Allegations of Abuse at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility

East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility was meant to serve as a safe, short-term intake center for youth awaiting court decisions in San Diego County, but recent lawsuits and investigations are revealing widespread allegations of sexual abuse, neglect, and systemic failure. East Mesa can house up to 290 juveniles between the ages of 10 and 19 years old. It’s one of several detention centers operated by San Diego County Probation Department. But now, survivors are coming forward with horrifying stories of what happened inside.

In February 2025, over two dozen former detainees filed lawsuits alleging sexual abuse while they were confined at East Mesa and other San Diego County juvenile facilities. The accusations span decades with many cases involving children as young as 11 years old. Survivors describe being molested, assaulted, and raped by probation officers and staff members, sometimes for years. They say they were threatened, silenced, and retaliated against for speaking out. And even when abuse was reported, officials failed to act. According to the lawsuits, this wasn’t an isolated failure. It was a systemic issue that led to a culture of silence and neglect that allowed the abuse to continue unchecked.

In May 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a civil rights investigation into East Mesa and other detention facilities to determine if San Diego County engaged in unlawful treatment of youth. If you or a loved one suffered abuse at East Mesa, you are not alone and you have legal rights and options. Impacted individuals can report the abuse to law enforcement to launch a criminal investigation into the individual who perpetrated harm. Even if criminal charges are not brought, filing the report creates an important paper trail for you and others.

California’s laws for child sexual abuse lawsuits have changed to better support survivors. Under Assembly Bill 218, you now have until your 40th birthday, or 5 years from discovering the harm the abuse caused to file a lawsuit. And starting January 1st, 2024, there is no longer a statute of limitations for new childhood sexual abuse cases. That means even if the abuse happened years or decades ago, you may still be eligible to file a lawsuit. Civil lawsuits not only allow survivors to pursue compensation for things like medical care, therapy, and emotional distress, but also serve as a path toward systemic reform.

At Helping Survivors, we connect people who’ve been harmed in juvenile detention centers with experienced attorneys. attorneys who specialize in these types of cases and understand what it takes to stand up to institutions like San Diego County. Every lawyer we work with offers a free confidential consultation and works on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless your case wins or is settled. If you were abused at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, you deserve support. Please reach out to Helping Survivors today. We’re here to help you take the next step.