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Exposing Abuse in Youth Detention: A Path to Justice

Comprehensive investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice have uncovered a pervasive issue of staff-on-inmate abuse in American youth detention facilities. The findings also indicate that both private and public operators of these facilities often fostered environments of silence and cover-ups, enabling the abuse. Now, with the enactment of groundbreaking laws in several states, survivors of sexual abuse in youth detention centers are being given new opportunities to seek justice.

Breaking the Silence: Youth Detention Abuse Exposed

Juvenile detention centers across the U.S. have struggled for decades with high rates of staff-on-inmate sexual abuse. These issues have been widely documented in numerous criminal cases against guards and staff accused of abuse, civil legal filings by survivors, and sweeping investigations conducted by local, state, and federal authorities. This includes a series of reports released by the U.S. Department of Justice covering reported incidents of sexual victimization, which is defined as any sexual activity with staff and forced sexual activity with another youth – at nearly 200 juvenile detention facilities across the country. As the DOJ reports have shown, youth housed in American juvenile detention centers have reported alarmingly high rates of sexual victimization. For example:

  • A 2019 report from the DOJ found high rates of sexual abuse in juvenile detention facilities across the country. The report found that youth inmates reported more than 2,460 allegations of sexual victimization in 2018, an 89% increase from the 1,306 reported in 2013. It also found that more than half of all cases of sexual abuse involved misconduct committed by staff.
  • A 2013 report from the DOJ found that 9.5% of youth housed in public and privately operated juvenile detention facilities reported one or more incidents of sexual victimization, nearly 8% of which involved misconduct by staff. The report also identified 13 facilities where the rate of sexual victimization reported by youth exceeded 15%.
  • A 2010 report from the DOJ found that 12% of youth housed at juvenile detention facilities reported sexual victimization in the previous 12 months, including a shocking 10.3% that involved misconduct with staff. Of the 13 facilities identified for having more than a 15% rate of sexual victimization, six had victimization rates of 30% or more, four had rates between 25% and 30%, and three had rates between 20% and 25%.
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Laws Give Youth Detention Center Sex Abuse Survivors New Opportunities for Justice

In recent years, states across the country have worked to pass laws that make it easier for childhood sexual abuse survivors to step forward and seek the compensation they deserve.

These groundbreaking laws are based on widely accepted research into the difficulties sexual abuse survivors face when it comes to processing their abuse, the fact that it can take years or decades before survivors abused as minors are able to understand the connection between their abuse and the damages they’ve suffered, and the various legal barriers modern state laws have created for survivors who wish to pursue justice in the civil legal system.

Today, laws passed in a growing number of states are giving unprecedented opportunities for child sexual abuse survivors to seek justice. Many of these laws involve the extension of the statute of limitations, which gives survivors years or decades more time to file their claims, and some have eliminated the civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits entirely. Several states have also included retroactive components in these laws that allow survivors with previously time-barred claims to step forward.

Client Testimonials What Our Clients Say

They actually know what they’re doing, and they do it well. Client Injured in Georgia

Came to Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC after working with an attorney who didn’t know what he was doing. Working with Turnbull was a huge breath of fresh air after that experience. They...

Came to Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC after working with an attorney who didn’t know what he was doing. Working with Turnbull was a huge breath of fresh air after that experience. They actually know what they’re doing, and they do it well. They were very communicative and answered my questions in a way I could understand. Thank you!!

This firm has done an outstanding job helping me Client Injured in Alabama

This firm has done an outstanding job helping me with the legal services I needed. They took extremely good care of me and were straight to the point about every par...

This firm has done an outstanding job helping me with the legal services I needed. They took extremely good care of me and were straight to the point about every part of the process. I 10/10 will recommend them to any of my friends or family that may need legal assistance and will use them again myself. Thank y’all so much!

Very caring, very professional Client Injured in Alabama

Very caring, very professional and made me feel like I choose the right people for the job. Anytime I call answered my call right away or call back the same day. Great people.

Everyone at the Firm was extremely helpful and understanding Client Injured in Alabama

The Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC has been recommended to me by my friend and I couldn’t be happier with his choice. Everyone at the Firm was extremely helpful and understanding, check...

The Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC has been recommended to me by my friend and I couldn’t be happier with his choice. Everyone at the Firm was extremely helpful and understanding, checking on me frequently and providing me with all needed information. Will Lattimore is a great attorney and I’m grateful for all the hard work he did on my case. Returning all the calls promptly and going out of his way on many occasions to help with questions and concerns I had with my case. I highly recommend Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC to anyone with legal needs. Again, thank you all, thank you Will for all you did to help me resolve my case.

I really love the expertise of this firm. Client Injured in Georgia

I really love the expertise of this firm. They are forward in the aspect of your case They answered all my questions truthfully, honestly. Being patient with this firm got me great results. I would...

I really love the expertise of this firm. They are forward in the aspect of your case They answered all my questions truthfully, honestly. Being patient with this firm got me great results. I would recommend them to whomever need help. Thank you for all the great and hard work.

In mid-March this year, my car was rearended pretty badly by another car at an intersection here in Atlanta, GA, causing hefty damage to my car and head concussion and neck/spine pain in me. I&rsqu...

In mid-March this year, my car was rearended pretty badly by another car at an intersection here in Atlanta, GA, causing hefty damage to my car and head concussion and neck/spine pain in me. I’ve got the vehicle damage part done by the insurance company but the bodily injury part, I was not happy with their initial offer. So, I have approached Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC company and they have represented me professionally in my case claim. They were able to get me maximum claim, much to my pleasant delight. Thank you attorney Brett Hollett for representing me. Thank you Constance Tidwell, case manager, for keeping me posted regularly and being patient with me.

Turnbull Ĺaw firm was a life saving for me and my family. The work ethic, the soft but very firm hand handling the case and the reassurance and constant comunicación we had always made me feel I had s...

Turnbull Ĺaw firm was a life saving for me and my family. The work ethic, the soft but very firm hand handling the case and the reassurance and constant comunicación we had always made me feel I had some control even though I had none. I am more than please grateful and satisfied with the representation I received. I got a compensation above what would of been spected. Thank you very much. I hope I never have to use your services again but if in the case of I would not go anywhere else for legal representation. Thank you very much.

I had never hired a lawyer prior to this experience. I was extremely nervous and overwhelmed with the process of choosing one. Will came recommended from several sources I reached out to. He made the ...

I had never hired a lawyer prior to this experience. I was extremely nervous and overwhelmed with the process of choosing one. Will came recommended from several sources I reached out to. He made the process so easy and gave me peace of mind through out our experience. Will was very professional on the business end and made me feel like I had a friend on my side during the entire process. He genuinely cared and went above and beyond by explaining every part of the process during my case. Always working around my unpredictable schedule. He was not only a fantastic lawyer, he was a great human being as well! I highly recommend his services!

Bobby and Whitney were absolutely compassionate and very helpful. We had a very difficult case, but Bobby went above and beyond to take it and get us justice. He was always available if I needed a que...

Bobby and Whitney were absolutely compassionate and very helpful. We had a very difficult case, but Bobby went above and beyond to take it and get us justice. He was always available if I needed a question answered or just for support. I highly recommend them over all these other big time advertising lawyers. He took our case when no one else would… he is really an angel in a suit. Thank you Bobby and Whitney..

Will Lattimore was extremely responsive, an excellent communicator, very professional, has high integrity, and did what he said he was going to do. I highly recommend Will and his firm if you have a l...

Will Lattimore was extremely responsive, an excellent communicator, very professional, has high integrity, and did what he said he was going to do. I highly recommend Will and his firm if you have a legal matter you need help with. I absolutely recommend him and his firm to anyone in need of an attorney that will work hard and get results without any hassle.

My initial feeling after speaking with Ashley was relief; I was confident she had what it took to get the absolute best outcome in our fight for justice for our little man! There was never a moment I ...

My initial feeling after speaking with Ashley was relief; I was confident she had what it took to get the absolute best outcome in our fight for justice for our little man! There was never a moment I felt in the dark, didn’t understand something, or couldn’t reach her to answer any question or concern. She always expressed a genuine concern, care, and love in fighting for what was the best interest of our son and us as a family. Ashley is highly proficient and knowledgeable in what she does and exceeded our expectations every step of the way. She is truly one BADASS attorney and Superwoman got nothing on her!!

There are no words that can express how thankful I am for Drew Haskins and the team at Turnbull Law. Over the last two years, they constantly fought for me, stayed honest, and continued checking on my...

There are no words that can express how thankful I am for Drew Haskins and the team at Turnbull Law. Over the last two years, they constantly fought for me, stayed honest, and continued checking on my well-being during my recovery. I would recommend them to anyone that needs honest, genuine representation.

Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass ,PC is an amazing law firm they are very professional and are always checking to see if you okay, keeping you informed on how your case is going it’s not enou...

Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass ,PC is an amazing law firm they are very professional and are always checking to see if you okay, keeping you informed on how your case is going it’s not enough stars on the board to score how good they are…

Courteous, Tenacious, Professional and attention to detail Client

Courteous, Tenacious, Professional and attention to detail in a calming manner is how I would describe Will Lattimore, the attorney assigned to me. I had a major surgical procedure done last year t...

Courteous, Tenacious, Professional and attention to detail in a calming manner is how I would describe Will Lattimore, the attorney assigned to me. I had a major surgical procedure done last year that went wrong and left me not as I was. I contacted all the major billboard and TV attorneys and no one was interested. I assume it was not drastic enough for them. I was referred by a friend to Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass. From the beginning we met, Will, was very thorough in explaining how all will transpire in a timely manner. Patience, was the key, as it took a year for all the moving parts to work. During this time, I was contacted with steps and details being handled. I would highly recommend Will and this firm should you need legal representation.

I had a problem getting a big insurance company to pay me for one of their clients mistake. They refused to. But within a few days of my having hired Turnbull law firm, the insurance company changed t...

I had a problem getting a big insurance company to pay me for one of their clients mistake. They refused to. But within a few days of my having hired Turnbull law firm, the insurance company changed their tune. Thank you Will and the whole firm. I was able to focus on getting myself healed. If I need another attorney I’ll be back!

So thankful I went with Turnbull Law Firm Client Injured in Alabama

So thankful I went with Turnbull Law Firm to represent me during my time of need. Will Lattimore went above and beyond during the whole process. He was eager to come to my house when I wasn’t...

So thankful I went with Turnbull Law Firm to represent me during my time of need. Will Lattimore went above and beyond during the whole process. He was eager to come to my house when I wasn’t able to travel and made everything so easy. He was always a phone call or text away and made himself available to me easily. He was successful at his job and I highly recommend their law firm and would use them again if necessary.

Thank you for all you did for my family !!!! You all were very kind ! And treated me with respect and was very knowledgeable about the case the whole time ! I have recommended you all to my friends an...

Thank you for all you did for my family !!!! You all were very kind ! And treated me with respect and was very knowledgeable about the case the whole time ! I have recommended you all to my friends and family ! Thank you .Thanks for treating me like family !

Hands down the best I’ve dealt with by far and definitely got me back way more than expected and I’m highly grateful of the results their communication skills with me on my settlement was very consist...

Hands down the best I’ve dealt with by far and definitely got me back way more than expected and I’m highly grateful of the results their communication skills with me on my settlement was very consistent and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this firm thank you guys a lot !!!!!

Ashley Mitchell is highly knowledgeable and dealt with the defense attorney with ease. She is an excellent representative for legal services and I highly recommend her.

Omg guys….First of all-thank you so much! Second of all- just one” thanks” is not enough !! I worked with a few attorneys and law firms in my life, but it’s probably the se...

Omg guys….First of all-thank you so much! Second of all- just one” thanks” is not enough !! I worked with a few attorneys and law firms in my life, but it’s probably the second time when I am leaving a great review and I’m not fearful of saying that they do a great job. Drew-I would like to thank you personally once again bc of the way how quickly you did your homework and even tho we didn’t get to work with each other that much due to my case – I have already gotten a lot of great advices from you and your team. 

If you are looking for a law firm to represent you for an injury, brain injury case in a daycare like we did, then you should highly consider the attorneys at Turnbull, Moak and Pendergrass. We wer...

If you are looking for a law firm to represent you for an injury, brain injury case in a daycare like we did, then you should highly consider the attorneys at Turnbull, Moak and Pendergrass. We were very fortunate to have Ashley Mitchell take care of us from start to finish. She is very thorough and attentive to details. She cared about seeking justice for our son who was involved in a TBI from a negligent daycare center. Ashley has put forth so much effort and hard work into this case to get the outcome that our son deserved. If you are looking for a firm to represent and get you justice in a case involving you or your loved one then we recommend Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass.

Thank you so much for all of your help Client Injured in Alabama

After my car accident in 2020 life for my family turned upside-down. Everything, every movement every action took so much effort and thought, nothing about our life was easy anymore. I hired Tim Ho...

After my car accident in 2020 life for my family turned upside-down. Everything, every movement every action took so much effort and thought, nothing about our life was easy anymore. I hired Tim Holdefer the 1st day we met, then he later on introduced us to Bobby at Turnbull to represent us in court. From the 1st conversations with Ashley on the phone I instantly felt cared for. I felt like my story mattered an I felt heard. Every step of the way they were by my side until we settled. Truly if my family, friends or I ever need a lawyer again for any reason I trust that if they can’t help, they will Send me to some one who will treat us equally as good… Thank you so much for all of your help, my family will never forget you all..

So incredibly kind, hardworking, and intentional. You’ll leave with a smile, a wave, and knowing they got the job done. Thanks again peeps

I’ve had a great experience with this law firm. Client Injured in Alabama

I’ve had a great experience with this law firm. They kept me updated throughout the process and answered all of my questions in a timely fashion. Would definitely recommend them.

If you are seeking a great law firm this one is highly recommended. Clients from Georgia

We heard about Ashley through word of mouth and I am so happy we did! She has been absolutely phenomenal to work with. My parents passed away in a trucking accident and through a devastating time A...

We heard about Ashley through word of mouth and I am so happy we did! She has been absolutely phenomenal to work with. My parents passed away in a trucking accident and through a devastating time Ashley stood by our side. She even came to New York for my parents funeral. She is a stand up person. She got us the outcome we wanted. She has been there every step of the way to help my family (she even listened to us cry a few times). If you are seeking a great law firm this one is highly recommended. Even further I recommend you asking for Ashley Mitchell to work your case. Ashley made it so that my family can open a homeless shelter in our parents name so they will never be forgotten. Ashley, from the bottom of mine, Coby and Sandra’s hearts we thank you tremendously.

I really love the expertise of this firm. Client Injured in Georgia

I really love the expertise of this firm. They are forward in the aspect of your case They answered all my questions truthfully, honestly. Being patient with this firm got me great results. I would...

I really love the expertise of this firm. They are forward in the aspect of your case They answered all my questions truthfully, honestly. Being patient with this firm got me great results. I would recommend them to whomever need help. Thank you for all the great and hard work.

This law firm is absolutely by far the best ever in my eyes. I am so thankful to have been able to work with you’all through this journey. I couldn’t of asked for a better group people to be on my sid...

This law firm is absolutely by far the best ever in my eyes. I am so thankful to have been able to work with you’all through this journey. I couldn’t of asked for a better group people to be on my side. Again words can’t explain how much I sincerely appreciate every little thing you guys have done… Thank you so much for such an amazing outcome.

The Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC has been recommended to me by my friend and I couldn’t be happier with his choice. Everyone at the Firm was extremely helpful and understanding, check...

The Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC has been recommended to me by my friend and I couldn’t be happier with his choice. Everyone at the Firm was extremely helpful and understanding, checking on me frequently and providing me with all needed information. Will Lattimore is a great attorney and I’m grateful for all the hard work he did on my case. Returning all the calls promptly and going out of his way on many occasions to help with questions and concerns I had with my case. I highly recommend Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC to anyone with legal needs. Again, thank you all, thank you Will for all you did to help me resolve my case.

Very caring very professional and made me feel like I choose the right people for the job. Anytime I call answered my call right away or call back the same day. Great people.

This firm has done an outstanding job helping me with the legal services I needed. They took extremely good care of me and were straight to the point about every part of the process. I 10/10 will reco...

This firm has done an outstanding job helping me with the legal services I needed. They took extremely good care of me and were straight to the point about every part of the process. I 10/10 will recommend them to any of my friends or family that may need legal assistance and will use them again myself. Thank y’all so much!

I had a problem getting a big insurance company to pay me for one of their client’s mistake. They refused to. But within a few days of my having hired Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC, th...

I had a problem getting a big insurance company to pay me for one of their client’s mistake. They refused to. But within a few days of my having hired Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, PC, the insurance company changed their tune. Thank you, Will, and the whole firm. I was able to focus on getting myself healed. If I need another attorney I’ll be back!

When the pressure is on, you want these guys in your corner. Rustin Smith, Smith Hulsey Law

Nationally-recognized trial lawyers who handle high stakes personal injury, products liability, mass tort, and medical malpractice cases. When the pressure is on, you want these guys in your corner...

Nationally-recognized trial lawyers who handle high stakes personal injury, products liability, mass tort, and medical malpractice cases. When the pressure is on, you want these guys in your corner.

They were timely, well prepared and a class act. Ed Ortega, Esq.

They were timely, well prepared and a class act. They had a good in-depth understanding of the facts of the case and communicated well to the jury.

I’ve seen them take on the biggest companies and win big for their clients. National Trial Consultant

As a national trial consultant, I know good lawyers, and these lawyers are some of the very best I’ve seen. I’ve seen them take on the biggest companies and win big for their clients.

As a national trial consultant, I know good lawyers, and these lawyers are some of the very best I’ve seen. I’ve seen them take on the biggest companies and win big for their clients.

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Civil Juvenile Detention Lawsuits: Do I Have a Case?

You may have a potential case if:

  • You were sexually abused by a guard, counselor, volunteer, or staff member at any time in the past.
  • The abuse occurred at any private or public youth detention or treatment facility in the U.S.

As civil claims, youth detention center sexual abuse lawsuits focus on holding facility operators (which may include private contractors, municipal jails, county youth services, and other public entities) accountable for their failures to prevent abuse, investigate abusers, and protect youth. As such, they are not impacted by any criminal investigations or cases that may (or may not) arise from the abuse. This means that you may have a case even if:

  • You were abused in the state of California, Michigan, Illinois or Pennsylvania.
  • Your abuser was never criminally investigated, charged with, or convicted of a crime.
  • Your abuser was found Not Guilty in a criminal case.
  • Your abuser is not solvent (does not have funds to compensate you) or is no longer alive.
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Recoverable Damages in Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:

  • Past medical and mental health expenses
  • Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional anguish and psychological harm
  • Lost income
  • Other economic and non-economic damages

Contact Moak, & Pendergrass or submit your case details online for a consultation. Our attorneys can offer personalized support and advocate for justice on behalf of affected families.

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