The Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in the Bronx was a holding center for juvenile offenders aged 15 and under until it closed in 2011. It was operated by the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice.
The facility had a horrific reputation for mistreating the children it housed. Many of them are now coming forward to participate in Spofford Juvenile Center sexual abuse lawsuits. Attorneys at Phillips Law Group are preparing legal filings to hold the city and individual perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Spofford’s Ugly History of Abuse Allegations
Spofford was an intake and holding facility for up to 300 juveniles under the age of 15 who were either not yet adjudicated delinquent or were awaiting transfer to another facility. Even though the facility handled the youngest offenders in the juvenile justice system, the conditions were harsh and dangerous.
At one point in the 1990s, the facility averaged one child abuse complaint per week. Among other incidents, in the late 90s, there were accusations of a guard shackling and raping a 15-year-old inmate. During the following years, many other sexual abuse complaints became public.
The city closed the facility in 2011 due to outrage sparked by the culture of abuse that had existed in the facility for decades. Victims have filed scores of lawsuits seeking compensation for the outrageous conditions they endured while confined at Spofford and continue to file new claims today. The attorneys at Phillips Law Group are working with the Spofford sexual abuse survivors to prepare and file their legal claims for compensation.
Bringing a Timely Civil Claim
It often takes many years for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to process their experience and be ready to seek accountability. Prior to 2019, survivors who experienced sexual abuse before they turned 18 had five years from their 18th birthday to file a lawsuit. This short statute of limitations prevented many survivors from obtaining justice.
Accordingly, in 2019, New York enacted the Child Victims Act. The law provided a one-year window, later extended by a year, for survivors to file lawsuits regardless of when the sexual abuse occurred. The window is now closed.
However, any survivor who was under the age of 23 on August 14, 2021, now has until their 55th birthday to file a lawsuit. Lawyers with Phillips Law Group can pursue a sexual abuse claim against Spofford on behalf of any survivors whose claims had not expired by August 21, 2021.
Survivors Are Entitled to Compensation
Childhood sexual abuse can have devastating consequences that last a lifetime. Survivors can regain a sense of agency and empowerment by pursuing compensation from the New York Department of Juvenile Justice, contractors who provided services at Spofford, and individual abusers.
Survivors can claim the expense of any medical treatment and mental health care they require due to the abuse. If their experience deprived them of educational or occupational opportunities, the defendant may be responsible for compensating the survivor’s diminished income. Defendants also must compensate survivors for the impact the abuse had on their happiness, relationships, and overall well-being.
The amount of compensation a survivor might receive depends on multiple factors. Among them are the survivor’s age at the time of the abuse, the nature of the abuse, whether the facility should have known the abuse was occurring, and whether the facility tried to cover it up. A Phillips Law Group attorney can review a Spofford sexual abuse survivor’s lawsuit and its circumstances and advise them of the factors that might influence their compensation.
Work With Phillips Law Group To Get Compensation for Sexual Abuse at Spofford
Spofford housed only young juvenile offenders, but it treated them as if they were hardened criminals. Some staff members took advantage of the children’s vulnerability and committed horrible acts of sexual abuse.
If you were one of those children, you have an opportunity to join others in the Spofford Juvenile Center sexual abuse lawsuits. Reach out for a free consultation with a member of Phillips Law Group’s child sexual abuse team.
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