Lawyers for Sexual Abuse at Kern County Juvenile Halls and Camps

Sexual Abuse at Kern County Juvenile Halls and Camps

Any sexual abuse of a detained minor at juvenile halls or camps is a form of child sex abuse – as a minor can never consent to sexual contact. Child sex abuse is an umbrella term that covers all sexual misconduct towards minors, ranging from rape to groping.

Examples of child sexual abuse include the following:

• Rape
• Attempted rape
• Sodomy
• Penetration with objects
• Touching, fondling, and groping
• Forced kissing
• Forcing the victim to masturbate
• Forcing the victim to watch the attacker masturbating
• Forcing the victim to touch the attacker
• Making sexually explicit comments
• Forcing the victim to pose naked
• Taking sexually explicit photos of the victim
• Showing sexually explicit photos/videos to the victim

No matter the specific type of sexual abuse suffered, victims are likely to experience harm.

Harm Caused by Child Sex Abuse

Although every instance of sex abuse is different, victims can suffer physical, mental, and emotional harm as a result of the abuse that they are subjected to at these juvenile halls and camps. Some examples of the harm caused by child sex abuse include the following:

• Unwanted pregnancies (and complications from pregnancy)
• Injuries to reproductive organs
• Injuries to genitals
• Sexually transmitted infections
• And other injuries from struggles during the abuse, like head injuries, broken bones, lacerations, etc.
• Post-traumatic stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Panic

In addition, victims of child sex abuse may experience the following life-long harm:

• Increased risk of self-harm
• Increased risk of substance abuse problems
• Mistrust of authority
• Inability to form normal relationships
• Inability to hold down a job

Without a doubt, the youth at Kern County juvenile halls are among the most vulnerable. They end up at juvenile halls because they have committed crimes, like theft, assault, and more. Regardless of their background – and the reason for their detention – all juveniles deserve to feel safe while in these facilities. Unfortunately, in most cases, it is the juvenile hall/camp staff that subjects youth to sexual abuse.

Kern County Staff Sexually Abusing Youth at Juvenile Halls and Camps

Although detained youth can harm each other while detained, many cases of juvenile hall sex abuse can be attributed to staff. Wardens, guards, counselors, directors, officers, janitors, nurses, and other staff throughout the facilities can abuse youth. The abuse can occur in offices, outdoor spaces, dormitories, closets, showers, etc. Of course, youth has no where to go when they are detained in theses facilities. They are forced to live in close contact with their attackers, which may affect them mentally and emotionally; they may even be abused again. In some cases, attackers threaten victims with further abuse or other harm, so victims do not report their experience. Even when the abuse is reported, some facilities ignore youth and actually cover up the abuse.

Can I Sue If I Suffered Sexual Abuse at a Kern County Juvenile Hall?

Yes, you can sue. Whether the abuse occurred at Youth Detention Center, Crossroads, Camp Owen, Pathways, or Apex Academy, you could have the right to file a lawsuit. More specifically, you could sue the county for the sexual abuse that you suffered. Even if it has been years since the abuse occurred, you may still have the right to sue under state law. For more information about the legal options available to you, contact us today.

Are there any class action lawsuits against Kern County? Because sexual abuse is so common at juvenile halls, there have been multiple lawsuits against the counties that operate them. Class action lawsuits can arise at any time – given that victims come forward and are interested in taking legal action for the harm that they suffered. If you are interested in participating in a Kern County juvenile hall class action lawsuit, contact us today.

What Compensation Is Available for Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Cases?

Every juvenile hall sex abuse claim is different. Still, some of the categories of compensation available for recovery may include the following:

• Medical expenses (including costs for mental health care)
• Pain and suffering (for the PTSD, depression, fear, anxiety, etc. resulting from the abuse)
• Punitive damages (awarded as a punishment to the defendant)
• Treble damages (awarded in case of coverups, resulting in up to three times the damages)
• Legal costs (covers all litigation costs)

How much could I receive for my juvenile hall sex abuse claim? This is a very important question; however, it can be a difficult question to answer. In general, child sex abuse cases against the county are high value cases; this is due to the type of abuse suffered, extent of the injuries, and the extent of the harm caused by the abuse, for example. These cases can be worth anything from $500,000 to $3 million. Class action lawsuits, specifically, can be worth $20 million or more.

Understanding treble damages – Treble damages are awarded in cases of coverups. Under California law, cases of child sex abuse that include a cover up (i.e. the county was aware of the abuse but covered it up) are eligible to receive treble damages, or up to three times the damages awarded. For example, if your case is awarded $500,000 but is eligible for treble damages, the case could have a final value of $1.5 million.

For more information about the possible value of your Kern County juvenile hall child sex abuse claim, contact us today. Our team is committed to getting our clients the maximum recovery available for their claims, whether that is through a settlement or a verdict in trial. For more information about the possible value of your claim, contact us today. Our child sex abuse lawyers are ready to get you justice and help you recover the payout that you are owed.

About the Statute of Limitations – Do I Still Have Time to Sue?

All claims are subject to a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations determines the time that claimants have to file their claims. If claimants fail to file on time, they can lose their right to sue entirely. So, how long do victims of child sex abuse have to file their claims?

Under California law, victims of child sex abuse have until the age of forty (that is, twenty-two years from the age of eighteen) to file their lawsuits. There is also a five-year discovery rule. This discovery rule is important considering that victims of child sex abuse can have repressed memories and may not actually know that the harm is caused by the abuse that they suffered as minors. Under the discovery rule, victims can sue within the five-year period even if they are past the age of forty.

What about government claims? Claims that involve the county are subject to stricter filing deadlines. In general, these claims are subject to a short six-month deadline.

Without a doubt, it can be confusing to understand the timeline that applies to these claims. If you find yourself unsure if you still have the right to file your claim, contact us today. Do not wait to speak to a lawyer.

Contact the Kern County Juvenile Hall and Camp Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Did you suffer sexual abuse while you were detained at Apex Academy, Camp Owen, Crossroads, Pathways Academy, or Youth Detention Center? If so, you could have the right to sue Kern County for the harm that you suffered. Here at the Downtown L.A. Law Group, our juvenile hall sex abuse lawsuit lawyers are committed to getting victims of sexual abuse at justice for the harm that they suffered. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, contact us today. Our legal team can help you get justice – and the highest recovery available for your juvenile hall sex abuse claim.

To remain as accessible as possible, our team offers free legal services. These include free consultations and free second opinions. Our expert juvenile hall sexual abuse lawyers will answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with all the information that you need to begin or redirect your claim against Kern County for the sexual abuse that you suffered. Our Zero-Fee Guarantee ensures that you will never have to pay upfront legal fees for our legal services. Since our firm works on contingency, our clients will actually not be required to pay anything if their claims are not successful.

If you are ready to speak with our Kern County juvenile hall sexual abuse lawyers, contact us today!

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Kern County Sexual Abuse Lawyer