Shawono Center Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
The Shawono Center was a juvenile detention and residential treatment facility northwest of Detroit, housing juveniles from across the state and offering treatment programs for boys age 12 to 21. The facility opened in the 1970s but is closed as of 2025.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
Survivor Advocate
- The Shawono Center was one of two state-run residential facilities for juvenile detainees in Michigan. It closed in summer 2025.
- Before its closure, the Shawono Center had been repeatedly cited by state health authorities for unlawful uses of isolation and restraints on juveniles in detention.
- If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while residing at the Shawono Center in Michigan, Helping Survivors can help you determine your legal rights and options.
The Shawono Center was a juvenile detention and residential treatment facility in Grayling, Michigan, that closed in mid-2025 after state officials determined it could no longer effectively meet the needs of youths. Since its opening in the 1970s, the center has been the subject of various allegations and investigations of abuse and neglect, including the sexual abuse of juvenile detainees, prolonged isolation, and the overuse of restraints.
Survivors of sexual abuse at the Shawono Center should know that they have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable, including the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which operated the facility before its closure.
What Was the Shawono Center Juvenile Detention Facility?
The Shawono Center was a juvenile detention and residential treatment facility located several hours northwest of Detroit, in a remote area near the top of the Michigan Peninsula. The facility was one of two state-owned residential facilities for children who committed felonies and held juveniles from across the state. The center offered various treatment programs for boys aged 12 to 21, including sex offender treatment, addiction treatment, general delinquency treatment, and criminal behavior treatment.
In January 2025, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced its plans to close the Shawono Center and transfer its remaining residents to the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center. State officials stated that the center, constructed in the 1970s, required significant repairs and could no longer effectively meet the needs of the youth. In recent years, the Shawono Center has struggled to comply with state rules, receiving numerous citations for violating seclusion and restraint policies.
Despite reports of potential abuse and neglect at the Shawono Center, some criminal justice officials in Michigan said the state acted hastily and without regard to the well-being of local residents when it closed the center in 2025.
Sexual Abuse Allegations at Shawono Center
Several recent reports by the state of Michigan and the U.S. Department of Justice showed signs of sexual abuse of detainees at the Shawono Center. A 2018 DOJ analysis on sexual victimization in juvenile facilities nationwide surveyed 40 youths at the center and found that multiple detainees reported sexual victimization. Additionally, a 2017 Prison Rape Elimination Act annual report by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services found at least one allegation of youth-on-youth sexual misconduct and another allegation of staff sexual harassment at the facility.
Meanwhile, former staff members at The Shawono Center have faced legal repercussions for sexually abusing detainees. In July 2025, a former Shawono guard was sentenced to four to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor under her care at the facility. Jennifer Palmer was charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct for several instances of sexual abuse involving a teenage boy in 2024.
Rights and Legal Options of Survivors of Shawono Center Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse
Survivors of child sexual abuse in Michigan have various legal protections and options for seeking accountability from those who perpetrated and enabled the abuse. Under state law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have until their 28th birthday to file a lawsuit, or 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 allows 10 years from the date of the assault to file a lawsuit.
The Michigan legislature has attempted numerous times in recent years to extend the statutes of limitations for sexual assault and abuse. In December 2024, the state senate passed the Justice for Survivors legislative package, which would have extended the civil statute of limitations for lawsuits over criminal sexual conduct. However, the package failed to pass the state house in January 2025. A similar package was introduced and passed the Senate again in May 2025, but as of October 2025, it remains stalled in the House.
Right to Report Abuse
Survivors can report the abuse to law enforcement. Reporting may prompt an investigation that may result in prosecutors filing criminal charges against the perpetrator. However, civil lawsuits allow survivors to hold the government agencies that allowed the abuse to occur accountable, too—not just the perpetrator.
Filing 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, including medical bills, therapy costs, lost educational and career opportunities, emotional trauma, pain and suffering, and more.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services had a legal duty to ensure that detainees at the Shawono Center were kept reasonably safe from sexual assault and abuse. However, negligent management and operation of the center have allowed abuse to occur for years. Therefore, survivors may be able to hold the state accountable for any abuse they endured while detained at Shawono.
Because statutes of limitations and other factors in the legal process can be complex, it is critical to consult a juvenile detention center sexual abuse attorney to explore their legal options and receive guidance.
Mental Health Support for Survivors of Juvenile Detention Abuse
Sexual abuse can take a heavy toll on the mental well-being of survivors, and it’s important to take care of yourself and your health after experiencing harm. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, or RAINN, offers 24/7 crisis support, prevention education, and advocacy to help survivors, stop harm, and enable justice. To reach RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline, call 800-656-HOPE, text HOPE to 64673, or use the online chat tool.
How Helping Survivors Supports Victims of Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse
Helping Survivors is on a mission to help heal, educate, and empower survivors of sexual assault and abuse, including at juvenile detention facilities like the Shawono Center. We work to inform survivors of their rights, provide them with access to resources for support, and connect them with our partner law firms. These firms have years of experience with juvenile detention center sexual abuse cases and work with survivors to file civil lawsuits against the individuals and institutions that perpetrated and enabled the abuse.
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse at the Shawono Center, contact Helping Survivors to better understand your legal rights and options.
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