barrett years ago finally have a way to seek justice.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- Until 2018, Camp Barrett operated as a juvenile detention facility in Alpine, California, housing minor boys in the San Diego County juvenile justice system.
- Now that California has extended its child sexual abuse statute of limitations, survivors whose claims were previously time-barred can come forward to file lawsuits against the county for enabling sexual assault to occur.
- If you or a loved one endured sexual abuse at Camp Barrett, you are not alone. Helping Survivors is here to provide the resources and information you need to take action.
About Camp Barrett
Numerous former detainees are alleging that staff at the now-shuttered Camp Barrett in San Diego County sexually abused them while incarcerated at the juvenile detention facility as minors. The alleged victims have come forward and filed civil lawsuits against the county’s Probation Department, saying staff took advantage of the detention camp’s isolated location and lack of administrative oversight to abuse youths in custody.
Until its closure in 2018, Camp Barrett housed up to 118 detained juveniles accused of crimes and awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Located at 21077 Lyons Valley Road in Alpine, California, the facility was isolated from the rest of the county, and many inmates’ families had difficulty visiting due to its distance from San Diego. Camp Barrett operated in the county for over 20 years before being closed as part of a continuing effort to revamp San Diego County’s juvenile justice system.
Just three years before Camp Barrett’s closure, the Juvenile Ranch Facility in Campo, California, shuttered due to a steep decline in juvenile arrests, and its residents were moved to Camp Barrett. After Barrett’s subsequent closure, its residents were moved to the Kearny Mesa juvenile complex, now called the Youth Transition Campus.
Sexual Abuse Allegations at Camp Barrett
As of early 2025, at least two dozen people have filed sexual abuse lawsuits against San Diego County and individual probation officers for assaults that occurred in county juvenile detention centers, including Camp Barrett. While most plaintiffs allege abuse at the former Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility—now the Youth Transition Campus—others allege abuse at Camp Barrett before its closure.
A lawsuit filed in late 2022 alleges that a female guard forced a minor inmate to have sex with her at Camp Barrett in 2005. Meanwhile, other survivors, including six men who sued in 2023, allege that guards at San Diego’s juvenile detention centers county-wide sexually abused them, while other staff ignored the abuse or helped cover it up.
The lawsuits, filed against both individual officers and the San Diego County Probation Department as a whole, reflect a systemic failure to protect vulnerable minors in the juvenile justice system from predators. The suits also reflect a systemic attitude of refusal to believe victims, as evidenced by a 2017 Juvenile Justice Commission inspection report of Camp Barrett that said allegations of inappropriate touching by staff were “determined to be unfounded.”
Legal Rights and Options for Survivors of Camp Barrett Center
In California, childhood sexual abuse survivors have the legal right to seek justice and compensation for the abuse they’ve endured. This right extends to survivors of sexual abuse at Camp Barrett and other county-run juvenile detention centers. Survivors have the right to report abuse to law enforcement or other relevant authorities, to file lawsuits against the perpetrators and enablers of the abuse, and to seek compensation for medical costs, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
California's Statute of Limitations
California has expanded its statute of limitations for child sexual assault multiple times. In 2019, lawmakers enacted Assembly Bill 218, updating state law to allow child sexual assault survivors to file lawsuits until their 40th birthday or within five years of discovering the harm resulted from abuse, whichever is later. Before this bill, California only gave victims of childhood sexual abuse until age 26 or three years from discovering that the harm resulted from abuse to file a lawsuit.
In 2024, Assembly Bill 452 was signed into law, completely eliminating the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault claims arising on or after January 1, 2024. For cases of abuse that occurred before this date, the 40th birthday deadline still applies. These extensions of the state’s statutes of limitations have encouraged many survivors to come forward about abuse that occurred years or even decades ago.
How To File a Civil Lawsuit Against Camp Barrett
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. Still, it’s important to understand your rights and legal options so you can make your choice in full confidence. The best way to understand every legal avenue open to you is to consult an experienced sexual abuse attorney, who can evaluate your case and determine your eligibility for filing a lawsuit.
Seeking Legal Representation
If you wish to explore legal action against San Diego County for abuse you endured at Camp Barrett, seek advice and representation from an experienced juvenile detention center sexual abuse attorney. A specialized attorney can assist you in gathering evidence, building a case, and fighting for justice and compensation from the parties that allowed the abuse to occur. By consulting with a lawyer with experience in these types of cases, you can receive the most knowledgeable, tailored advice for your situation.
How Can Helping Survivors Help You Seek Justice?
At Helping Survivors, we’re on a mission to help heal, educate, and empower people who have been impacted by sexual assault and abuse. We work to inform survivors of their rights and options, provide healing resources and educational content, and make legal introductions to partner law firms. These law firms have a depth of experience handling childhood sexual abuse cases and are fully prepared to assist victims in filing civil lawsuits against the individuals, institutions, and organizations that perpetrated and enabled the abuse they endured.
After experiencing sexual violence, especially as a minor, it’s important to understand your rights and legal options before deciding what steps to take next on your path to justice and healing.
Contact Helping Survivors today to schedule a free consultation and get connected with a sexual abuse law firm.
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