The Lasting Effects of Child Sex Abuse

No matter the reason that you ended up detained at a juvenile hall, you were a child, and you should have been kept safe during your time at the juvenile hall facility. Child sex abuse is known to have lasting physical, mental, and emotional effects. The most obvious effects are always physical; physical harm resulting from child sex abuse can include injuries to genitals, injuries to reproductive organs, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, fractures, lacerations, etc. Mental and emotional effects can include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, fear, etc. In addition, victims of child sex abuse are at an increased risk of drug use as well as of suicide.

Do I Have the Right to Sue if I was Sexually Abused at a Juvenile Hall in California?

Yes – you could have the right to file a lawsuit. If the facility was operated by a city, county, or state agency, then you could sue the agency directly. This is because these facilities are supposed to be safe for all detained youth. Operating entities have the duty to ensure that these facilities remain safe – they must ensure that they are subjecting employees to background checks, properly training employees, properly supervising employees and detainees, and actually addressing reports of sexual abuse or any sexual misconduct. Unfortunately, youth detained at juvenile hall facilities are often overlooked just based on the fact that they are detained. However, no matter the reason that youth is detained (whether it is because of committing a crime, awaiting a court date or adjudication, or simply waiting for a foster placement), these facilities should remain a safe place for all.

If you have further questions about your right to file a juvenile hall sexual abuse lawsuit, contact the attorneys here at our law firm today. Our California juvenile hall sexual abuse lawyers are ready to help you every step of the way.

What Compensation Is Available for Victims of Sexual Abuse at California Juvenile Halls?

Some of the different type of compensation available for recovery could include the following:

• Medical expenses – including expenses for mental health services
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages
• Legal fees
• Wrongful death benefits – awarded to surviving family if the victim ultimately died as a result of the abuse
• Treble damages for coverups – total compensation could be tripled if the abuse was part of a coverup under California law

For more information about the specific compensation that you could be eligible to receive, it is important that you seek legal assistance immediately. Our lawyers are more than ready to fight for your rights and do everything possible to secure the highest recovery available for your claim.

The Average Value of Sexual Abuse Cases against Juvenile Halls

What is the average value of sex abuse cases against juvenile hall facilities? Child sex abuse cases are typically high-value cases that can range anywhere from $1 million to $7.5 million – in some cases, settlement values go well above this range. Ultimately, the value of a child sex abuse claim is based on many factors, including the type of abuse suffered, the resulting harm, whether the harm was permanent or had lasting effects (including physical, mental, and emotional effects), and whether the sexual abuse was covered up. In California, victims can be awarded triple damages if it is determined that their sexual abuse was covered up.

For more information about the possible value of your sexual abuse case against a juvenile hall in California, contact the attorneys here at our law firm immediately. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with all the information that you need.

Getting a Settlement – How Long Do I Have to Wait?

Here at our law firm, we understand how difficult it can be for victims of child sex abuse to come forward and file lawsuits. The process can be physically, mentally, and emotionally tolling. Here at our firm, we are committed to settling these types of cases as quickly as possible – so that you can get your settlement and put the traumatic experience behind you once and for all. Typically, we can settle these cases within six to eight months. Sometimes, the settlement process takes longer as issues come up; still, our team will do everything possible to settle your case in under two years. We are also committed to keeping our clients up to date every step of the way so that they are never left in the dark wondering what is happening with their claim.

Class action lawsuits typically take well over two years to settle. For more information about the time that you might have to wait to get a settlement for your child sex abuse case against a juvenile hall center in California, contact our lawyers today.

How Long Do I Have to Sue?

Under California law, victims who were sexually abused as minors have until the age of 40 or 5 years after discovering the harm caused by the abuse to file a lawsuit. If you fail to file your lawsuit on time, then you could lose your right to sue entirely. To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the statute of limitations or deadline to sue that applies to your claim, contact the attorneys here at our law firm today.

A Recent Incident Leads to a Push to Close Youth Facilities

Just hours after an 18-year-old was found dead of an apparent overdose at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, the California Board of State and Community Corrections, a state oversight agency issued a report calling for the county’s juvenile halls to be closed. The agency issued a nine-page report, which highlighted multiple issues with the juvenile halls, including that the Probation Department continues to fail to adequately staff the youth halls, continues to hold youth in isolation for longer than allowed by state guidelines, fails to meet state requirements related to the use of force, fails to perform the required safety checks on youths held in isolation, and entirely failed to implement the corrective action plan that was designed to improve conditions in the facility.

This is just the latest example of how the Probation Department has failed to keep detained youth safe in their facilities. Drugs are an additional danger at these facilities, in addition to the danger of violence and sexual abuse.

Even if these facilities are ultimately closed down, victims and their families could still have grounds to file a lawsuit. For more information about the legal options available to you and your family, we recommend that you seek legal assistance with the attorneys here at our law firm as soon as possible. Our legal team is more than ready to guide you every step of the way.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
The Average Value of a Barry J Nidorf Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuit
The Average Value of Central Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Cases
East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Lawyer