Santa Fe Springs Corrections Department Juvenile Inmate Lawsuit Lawyer
In June 2023, all juvenile detention facilities run by the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation – commonly referred to as youth prisons – were closed in accordance with the requirements of Senate Bill 823. As a result, jurisdiction over juvenile inmate programs was handed over to individual county probation departments.
For many years, California state youth prisons have had a notorious reputation for abuse, violence and unacceptable living conditions. That’s why we applaud the state legislature’s decision to close these prisons and push for more child-friendly, rehabilitative programs at the county level. However, we can’t forget about the victims who endured months and years of sexual abuse at one of these facilities. Most of these incidents were due to systemic failures by various State Corrections offices, including the Santa Fe Springs Corrections Department.
Maybe you were one of the countless juvenile inmates whose case was managed by the California Corrections & Rehabilitation office in Santa Fe Springs, California. If so, you may be entitled to monetary compensation from a child sexual abuse lawsuit. We can help you understand your rights and explore the option of suing the state for abuse you suffered at a Division of Juvenile Justice facility. Contact us right to schedule a free case evaluation with a juvenile hall sexual abuse attorney.
$1.93 Million
$2,287,495
$54 Million
$22 Million
$600,000
$965,000
Assaulted By Employee
$1,900,000
$1,975,000
Yes, you can file a lawsuit if the Santa Fe Springs Corrections Department failed in their duty of care to protect you from an abusive employee. This can involve not taking preventative measures like adequate supervision, as well as a failure to act appropriately once they found out about the abuse.
Frankly, there is no denying that negligence and misconduct by the people in charge are the leading causes of inmate abuse, particularly physical violence and sexual misconduct. Much of the problem is the tendency to place public image over the safety of underage inmates. In short, state officials want to avoid the scandal of a child molester in their midst, and in order to do that, they will ignore abuse allegations, bury evidence, and engage in other unlawful conduct. The result is a toxic culture of child sexual assault, which goes on for many years by the time a staff member is arrested.
Child abuse at juvenile halls is a deep rooted problem that can never be completely eliminated. But state and county officials are legally required to take any and all reasonable measures to keep inmates safe. The Santa Fe Springs Correctional Department, along with other State of California offices, has clearly failed to protect countless children at their facilities. This is why they are usually named as the defendant in a juvenile hall sexual abuse lawsuit.
Class Action Lawsuits for Youths Abused at a California Juvenile Detention CenterIf you would like to file a class action lawsuit for sexual abuse against the State of California, please reach out to one of our attorneys as soon as possible. Help from an experienced class action lawyer is essential to the legal process, considering the complications of filing a class action against a government agency. By the time you speak with us, there may be a lawsuit in progress, which means you can join the existing case instead of initiating a claim through the court system.
Either way, you can count on us to represent your interests and fight for the highest possible settlement for you and all the others who were harmed by sexual abuse at a California youth detention center.
Juvenile Inmate Sexual Abuse Case ValuesLawsuits for sexual misconduct by youth prison employees generally result in 6 to 7 figure settlements, with amounts varying from $450,000 on the lower end and over $10,000,000 for the most extreme cases of injury and neglect. What you can receive from a Santa Fe Springs Corrections Department sexual abuse lawsuit is based on numerous factors that must be examined by an experienced attorney. Overall, it’s fair to say that payments are higher for sexual assault cases versus sexual harassment, though there always exceptions to the rule. On average, settlements for juvenile hall sexual assault claims are between $2,000,000 and $5,000,000, whereas solicitation and sexual harassment lawsuits can settle for under $1,500,000.
Length of Time to Settle a Lawsuit for Child Sexual AbuseThe time required to settle a juvenile inmate sexual abuse case may be around 1 to 2 years, though some cases will take longer if a trial is required to due to the other side’s unwillingness to negotiate a fair settlement. This is very uncommon, and we want to assure you that only a small fraction of these lawsuits are tried in court. Having said that, there is no way to predict how long it will take to work towards a compensation amount that both sides can agree on. For some clients, they may receive a satisfactory offer within 6 months, but for the most part, the settlement process takes at least 12 months.
The statutory deadline for a Santa Fe Springs Corrections Department sexual abuse lawsuit is based on your age at the time of the abuse. If you were 18 years old (or older) when the assault or harassment began, you have 10 years to file a lawsuit from the date of the latest incident. If, on the other hand, you were under 18, you would go by the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits, which are as follows:
- 22 years after turning the age of consent, i.e., 18 years old (meaning you have until your 40th birthday)
- Up to 5 years after learning about an injury caused by sexual abuse at a California youth prison
You may be confused by the second standard, which is known as the discovery rule. Essentially, children who are subjected to sexual grooming, child molestation and other abuse repress these incidents instead of going to someone for help. The kids who do complain are often silenced by threats or bribes – a very common practice in juvenile hall settings. Either way, they run from these painful memories again and again, until they’ve convinced themselves that they have moved on, it wasn’t such a big deal, etc.
The truth is, trauma doesn’t just go away because you want it to. Instead, it can lead to psychological damage that negatively impacts the victim’s life. These injuries may not be realized by the victim until they are much older, and only with help from a licensed therapist. This is an example of discovering the injuries of sexual abuse, and for many of our clients, it doesn’t happen until they are older than 40. That’s why the law provides 5 years if these individuals want to sue the State of California for monetary compensation.
Don’t hesitate to call if you need more information on the 5-year discovery rule for child sexual assault lawsuits. We are happy to answer your questions during a free, confidential case review.
Speak to a Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuit LawyerThose who were sexually abused at a California youth prison need guidance from a lawyer with experience in child sexual assault lawsuits. With that in mind, please consider a free consultation with one of our legal experts, where you can learn about the process of suing the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation.
We will cover all the costs associated with your lawsuit, so you pay nothing upfront to file a juvenile inmate abuse lawsuit. We get paid by requesting our legal fees from the defendant, which we only receive by securing your settlement award. And with the Zero Fee Guarantee, you pay $0 if we don’t bring you compensation at the end of your lawsuit.
Contact us today and explore the legal options that are available to you with a Santa Fe Springs Corrections Department sexual abuse lawyer.
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