Holding the Hayes Unit and the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission Accountable for Institutional Abuse
The Female Secure Care and Intake Facility, widely known as the Hayes Unit, is a state-run juvenile detention center located on the Johnstone Campus in Bordentown, New Jersey. It holds a unique and critical position within the state’s correctional system as the only secure facility dedicated exclusively to providing education, treatment, and custody for committed juvenile females. Operated by the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC), the facility is designed with a capacity to house up to 48 residents at any given time.
Despite its stated mission of rehabilitation and care, the Hayes Unit has faced significant scrutiny regarding its regulatory history and safety standards. While intended to be a secure environment for vulnerable youth, reports from state-appointed task forces and independent audits have frequently highlighted systemic issues. The facility’s location in Bordentown has become synonymous with a broader failure of the state to protect the minors in its custody, leading to urgent calls for its closure from both government officials and advocacy groups. Survivors may also want to review related Texas juvenile facility claims involving abuse at Camden County Juvenile Detention.
The history of the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility is marred by deeply disturbing allegations of repeated unlawful sexual contact and sexual assault of residents by staff members. Survivors have come forward with detailed reports of sexual penetration, inappropriate touching, and persistent sexual harassment. These incidents were not isolated; they occurred in shared communal spaces and private living quarters, suggesting a pervasive lack of supervision and a total breakdown of institutional safeguards. Many victims have described a “culture of abuse” where those in positions of authority used their power to prey on the very children they were sworn to protect.
The methods used by perpetrators to maintain silence were particularly heinous. Survivors alleged that staff members threatened them with physical harm to their families if the abuse was disclosed. Reports also indicate that some residents were bribed with drugs to engage in sexual activity, exploiting the addiction issues that many of these youth were supposedly there to treat. This environment of fear and exploitation has left lasting scars on many who passed through the Bordentown facility.
The victims at the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility were predominantly juvenile females, many of whom came from marginalized backgrounds. Statistics indicate a disproportionately high percentage of Black and Latino youth among the resident population. These young women were often placed in the facility for rehabilitation or addiction treatment, circumstances that inherently made them more vulnerable to exploitation. The institutional setting, rather than providing safety, often enabled abuse by isolating these youth from their families and support systems. Related institutional abuse cases include those involving abuse at Wordsworth Academy.
In one high-profile case from 2024, the victim was an 18-year-old resident who was subjected to repeated assaults during her time in custody. Survivors have poignantly described themselves as being treated as “voiceless” by a system that viewed them as expendable. The intersection of youth, vulnerability, and the state’s failure to provide adequate oversight created a dangerous environment where predators could operate with perceived impunity.
Legal action against the Hayes Unit and its staff has intensified in recent years. In October 2024, two senior corrections officers were criminally charged with sexual assault and official misconduct following an investigation into the abuse of an 18-year-old resident. Civilly, the facility is now a focal point of a massive Multi-County Litigation (MCL) involving over 350 plaintiffs suing the State of New Jersey for systemic abuse in juvenile lockups. In 2025, the New Jersey Supreme Court ordered these cases to be centralized under a single judge in Middlesex County to ensure consistent and efficient adjudication.
Survivors are encouraged to review information from authoritative sources such as the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General regarding ongoing investigations and criminal proceedings. Phillips Law Group represents survivors of abuse in Texas secure juvenile facilities. Our attorneys have handled residential treatment center abuse attorneys across the country.
Liability in these cases extends beyond the individual perpetrators to the institutions that failed to protect the residents. Under the legal concepts of vicarious liability and negligent supervision, the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) and the state itself can be held accountable for the actions of their employees. Specifically, the following parties may be named in legal actions:
If you or a loved one were a resident, patient, or inmate at the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility in Bordentown, New Jersey, you may be eligible to file a claim. Investigations cover abuse occurring from the 1980s through the present day, with a particular focus on the systemic failures highlighted by recent criminal charges in 2024. You can file even if you do not know the full name of your abuser or if no criminal conviction was ever secured.
Survivors of institutional abuse may seek various forms of compensation to help them rebuild their lives. These damages are designed to address both the immediate and long-term impacts of the trauma suffered. Phillips Law Group’s sexual abuse lawyer practice is dedicated to holding institutions accountable.
In New Jersey, the legal landscape for survivors of childhood sexual abuse was transformed by the Child Victims Act of 2019. This law significantly expanded the timeframes for filing civil lawsuits, providing a path to justice for many who were previously barred by old deadlines. Survivors can now file civil lawsuits until they reach age 55 or within seven years of realizing that the abuse caused them harm, whichever is later. For abuse that occurred when the victim was an adult (age 18 or older), the deadline is generally seven years from the date of the incident.
Crucially, these laws included “revival” provisions or lookback windows that allowed older claims to be filed regardless of when the abuse occurred. It is vital that survivors do not assume it is too late to seek justice, as the rules surrounding these deadlines are complex and favor the survivor’s right to be heard.
Several key statutes protect the rights of survivors in New Jersey. The New Jersey Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act of 2019 is the primary vehicle for many current claims, as it expanded the statute of limitations and provided for the revival of older cases. The federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) sets mandatory national standards for the detection and prevention of sexual abuse in all correctional facilities, including juvenile centers.
Survivors may also seek recourse through the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, which governs how claims are filed against state entities like the JJC. For more information on these protections, survivors can visit the New Jersey Legislature website or consult resources from RAINN.
Your consultation with our firm is provided at no charge, and all information you share is held in the strictest confidence. We are here to help you every step of the way.
Call (602) 222-2222
Free & Confidential — No Fees Unless We Win
Available 24/7 
