At Phillips Law Group, we believe no child should ever endure the trauma of sexual abuse, especially in a place meant to provide care and rehabilitation. Recent investigations allege that Rock River Academy, a former juvenile detention facility in Illinois, failed to protect vulnerable youth from systemic sexual abuse by staff and other residents. Survivors have come forward with accounts of assault, exploitation, and institutional neglect.
If you or a loved one suffered abuse at Rock River Academy, you deserve justice, accountability, and compassionate legal support. Sexual abuse lawsuits regarding the institution aim to hold the facility and any other responsible parties accountable for their alleged failures. Abuse in juvenile detention centers often leaves lifelong scars, and survivors may be entitled to compensation for medical care, therapy, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Allegations of Abuse at Rock River Academy
In 2019, The Chicago Tribune interviewed 20 former residents of Rock River Academy about life inside the facility.
One former resident claimed that sexual violence there was “common,” and court records reveal that she was sexually assaulted by a peer in 2008. When the attacker admitted to the crime, she “also acknowledged sex crimes against other residents and was charged with two additional felonies,” the outlet reported. There were also allegations of sexual advances by male staff members toward underage patients.
The survivor claimed there were “incidents in which girls as young as 12 were coerced into sexual relationships by older and tougher residents.”
“None of the girls were consensual — we were all underage,” she said. “…The staff called it sexually acting out. In the real world, I feel like girls took advantage of other girls, and some girls were pressured into having sex. That happened all day, every day.”
Taking Legal Action
Survivors of sexual abuse at Rock River Academy have the opportunity to expose the truth about what happened to them through legal action. Litigation can help shed light on institutional abuse and potentially help prevent future harm to other minors in the Illinois residential treatment facility system.
Plus, compensation granted through a sexual abuse lawsuit can fund therapy, housing, education, and healing. And the team at Phillips Law Group wants to help you or your loved one start that healing journey.
Our firm offers free, no-obligation, confidential consultations and works on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we secure a settlement or verdict.
Many survivors of this type of abuse hesitate to come forward due to shame, fear, or distrust in the system. But your voice matters. Illinois law allows abuse survivors to file claims years after the trauma, and our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through the process with discretion and determination.
Contact Phillips Law Group
If you or someone you know was abused at Rock River Academy, contact Phillips Law Group today for a complimentary, confidential case review.
Your story matters, and we’re here to listen. Let us fight for the justice you deserve while you focus on healing. Call 602-222-2222 or fill out our online form on this page now to get in touch.
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