Butte Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Did you suffer as a victim of sexual abuse while staying at the Butte County Juvenile Detention Center? If you were sexually abused by a probation officer, social worker, doctor, or another staff adult working at the facility, you may be entitled to the following damages in a Butte Juvenile Detention sexual abuse lawsuit:

• Cost of medical treatments, including mental health counseling
• Lost wages or loss of earning capacity
• Non-economic damages, such as emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering 
• Punitive / treble damages

The Butte County Juvenile Hall is a youth detention center located in Oroville, California. According to the Butte County website, the facility helps these kids “build life skills in many areas including: responsibility, ethics, citizenship, teamwork, and communication.”

With these goals in mind, you would expect that juvenile inmates are treated with respect and compassion from the adults that work with them on a daily basis. In reality, many of these employees are there to sexually abuse children, who are in a vulnerable position and are more likely to stay quiet. Such incidents are entirely too common in California’s juvenile halls and much of the blame is on the agencies that are in charge of these facilities.

The Butte Juvenile Detention abuse lawyers of Kenmore are dedicated to the rights of child sexual abuse victims and their loved ones. Please contact us for a free, confidential case review, where you can learn about your rights and legal options.

How Child Sexual Abuse is Defined under California Law

In spite of one’s own opinions, the laws in California define child sexual abuse as any conduct between an adult and child that results in sexual gratification for the adult. Now, some abusers will argue that the child enjoyed the act or was already familiar with sex, but this is irrelevant when the party in question is under 18 years old.

The age of consent in California is 18, which means anyone under that age cannot give informed consent for sexual activity. This includes much more than intercourse and oral sex – exchanging pornography, sexting, and inappropriate touching are all examples of child sexual abuse. And adults who engage in such behavior with minors are guilty of sexual assault against an underage individual.

Unless it’s happened to you, it’s easy to think that these incidents are isolated moments you can put behind you with the passage of time. But the many clients we have represented over the years can tell you about the profound, lifelong damage of sexual abuse during childhood. For juvenile hall inmates, it can make their existing problems worse and cause them to develop psychological disorders, like severe anger issues, suicidal ideation, depression, and sleep disorders.

As a child, they are unable to connect these issues with the abuse that was inflicted on them. That’s why most victims need help from a licensed counselor, who can help them work through the effects of being sexually abused at Butte Juvenile Detention Center.

A Butte Juvenile Detention sexual molestation lawyer at our office can help you seek justice if you are an adult survivor of child sexual abuse. Or, if you are the parent or guardian of a Butte Juvenile Detention assault victim, we can help you file a lawsuit on behalf of your child. However, you should always make an informed decision on anything that affects your legal rights. That’s why we invite you to contact us and learn about the process of filing a Butte Juvenile Detention sexual assault claim.

Sexual Abuse against Minors in Juvenile Halls

Our legal team has known about the toxic culture of child abuse at juvenile halls for many years, but members of the public rarely think about these issues, which is understandable. Frankly, it’s unpleasant to think of children being harmed in any way, no matter what they’ve done in order to be sentenced to a juvenile detention center.

However, not thinking or talking about these issues is part of the problem, and in recent years, more and more victims have bravely come forward with their stories of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. We have personally spoken with many of these victims, who were forced or manipulated into sex or sexual acts with an administrator or staff member.

Many of these cases involve children who were groomed, meaning the abuser took their time to establish a friendship for the purpose of sexually abusing the child. It often starts with the perpetrator giving the child extra time and attention and making them feel special. Eventually, the conversations turn sexual, which is followed by sexual exchanges, like exposing oneself to a minor or groping her breasts.

By then, the victim is conflicted as to what they should do, considering that this person may be helping them to survive at the facility on a daily basis. There is also the possibility of retaliation for snitching, either from the abuser’s colleagues or from inmates that are forced / bribed to beat up the victim. This is why most victims refuse to speak out until they are adults, when they realize that they can no longer repress the memories of being abused.

No matter the circumstance, it may not be too late to file a lawsuit for sexual abuse with help from the Butte Juvenile Detention sexual abuse lawyers at our office. Please take a moment to contact us if you were sexually assaulted at Butte Juvenile Detention Center.

Your Right to File a Butte Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

You have the right to file a lawsuit for monetary damages if you were sexually abused while being detained at Butte County Juvenile Hall. These cases are generally filed against Butte County, and not just the person that committed the assault. This is based on the principle of vicarious liability, where someone can be indirectly responsible for injuries to another party.

With a juvenile hall, employees are hired, trained, and supervised by a county or state agency. Unfortunately, the officials in charge have a tendency to conceal evidence of sexual abuse or find ways to silence / buy off the victims. In many cases, the abuser is let off with a slap on the wrist, like a month of suspension and transfer to another juvenile hall. Simply put, they have allowed a sexual predator to get away with their crimes, while sending them off to abuse a whole new set of victims.

Though you have the right to seek compensation through a lawsuit, the challenge is to build a solid case against the Butte County Probation Department and other entities that are liable for your injuries. A childhood sexual assault lawyer can help you collect evidence and navigate the legal process for a sexual abuse lawsuit against Butte County Juvenile Hall.

Joining a Butte Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse Class Action Lawsuit

If you’re interested in joining a Butte Juvenile Detention sexual abuse class action lawsuit, simply give us a call to speak with one of our attorneys. A Butte Juvenile Detention class action lawsuit attorney can go over the process that’s involved and take the time to go over all your questions and concerns.

This is also an opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of filing a lawsuit with others that were sexually abused at Butte County Juvenile Hall. That way, you can be sure that you are making the best choice based on your own circumstances. Keep in mind that you can also choose to file a lawsuit on your own, which we can discuss with you in detail during a private consultation. Regardless of the legal action you take, our lawyers are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so contact us anytime if you need guidance from an experienced class action lawsuit lawyer.   

Settlement Values for a Butte Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuit 

A lawsuit for sexual abuse at Butte County Juvenile Detention Center is worth anywhere from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 and above. Settlements exceeding $10,000,000 are generally associated with class actions lawsuits, though it’s possible for a single victim to receive this amount based on the severity of their injuries. Conversely, lower settlements – $500,000 or less – are appropriate in cases where the level of harm and suffering is not as intense.

A good deal of these settlements are based on non-economic damages, like emotional distress. Victims may also receive punitive or treble damages, which is awarded by juries in cases of gross negligence, like concealing evidence of sexual abuse at a juvenile hall. However, even cases that are settled out of court typically result in payments of $1,000,000 to $3,000,000.

Please note that each case is unique, with its own set of factors that will determine the amount the victim is entitled to. While average case values are helpful as general information, you should rely on a Butte Juvenile Detention sexual assault lawyer if you’d like to find out what your lawsuit is worth.

How Long Does it Take to Settle a Butte Juvenile Detention Sexual Assault Lawsuit?

On average, it takes around 1 to 3 years to settle a Butte Juvenile Hall sexual abuse lawsuit. If you are filing a class action lawsuit, the amount of time it takes to settle a Butte Juvenile Detention sexual assault lawsuit may be around 2 to 4 years. How long the settlement process will take is based on numerous factors, including:

• Availability of evidence and how long it takes to recover that information
• Whether you are filing a personal injury or class action lawsuit
• The extent of your emotional and/or physical injuries
• If your lawsuit is tried in court

It’s quite rare that a sexual assault claim is tried in court, as reaching a settlement is in everyone’s best interest. We would say that our success rate is around 95% when it comes to keeping a case out of court. If it’s decided between you and your attorney that going to trial is the best option, it can take up to several years to settle a juvenile hall sexual abuse lawsuit.

Statute of Limitations to File a Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Victims of sexual abuse at a juvenile hall have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. Known as the statute of limitations, this time period is normally 22 years from turning 18 years old, or the age of consent in California. In essence, you have until your 40^th birthday to file a claim with the court system.

However, you can still file a lawsuit past the age of 40 under the 5-year discovery rule. Many victims don’t make the connection between abuse during childhood and the current mental / physical health issues they are currently experiencing. That’s why the laws provide you with a 5-year window to file a lawsuit from the time of discovering an injury from sexual abuse at Butte County Juvenile Hall.

It can be hard to make sense of these deadlines, which is why you should contact a Butte Juvenile Detention abuse attorney to verify the statute of limitations for a sexual assault lawsuit.

Free Legal Service from a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Attorney

No abuse victim should have to choose between their finances and finding a lawyer who can sue Butte Juvenile Detention Hall for inmate sexual assault. That’s why we provide a Zero Fee Guarantee to anyone that comes to us for help on a Butte Juvenile Detention abuse lawsuit.

You pay nothing out of pocket, as all of our expenses are covered by the party you are suing. That means legal fees are included in your settlement check, and there is no cost to you whatsoever if we don’t win your case. This policy isn’t just for clients who are starting a child sexual assault lawsuit with our law firm. If you wish to continue an existing lawsuit with us, you are also covered under the Zero Fee Guarantee.

If you are in need of a free consultation or free second opinion from a Butte Juvenile Detention sexual abuse attorney, please give us a call.