Un resumen de la situación de los hogares de acogida en el condado de Sacramento

Para entender las demandas a las que se enfrenta el condado, primero debemos revisar la situación de los hogares de acogida en los últimos años. En 2020, hubo quejas de hacinamiento en una instalación alquilada por el condado. El condado comenzó a utilizar un edificio de oficinas propiedad del condado para albergar a los jóvenes de acogida (esta era la Unidad de Servicios de Colocación Centralizada). En mayo de 2022, el Departamento de Servicios Sociales (DSS) recibió quejas sobre el cuidado sin licencia de los niños de acogida en la oficina del condado. Dado que el uso del edificio de oficinas era una violación tanto de la salud como de la seguridad, el condado tuvo que dejar de utilizar el edificio de oficinas. Fue entonces cuando el condado decidió trasladar a los jóvenes de acogida al Centro WET, ubicado en 4000 Branch Center Road; esta instalación es una antigua cárcel.

In February 2023, the DSS determined that the county was operating the facility without a license and in violation of health and safety codes. The county applied for a temporary license and continued operations. Just a few months later, in late April 2023, there was a lawsuit to stop the county from operating the facility and to find another shelter for foster kids. This lawsuit also claimed that foster children were in danger, as teenagers in the facility were allowed to come and go freely and both drug dealers and sex traffickers had easy access to youth; the lawsuit also claimed that the county was not tracking youth appropriately.

Betty Williams, president of the Sacramento NAACP, brought attention to the situation with Sacramento County foster care after a close relative was sexually abused while under the care of CPS. This relative was placed into care at age 13; unfortunately, the girl quickly spiraled into a life of drugs, alcohol, and sex trafficking, according to Williams. When the abuse happened, the girl was housed at the office building mentioned above.

Harm Associated with Foster Care Sexual Abuse in California

Many may agree that the youth in foster care are among the most vulnerable. These youth are removed from their families and their homes for different reasons, usually because conditions at home are less than ideal and they are suffering some sort of neglect. Unfortunately, many of these kids end up in even worse situations once they are removed by CPS and placed in foster care – either in foster homes or youth facilities. They may experience different forms of sex abuse, which can include rape, attempted rape, sodomy, fondling, groping, and more.

Algunos ejemplos del daño que pueden sufrir los jóvenes incluyen los siguientes:

• Infecciones de transmisión sexual
• Embarazo no deseado
• Complicaciones relacionadas con el embarazo
• Infertilidad
• Lesiones en los genitales
• Lesiones en los órganos reproductores
• Fracturas
• Laceraciones
• Rasguños y contusiones
• Estrés postraumático
• Depresión
• Ansiedad
• Pánico
• Miedo
• Mayor riesgo de autolesión
• Mayor riesgo de abuso de sustancias

Can I File a Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse at a Foster Care Facility in California?

Yes – you could have the right to file a lawsuit against Sacramento County for sex abuse that occurred at the Warren E. Thornton Center (WET) Juvenile Detention Facility or at any other facility used by the county to house youth. This is based on the county’s duty to keep foster youth safe. The county has a duty to ensure that all employees have clear backgrounds and have the training/supervision necessary to keep kids safe. When the county fails to keep youth safe, they can be held liable for any harm that foster youth suffers. For more information about the legal options available to you and your right to sue, reach out to our sex abuse and assault lawyers in California here at our law firm at your earliest convenience.

For more information about the possible value of your WET Center foster care sex abuse claim against Sacramento County, contact us in California today. Here at our law firm in California, our team is fully committed to helping our clients get justice and recover the maximum payout available for their claims – whether it is through a settlement or through a verdict.

Según la ley de California, las víctimas de abuso sexual infantil tienen hasta los cuarenta años, o veintidós años después de los dieciocho, para presentar sus demandas. También existe una regla de descubrimiento de cinco años, que permite a las víctimas de abuso sexual infantil presentar la demanda dentro de los cinco años posteriores al descubrimiento del daño causado por el abuso, incluso si han cumplido los cuarenta años; esto es importante porque las víctimas de abuso sexual infantil a menudo sufren de recuerdos reprimidos.

Of course, a much stricter statute of limitations could apply for all claims against government entities. To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the deadline that applies to your claim, contact us today. Our team is ready to help you file your claim on time.

Otras páginas de nuestro sitio web relacionadas con este tema
Abogado de abuso sexual en el Centro de menores del condado de Kings
Abogado de abuso sexual en el complejo correccional de justicia juvenil
Abogado de abuso sexual de la División de Justicia Juvenil