Juvenile Hall / Camp Sexual Assault Lawyer

Were you or someone you know sexually abused while staying at a youth detention center or camp in California? This is known as child sexual assault, and it’s a form of child abuse that happens far too often in juvenile facilities. Based on what happened to you, there may be grounds for a lawsuit against your attacker and the justice system that failed to protect you. Even if the incident happened ten or more years ago, you may be entitled to monetary damages, which our lawyers can help you obtain.

The juvenile hall sexual abuse lawyers of Kenmore are here to advise you of your rights and legal options as someone that was taken advantage of in the worst possible way. We’ve successfully recovered settlements from school systems, residential group homes, and other organizations that are responsible for the care of minors. If you need an attorney that will fight tirelessly for the justice you deserve, contact us immediately to schedule a free case review.

What are the Effects of Sexual Abuse during Childhood?

The impact of sexual abuse on a child can change the entire course of their life, even from just one incident. First, there are the physical injuries that the victim may need to recover from, such as organ damage, sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancy. But the emotional injuries are even harder to deal with, as they can result in permanent psychological damage. Of course, there are many therapists and organizations out there to help these victims, but many children stay silent out of shame, fear, guilt, and other emotions they are unable to process.

It’s also worth noting the stigma against those who are incarcerated, even if they’re children. Some of the residents at these places are not offenders, but instead, children who are waiting to be placed in foster homes. Nevertheless, juveniles at a detention center often assume that no one will believe them, and sadly, this is true more often than not. As a result, the sexual predators that harmed them continue to get away with their actions year after year. If there are children who are brave enough to report the abuse, they are often the targets of beatings and other horrific punishments.

It should come as no surprise that most of these juveniles have life-long trauma that causes mental health disorders, such as PTSD, depression, phobias, and sleep disorders. Rates of drug and alcohol addiction are also very high among this population, as they look for ways to cope with what has happened to them. For adult survivors of childhood sexual assault, a lawsuit can bring them a sense of justice while providing compensation that can go towards their medical bills, pain and suffering, and other monetary losses.

Liability for Incidents of Sexual Assault at a Juvenile Hall or Camp

We can all agree that juvenile halls are meant to provide structure, discipline, and accountability for minors that have taken a wrong turn. But these offenders are children, and as a result, the focus is on rehabilitation and giving kids a safe and nurturing environment. That’s why acts of sexual abuse are especially egregious when they are committed by employees or other adults that work for the juvenile justice system.

In addition, the agencies that oversee these places, like the county’s probation department, must investigate all complaints of abuse and take the necessary actions to ensure the safety of the kids on the premises. They must also screen employees thoroughly prior to hiring them and provide adequate training and supervision. Unfortunately, we know that probation officers, counselors, and other juvenile hall workers often prey on these children and get away with it time after time.

We want to stress that any sexual conduct between a minor and adult is viewed as child sexual assault according to California law. The laws clearly state that those under the age of 18 cannot consent to sex, thus, the adult is always at fault in these situations. Perhaps your abuser tried to convince you otherwise and the guilt and shame is preventing you from coming forward. However, the liability for these cases falls on the adult that engaged with you in a sexual manner. The juvenile center owners and operators can also be blamed in most of these cases.

Please take a moment to contact us and speak with a lawyer at our office if you were sexually abused at any of these juvenile detention centers:

• Alameda Juvenile Hall
• Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, aka Sylmar Juvenile Hall
• Central Juvenile Hall, aka Eastlake Juvenile Hall
• East Mesa Juvenile Hall
• High Desert Juvenile Hall
• Imperial County Juvenile Hall
• Indio Juvenile Hall
• Kearney Mesa Juvenile Hall
• Kern County Juvenile Hall
• Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall
• Orange County Juvenile Hall
• Riverside Juvenile Hall
• Sacramento Juvenile Hall
• San Bernardino Juvenile Hall
• San Francisco Juvenile Hall
• San Jose Juvenile Hall
• San Luis Obispo Juvenile Hall
• Santa Maria Juvenile Hall
• Southwest Juvenile Hall
• Ventura County Juvenile Hall

Statute of Limitations to File a Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuit

If you were subjected to sexual abuse while you were under the age of consent (18 years old), you have up to the age of 40 to sue the liable entities. These include your attacker, as well as organizations that failed to keep you safe, such as the juvenile facility and the county probation department. California law also allows child sexual abuse victims up to 5 years from the date of discovery to file a lawsuit. This timeline is intended for those who do not discover the physical or emotional impact of sexual abuse until they are well into adulthood. Your statute of limitations depends on the latter of these dates, so it can be difficult for claimants to make sense of the statute of limitations for these cases.

Our attorneys are here to assist you if you have any questions about the amount of time you have to sue for a case of sexual assault at a California juvenile hall. Just give us a call here at Kenmore Law Group to schedule a free case evaluation.

Average Case Value for Child Sexual Assault Lawsuits

It’s understandable that people with grounds for a sexual abuse lawsuit want to know about the average value of these cases. The truth is, there are too many variations that exist from case to case, and as a result, there’s no way to say how much the average client is entitled to from the responsible parties. On the other hand, we can say with certainty that most of these cases result in 6 and 7 figure settlements. At our law firm, we’ve recovered anywhere from $1,000,000 to $7,500,000 for the majority of clients who were sexually abused as children. Payments can be lower, of course, but even these clients typically receive around $500,000, which is largely based on their emotional suffering.

We can help you determine a fair amount of compensation to ask for during a free, private consultation.

How Long is the Process to Settle these Cases?

The amount of time that’s required to reach a settlement with the other side differs from one case to another. This is particularly true with juvenile hall sexual assault cases, which can involve numerous defendants and incidents that go back many years. Six months is the timeline we strive for when we set out to recover a client’s payment. But the complications that are involved with these claims can take longer to resolve, perhaps one to two years, and even longer is a trial is involved.

There are many elements that play a role in how long it takes to settle a case of child sexual abuse, which you can learn about by giving us a call at our office.

Free Second Opinion

We know that some of you reading this article may have a pending case that you are trying to settle. Maybe you feel that the process is taking too long, and you don’t understand why even though you’ve spoken to your lawyer multiple times. Even worse, maybe you’ve asked your attorney for updates, but there’s no response to your calls and emails. If you need answers as to what’s going on with your case, please consider a free second opinion with the lawyers of Kenmore. Our law firm is happy to provide this service at no cost to you, so there’s nothing to lose by meeting with us. If anything, you may find a solution to get your case back on track and put yourself one step closer to a settlement award. A sexual abuse lawsuit attorney is waiting to speak with you, so contact us to schedule a second opinion consultation.

Lawyers Experienced in Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Claims

Kenmore Law Group is committed to the rights of child sexual abuse victims, and we will not rest until you receive justice in the form of monetary compensation. However, a lawsuit isn’t just money; it’s about taking back control from your attacker. It’s about holding people responsible when they neglect or abuse children that they are supposed to protect.

With that being said, we want you to make an informed decision when it comes to something as important as a lawsuit. That’s why we offer free consultations under the Zero Fee Guarantee to anyone that is struggling with the effects of sexual assault while they were detained at a juvenile hall. If taking legal action is in your best interest, it will cost you $0 to hire us. As your settlement award includes our fees, you pay nothing out-of-pocket, no matter how long it takes settle your case.

Don’t hesitate to contact our law firm if you’d like to speak with an experienced juvenile hall sexual abuse lawsuit attorney.