Sexual abuse at juvenile detention facilities is an outrage, but sadly, it is very common. If you were sexually abused in a juvenile facility charged with treating and rehabilitating you, you may have the right to pursue compensation.
Cresson Secure Treatment Unit sexual abuse lawsuits seek accountability from the owners, operators, and staff at that facility. Attorneys at Phillips Law Group are speaking with former residents who were sexually abused there and are ready to pursue justice in the courts.
History of Sexual Abuse at the Facility
The Cresson Secure Treatment Unit was a juvenile detention facility owned and operated by a Massachusetts company, Justice Resource Institute (JRI). Under a contract with the state, JRI provided residential care and mental health treatment to youth.
In 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice released the results of its nationwide investigation into sexual abuse at juvenile detention facilities. Almost a third of the former residents surveyed acknowledged being sexually abused while they were held at Cresson Secure Treatment Unit.
The facility was permanently shuttered in 2015. Given the clear history of Cresson staff sexually abusing residents, the attorneys at Phillips Law Group are interviewing former residents interested in bringing a civil lawsuit against the individual perpetrators, JRI, and the State of Pennsylvania.
Civil Sexual Abuse Claims Explained
Proving a case in criminal court requires prosecutors to meet a very high burden of proof. When years have passed since an incident, evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that sexual abuse occurred may not be readily available. In some cases, the perpetrator may have died.
When survivors bring a civil claim, the burden of proof is much lower than in criminal court. The Cresson survivors’ attorneys must show it is more likely than not that the sexual abuse occurred.
When a survivor brings a civil claim for institutional sexual abuse, the claim is often based on the agencies’ failure to appropriately screen applicants for positions working with at-risk youth, providing inadequate training, and failing to supervise staff properly. Other claims allege that complaint reporting procedures were inadequate and defendants failed to follow up on complaints appropriately, attempted to cover up abuse, and protected abusers.
Understanding the Time Limits for Childhood Sexual Abuse Claims
In Pennsylvania, the time frame for bringing a civil lawsuit for injuries suffered due to another person’s conduct is usually two years. When a person is under the age of 18 when they are sexually abused, they can file a lawsuit anytime before their 30th birthday. In 2019, the state enacted a law extending the statute of limitations for people who suffered childhood sexual abuse.
Unfortunately, the extended time frames only apply to people who suffered sexual abuse after November 26, 2019. Cresson closed in 2015, so only survivors still under the age of 30 can bring a lawsuit in state courts. Older Cresson survivors should contact an attorney at Phillips Law Group because the state’s sexual abuse statute of limitations may change and they may have the option to file a lawsuit in federal court.
Claims Under Federal Law
In 2022, 18 United States Code § 2255(b) eliminated the statute of limitations for civil claims arising out of childhood sexual abuse. It applies to any claim that was valid at the time the law was enacted.
Before the law was enacted, the federal statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse was 10 years from the date the abuse was discovered or when the survivor reached the age of 28. Therefore, anyone who had already turned 29 in 2022 unfortunately cannot sue for sexual abuse at Cresson in federal court.
Contact an Attorney at Phillips Law Group if You Experienced Sexual Abuse at Cresson
The intense trauma of childhood sexual abuse is not easily overcome. If you are ready to seek justice, consider joining the group of survivors bringing Cresson Secure Treatment Unit sexual abuse lawsuits.
You deserve to hold the perpetrators who exploited you accountable. Initial consultations are free, so discuss joining the lawsuits against this treatment facility with a member of the team at Phillips Law Group today.
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