A number of juvenile detention centers in Maryland have fielded serious complaints over unchecked sexual abuse concerning adolescents in their care. If you spent time at a Maryland juvenile hall detention center and suffered abuse there, you may be able to pursue a legal claim against the responsible individuals or institutions involved.
Abuse Allegations at Juvenile Detention Centers in Maryland
One Justice Department study reported on by CBS News in 2010 revealed that there were many juvenile detention center facilities where 3 out of every 10 inmates said they were sexually victimized while in custody, including Backbone Mountain Youth Center in Swanton, Maryland. Reportedly, DOJ data indicated that 36.4 percent of youth inmates housed at Backbone Mountain reported that they were sexually victimized while in custody.
If you spent time at any of the following facilities and suffered abuse there, please contact our law firm to discuss your legal options:
- Alfred D. Noyes Children’s Center
- Backbone Mountain Youth Center
- Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center
- Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School
- Charles H. Hickey, Jr. Structured Shelter Care Program
- Cheltenham Youth Detention Center
- Garrett Children’s Center
- Green Ridge Youth Center
- Lower Eastern Shore Children’s Center
- Victor Cullen Center
- Western Maryland Children’s Center
- Thomas J. S. Waxter Children’s Center
- Good Shepherd Services
In one complaint reported on by the Associated Press in February 2024, a woman said she was just 7 years old when she survived abuse at Thomas J.S. Waxter Children’s Center in 1992. Her complaint alleged that an abusive staff member remarked that she was the youngest girl in the unit and said they would “protect her in exchange for compliance with the abuse.” That particular facility – one of the many noted above – was closed in 2022.
That wave of lawsuits came after Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, alongside a gathering of leaders of the General Assembly, rolled out legislation in January to increase accountability for juvenile offenders and those in charge of the juvenile justice system. Maryland Public Defender Natasha Dartigue warned that it could mean thousands more children being incarcerated in the state every year.
“The juvenile system is designed to be rehabilitative, but as these lawsuits make clear, often results in additional harm and trauma,” she said in a statement.
Getting Assistance with Juvenile Detention Center Abuse Claims
If you or a loved one has been subjected to sexual abuse while in juvenile detention centers in Maryland, you may have legal options. The team at Phillips Law Group wants to advocate for you in your healing journey by assisting however we can.
Please contact Phillips Law Group today for a free, no-obligation, confidential consultation to learn more. You have the right to make your voice heard. Call us at 602-222-2222 to get in touch now.
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