Abuse in Washington Juvenile Detention Centers
If you’ve experienced physical or sexual abuse in a Washington juvenile detention center, you have legal rights, including the option to report the abuse to the state board and eligibility to file a civil lawsuit. Helping Survivors can help you understand your options and connect you with an experienced lawyer today.
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Author: Kathryn Kosmides
- Hundreds of survivors have recently come forward with allegations of widespread sexual abuse at Washington juvenile detention centers.
- While there has been a long history of sexual abuse within Washington juvenile detention facilities, the government and center operators have implemented very few changes to prevent it and protect youths incarcerated at these centers.
- If you or a family member was sexually abused while incarcerated as a minor in a Washington detention center or rehabilitation facility, you have legal rights and options, including eligibility to file a civil lawsuit against the state seeking monetary compensation for the harm you experienced.
Overview of Washington Juvenile Detention Center Abuse
November 2024, 176 additional individuals came forward alleging sexual abuse at Washington state’s youth detention centers, including Green Hill School in Chehalis. They join 188 other people who filed a similar lawsuit in September. A 2019 federal audit highlighted significant staff shortages at Green Hill School, contributing to increased incidents of sexual abuse and other safety concerns.
The alleged sexual abuse occurred from the 1960s through the present at approximately 20 detention centers and group rehabilitation homes across the state. The victims were as young as eight years old when the abuse occurred. Over 100 facility employees stand accused of perpetrating, facilitating, or covering up the sexual abuse at these Washington juvenile detention facilities, according to the lawsuit.
However, these are not the first allegations of abuse at Washington’s juvenile detention centers, also known as juvenile rehabilitation facilities. Sadly, there is a long history of sexual abuse at these facilities.
In 2021, the state of Washington paid over $2 million to 10 plaintiffs who filed a civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse at the Green Hill School in Chehalis, Washington.
That same year, four former detainees at the now-closed Naselle Youth Camp received $805,000 to settle their lawsuit against the state alleging sexual abuse by a counselor. The counselor was arrested and charged with multiple sex crimes, but prosecutors later dropped those charges for undisclosed reasons.
These lawsuits and media reports have started to shed light on abuse—but the harm to the young individuals incarcerated at these facilities appears to be ongoing.
The decision to establish Harbor Heights, a new juvenile detention center in Washington state, was made following concerns about overcrowding at Green Hill School in Chehalis and deteriorating conditions at existing facilities.
Initially slated to open in March 2025, the facility’s inauguration has been postponed until at least June 2025.
The delay underscores the challenges faced by the DCYF in balancing the need for adequate staffing with the urgency of addressing overcrowding in existing juvenile detention facilities.
If you or a family member has experienced sexual abuse while incarcerated at a Washington juvenile detention center, you have legal rights and options. You might be eligible to file a civil lawsuit and seek monetary compensation for medical bills, mental health support, and your pain and suffering so you can begin to move forward with your life.
Washington Juvenile Detention Center Abuse Examples
The ongoing sexual abuse reports and allegations in Washington detention facilities are alarming.
Physical and sexual abuse in Washington youth detention centers may involve the following behavior:
- Sexual assault
- Rape
- Use of excessive force
- Strangulation
- Inappropriate, unnecessary, and excessive strip searches
- Exposure to pornographic material
- Indecent exposure
- Voyeurism, including watching or filming intimate acts without your knowledge
- Requests or being forced to produce pornographic material, including explicit photos and videos
- Solicitation of sexual acts in exchange for drugs, money, food, or other items
- Use of coercion or threats
- Failure to investigate reports of sexual or physical abuse
- Retaliation against individuals who report physical or sexual abuse
A majority of the sexual abuse at detention facilities is perpetrated by staff members, including correctional officers, police officers, guards, medical staff, or others.
If you suffered physical or sexual abuse while held at a Washington juvenile detention center, you still have legal options, even if many years have passed. Find out what steps to take if time has passed since the assault and how you can pursue justice.
We are here to listen and advocate for you.
Washington Juvenile Detention Centers List of Facilities
- Canyon View Community Facility
- Echo Glen Children’s Center
- Green Hill School
- Oakridge Community Facility
- Parke Creek Community Facility
- Ridgeview Community Facility
- Sunrise Community Facility
- Touchstone Community Facility
- Twin Rivers Community Facility
- Woodinville Community Facility
If you or a family member has experienced abuse at any of these facilities, contact us as soon as possible to explore your rights and options.
We are here to listen and advocate for you.
The Washington State Department of Youth and Families oversees these facilities. The agency’s website states the following:
“DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) serves Washington state’s highest-risk young people, who are convicted of crimes that reflect the profound violence, neglect, trauma, addiction, and other challenges they faced before they ever reached our door. The goal of JR is to deliver treatment, provide resources, and develop skills so young people can plan for their future and reenter their communities.”
Therefore, the agency admits that incarcerated youths have already faced and endured hardships before they entered these facilities and that its job is to help these young people rehabilitate and learn skills. However, the ongoing and widespread allegations of physical and sexual abuse at these facilities demonstrate that the state has failed to fulfill its duties.
Whether you recently experienced harm or suffered it years ago at a now-shuttered facility, you have legal rights and options, although they may differ depending on the facts and circumstances.
Washington Juvenile Detention Center Abuse: Rights & Options
In general, you have the right to report the abuse to the state oversight board, speak to the media, and notify law enforcement. You might also be eligible to file a civil lawsuit and seek monetary compensation for the harm you have suffered.
If the impacted individual remains incarcerated at a Washington detention or rehabilitation center, they may fear retaliation and feel unsafe coming forward on their own.
A trusted adult can help with the reporting process, explore the survivor’s rights and options, and help ensure their safety. We highly recommend you consult an experienced attorney who can help protect the survivor from retaliatory actions while exploring and exercising their rights and options. We do not recommend immediately reaching out to the facility or the state oversight board if someone discloses sexual abuse at a detention center. Speak with an experienced and knowledgeable attorney first.
File a Civil Lawsuit
If you have experienced sexual abuse at a Washington juvenile detention or rehabilitation center, you might be eligible to file a civil lawsuit or join an existing one against the state, the facility, and the perpetrator.
A civil lawsuit enables an individual to seek monetary damages for their harm. Additionally, a lawsuit helps establish a public record documenting the abuse. This lets other survivors know they are not alone, hopefully encouraging them to come forward. The law acknowledges that it can be daunting for many to come forward publicly. Thus, you might be able to file as a Jane or John Doe to protect your identity.
A major hurdle to overcome in pursuing a civil lawsuit in Washington is the civil statute of limitations, which sets the deadline for filing a lawsuit.
The Washington civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits can be complex. Under current Washington state law, the deadlines for filing suit are as follows:
- A recent law, House Bill 1618, abolished the state’s civil statute of limitations as of June 6, 2024. Thus, anyone victimized by child sexual abuse on or after that date may file suit at any time, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. However, that law is not retroactive, and the previous statute of limitations applies to cases arising before the effective date.
- Survivors of child sexual abuse that occurred before June 6, 2024, must file suit within three years of the date of the abuse or the date they discover a link between their mental or physical injuries—including addiction, depression, and other mental health issues—and the abuse.
Civil lawsuits are different from criminal proceedings, meaning you may still be able to file a lawsuit even if the perpetrator is deceased or the perpetrator was never charged or convicted of a crime.
Only an experienced attorney can evaluate your circumstances and determine whether the statute of limitations has expired.
You may have grounds to file a Washington juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawsuit under the following circumstances:
- You were sexually abused by a corrections officer, guard, medical professional, or other staff member.
- The abuse took place at a Washington juvenile detention facility.
You might be able to recover the following damages:
- Past and future medical and mental health expenses, including therapy and medications
- Emotional distress and psychological harm
- Lost wages and income
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
Helping Survivors can connect you with an experienced, trauma-informed attorney today who can evaluate your case and explain what this process entails. They can determine whether pursuing a sexual abuse lawsuit against a Washington juvenile detention center makes sense for you.
Every lawyer we work with takes such cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs for speaking to a lawyer or filing a lawsuit. They only get paid if and when they recover compensation for you.
If you have questions about these options or want to speak with an experienced juvenile detention center abuse lawyer, contact us today.
We are here to listen and advocate for you.
Report Washington Juvenile Detention Center Abuse to the State Oversight Agency
At any point, you have the legal right to file a complaint with the oversight agencies responsible for protecting the youth under the state’s custody. The Washington State Family and Children’s Ombuds is the agency responsible in Washington state.
The Ombuds Office investigates complaints about Washington agencies’ actions or conduct involving the following :
- Any child at risk of abuse, neglect, or other harm
- A child or parent involved with child protection or child welfare services
- The safety or welfare of children in state care
This agency offers an online complaint form and an informational website discussing the investigation process.
Please note: We strongly recommend consulting an experienced Washington 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 Juvenile Detention Center Abuse to Law Enforcement
Reporting abuse can be challenging for survivors of juvenile detention center abuse, especially if the abuse was committed by a law enforcement officer, such as a correctional officer, guard, police officer, or other facility staff. You were sent to a detention facility to rehabilitate and develop life skills. Instead, you experienced more harm.
An individual has a right to file a report with law enforcement. Before filing, we recommend writing down everything you can remember about the incident since the process will initially involve filling out a form and writing this information down.
Various factors affect a prosecutor’s ability to bring criminal charges, and victims have little influence over that process. However, we encourage those who feel safe to file a police report. The report will trigger an investigation. Prosecutors will determine whether to press charges based on the strength of the evidence, the applicable laws, the criminal statute of limitations, and the resources available. In general, prosecutors and law enforcement officers take reports of child sexual abuse perpetrated by state employees very seriously.
For most child sexual abuse criminal charges, Washington’s statute of limitations is either 20 years or unlimited, depending on the grade of the offense.
Even if charges are not filed, making a report helps create a critical record of the harm that can aid others who come forward.
If you have questions about filing a police report over sexual abuse at a juvenile detention center in Washington, contact us today. A trained advocate is here to help.
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