Western Region Detention Facility Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Sexual Abuse of Inmates at the Western Region Detention Facility

Were you subjected to sexual abuse during the time that you were detained at the Western Region Detention Facility? Unfortunately, sexual abuse is very common in prisons. This abuse can occur at the hands of staff, like guards and officers, as well as at the hands of other inmates. Although every instance is different, some of the abuse that could occur could include the following:

• Rape and attempted rape
• Sodomy
• Penetration with objects or fingers
• Forcing the victim to perform any sexual acts, including oral sex
• Forcing the victim to participate in any sexual act
• Forced kissing anywhere on the body, including on the mouth
• Forcing the victim to pose for sexually explicit photos or videos
• Making sexually explicit comments or jokes
• And more

Although sexual abuse can look different for everyone, victims are likely to suffer significant harm.

The Harm that could Occur – Victims are likely to suffer physical injuries, which could include injuries to genitals, injuries to reproductive organs, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, pregnancy-related complications, fractures, lacerations, scrapes, bruises, and other injuries related to a physical struggle during the attack. In addition, victims are likely to suffer extensive psychological harm. Psychological injuries could include post-traumatic stress, anxiety, panic, depression, fear, social isolation, increased risk of substance abuse, increased risk of self-harm, and problems with authority. In many cases, mental and emotional distress caused by sexual abuse is actually heightened because inmates are forced to remain in close proximity to their attackers.

No matter the type of sexual abuse that occurred and the resulting harm, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Based on the details surrounding your specific situation, you could have the right to file a lawsuit and even recover compensation. Contact us today to learn more about the legal options available to you.

Liability for Sexual Abuse at Western Region Detention Facility

If you suffered sexual abuse while you were detained at the Western Region Detention Facility, you might have many questions. These might include the following:

• Can I file a lawsuit if I was sexually abused at the Western Region Detention Facility?
• Do I have the right to file a lawsuit for sexual abuse that occurred while I was detained at the Western Region Detention Facility?

You could certainly have the right to file a lawsuit for sexual abuse that you suffered while you were an inmate at a prison or detention facility. In general, when detention centers or prisons are privately owned and operated, the private company will be liable for sexual abuse. However, these private companies often lease out their facilities to other entities, including government entities, which can result in liability being more complex.

The Western Region Detention Facility, for example, is owned by GEO, as previously mentioned. The facility, however, is run by the USMS (and houses federal prisoners). Based on the specific facts surrounding the sexual abuse, either the GEO or USMS – or both – could face liability and could be sued for sexual abuse on the premises.

A Breakdown of the Duties that Owners/Operators of Prisons Have – the parties/entities that own and operate prisons and detention centers have a duty to ensure that inmates/prisoners remain safe during their detention period. To ensure inmate safety, the following must occur: guards, officers, and other staff must be subject the background checks, training, and supervision; the facility must have the necessary policies and procedures in place; the facility must take reports of sexual abuse seriously and follow-through with investigations. Depending on whether the abuse occurs at the hands of staff or other inmates, the facility will need to respond appropriately. For staff, for instance, they may need to suspend staff, put them on administrative leave, transfer them to other units/departments to avoid contact with inmates, or terminate them. For inmates, they may need to increase security, increase surveillance, increase patrols, separate inmates into different cells or units, transferring inmates to other facilities, etc. The most important responsibility that these facilities have is to take allegations of sexual abuse and reports of sexual abuse seriously.

Sexual Abuse is Often Ignored – in many cases, inmates do not report the abuse that they experience either because they do not know how to file a report, believe nothing will happen, or fear retaliation. In addition, the sexual abuse is known to guards, supervisors, and directors, but nothing is done about the situation; those who are responsible for keeping inmates safe turn a blind eye and ignore abuse or actually enable it. In some cases, sexual abuse – especially when it is recurring – can be considered cruel and unusual punishment and a violation of civil rights.

Can I File a Lawsuit?

Yes – you could have the right to file a lawsuit. If you were abused at the Western Region Detention Facility and are interested in exploring your right to file a lawsuit against GEO or the USMS, contact us today. Our legal team is ready to guide you every step of the way.

What Compensation is Available for Recovery?

Although every claim is different, victims of prison sexual abuse at the hands of inmates or prison staff, may be entitled to receive compensation for some of the following:

• Medical costs
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages
• Treble damages
• Legal costs

How much can I recover? In general, these cases can be worth up to $5 million. However, the value of these claims will be strictly based on the details surrounding the case. Here at our law firm, our experts are fully committed to getting our clients the maximum recovery available for their claims. Whether our team has to negotiate a settlement or take your claim to trial to reach a verdict, you can trust that our team is ready to go above it all to secure the highest payout available for your claim.

Contact the Sex Abuse Lawyers at Downtown L.A. Law Group Today

If you were sexually abused during your time at the Western Region Detention Facility in San Diego, you could have a right to file lawsuit and receive compensation. If you are interested in learning more about the legal options available to you for the sexual abuse that you suffered, please do not hesitate to reach out to our experienced prison sex abuse lawyers as soon as possible. Our sexual abuse lawyers have decades of experience and are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to seek justice. We are committed to protecting the rights of the victims of prison sexual abuse and helping them win their claim.

Our law firm is dedicated to ensuring that our legal services remain accessible. We offer free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our sexual abuse experts will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns. Our team will guide you every step of your way. If you are interested in scheduling a free case review, contact us today.

Zero-Fee Guarantee: we are proud to be able to offer a Zero-Fee Guarantee, meaning that clients will not be required to pay any upfront legal costs for our legal services. Additionally, our firm works on a strict contingency structure; this means that our clients will not be responsible for paying any legal fees if their claims are not successful. If you do not win, you simply will not have to pay anything.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your Western Region Detention Facility claim.

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