Widespread Sexual Abuse in Juvenile Facilities Triggers Lawsuits Across Illinois

We Represent Clients in Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawsuits and Win

Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC is currently representing victims of sexual abuse, sexual assault and molestation that occurred in juvenile detention and Illinois Youth Center facilities all around the state. Since 1990, our experienced legal team has been responsible for many millions of dollars in monetary recoveries for victims such as these and their families.

Our attorneys work alongside some of the most well-known and well-respected attorneys in the nation. Just recently, a $4,000,000 settlement was secured relating to the childhood exploitation of one of our minor clients.

If you were sexually abused or sexually exploited in a juvenile detention facility such as the Audy Home in Chicago, at another facility in Illinois or anywhere in the country), you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC can help you achieve justice and there is no fee until we’re successful. Call us now at (312) 243-9922.

Illinois Juvenile Laws Intended to Protect, Not Harm Children

The Illinois Juvenile Justice Act was passed into law well over 100 years ago in 1899 with the express purpose of separating the juvenile justice system from that of the adult system. This set of laws was intended to benefit children and serve a number of important functions including:

• Recognizing that children can benefit from rehabilitation, treatment and skill development increasing chances for successful reintegration into society
• Recognizing that merely punishing children usually results in adults who are more troubled, more dangerous and more burdensome to the community
• Recognizing that amongst other potential dangers, the jailing of children alongside adult criminal offenders inevitably leads to child sexual abuse and sexual violence

Cook County Detention Center Perpetuated a Culture of Abuse

But according to reports and court documents, it has been alleged that the Cook County “Audy Home” (now known as the Temporary Detention Center or “JTDC”) allowed a culture of abuse and violence to thrive unabated for many decades. Regardless of whether this was due to overcrowding, pervasive mismanagement, under-staffing, inadequate supervision or other underlying reasons, it appears that those in charge either intentionally ignored or turned a blind eye to these grave wrongdoings.

Did This Happen Only at the Detention Center in Chicago?

NO. In addition to Chicago, these shocking assaults and abuses also occurred in nearly all other Illinois Youth Centers and Juvenile Detention Centers across the State of Illinois as well. In fact, the abuse was widespread and rampant in most of these Illinois facilities and Illinois has been ranked as one of the 4 worst states for such abuses nationally.

The sexual exploitation was not limited to Illinois however. Lawsuits all across the country have been filed on behalf of other similarly affected victims in states such as New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maryland, New York and New Hampshire. In just one recent year, federal data reported that more than 35,000 at-risk juveniles were being held in over 1500 different juvenile residential placement facilities all nationwide. The legal team at Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC works alongside other affiliated prestigious law firms in states all across the country when called upon to help victims, no matter where the harm occurred. Our team can be reached 24/7 at (312) 243-9922 for free guidance and help.

What Happened to Children in these Facilities?

Over the course of many decades, untold numbers of juveniles who were committed to juvenile detention centers and youth centers were sexually exploited, raped, sexually assaulted, sexually abused, strip searched, beaten and subject to forced oral sex and anal sex.

Despite numerous reports about these abuses that were made to outside governmental agencies such as DCFS over the years, pleas from these children went largely ignored with very few abusers were ever prosecuted or punished.

Who Are the Abusers That Victimized These Vulnerable Boys and Girls?

It is an extremely unfortunate fact that many people who have achieved positions of trust and power sometimes abuse their positions for their own dishonest personal purposes. As it is said: “absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Sometimes, their purpose is to cheat and steal, which is bad enough. But, in the context of children and others over whom they exercise complete control, often times their purpose is sexual exploitation.

The list of those who abuse power is long: police officers, doctors, nurses, nursing home staff, boy scout leaders, teachers, supervisors, professors, sports coaches, foster parents, and family members are but a sampling. At juvenile detention facilities, personnel who have been accused of such unspeakable acts include corrections officers, nurses, therapists, sergeants, police officers, counsellors, detention officers, and other medical staff.

The perpetrators typically accomplished these sexual abuses and the victims’ silence by means of:

• Violence and force / threats of violence
• Solitary confinement / threats of confinement
• Threats of transfer to a harsher facility
• Threats of longer sentences
• Threats of revoking yard privileges and phone time
• Promise of money added to their commissary account
• Video game time and other rewards

Are the County and State also Legally Responsible for Allowing the Sexual Abuse?

Of course, in addition to the abusers themselves, our children were also victimized by the system, the state and the county as these institutions all failed to:

• Perform detailed background checks on personnel
• Failed to periodically re-check backgrounds
• Require appropriate employee training
• Properly investigate reports of sexual abuse, beatings or other misconduct
• Promptly reprimand or terminate offending employees
• Immediately contact the police and bring charges against offenders

When Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC initiates a sexual abuse lawsuit, whether it involves a detention facility or any other entity that has failed to properly supervise their people (such as a hospital, archdiocese, DCFS, etc.), our legal team will sue not only the actual perpetrators, but also their employers as they are often equally responsible for the sexual exploitation.

What’s the Difference Between an Illinois Youth Center and a Juvenile Detention Facility?

A juvenile Detention Center in Illinois is a locked-down facility that houses juveniles who are accused of committing a delinquent act, but who have not yet been adjudged delinquent. They are generally placed here if the Judge believes that they may be a danger to themselves or others while awaiting trial, or in some circumstances awaiting transfer to an Illinois Youth Center for longer term detention.

An Illinois Youth Center is a longer-term secure residential facility for juveniles who have been adjudged delinquent. Although it is not called a jail, many refer to it as “juvenile jail” because a child is remanded to the custody of the State for a certain period of time after being found delinquent (guilty) of a crime and after the Judge has determined that long-term placement would be in the best interests of the public and the child. Although it is not intended as punishment per se, but rather rehabilitation, it is typically still perceived as punishment by the child nevertheless.

Were you Sexually Abused at One of these Illinois Youth Centers?

Reports of sexual exploitation at youth centers, detention facilities and juvenile jails have been made at virtually every such facility across the country, including those in Illinois. Here is a current list of Illinois Youth Centers at which abuse may have occurred:

• Chicago Illinois Youth Center – information link for Chicago facility
• Harrisburg Illinois Youth Center – information link for Harrisburg facility
• Pere Marquette Illinois Youth Center – information link for Pere Marquette facility
• Warrenville Illinois Youth Center – information link for Warrenville facility
• St Charles PEACE Illinois Youth Center – information link for St Charles facility
• Joliet Illinois Youth Center – facility closed in 2013
• Kewanee Illinois Youth Center – facility closed in 2016

Whether you or a loved one was abused at a facility which is still open or not, a lawsuit seeking financial compensation for injuries (both physical and psychological) can still be filed. Contact Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC now at (312) 243-9922 as time limitations may apply.

Were you Sexually Abused at One of these Illinois Detention Centers?

If you or a loved one was sexually abused while in short term placement or awaiting trial while placed in one of the many Illinois County detention centers, here is information that you may find of great interest. The links below show the results of official inspections that were performed at some of these facilities and whether the facility passed or failed in such important areas such as the use of appropriate discipline. Click on the detention center link to see the information:

• Adams County Detention Center
• Adams County Inspection Report
• Champaign County Detention Center
• Champaign County Inspection Report
• Cook County Detention Center
• Cook County Inspection Report
• Franklin County Interim Inspection
• Franklin County Inspection Report
• Franklin County Detention Center
• Kane County Detention Center
• Kane County Inspection Report
• Knox County Follow Up Visit Report
• Knox County Detention Center
• Lake County Detention Center
• Lake County Inspection Report
• Lake County Detention Center
• LaSalle County Detention Center
• LaSalle County Detention Center
• LaSalle County Inspection Report
• Madison County Detention Center
• Madison County Inspection Report
• McLean County Inspection Report
• McLean County Detention Center
• Peoria County Inspection Report
• Peoria County Detention Center
• Sangamon County Inspection Report
• Sangamon County Detention Center
• St. Clair County Inspection Report
• St. Clair County Detention Center
• Vermilion County Inspection Report
• Vermilion County Detention Center
• Will County Inspection Report
• Will County Detention Center
• Will County Detention Center
• Winnebago County Detention Center
• Winnebago County Inspection Report

Can I Still File a Lawsuit if the Abuse Happened a Long Time Ago?

YES. In the past, the Statute of Limitations (time limit to file a lawsuit) for sexual abuse cases was quite short. By the time that many people were ready to think about filing a lawsuit, it was often too late. The law didn’t seem to understand that many victims of sexual abuse repressed their memories, not fully recalling the events until sometimes years later. The law also didn’t seem to take into consideration that many victims simply weren’t ready to discuss what happened and it sometimes took them years to get to a place where they felt comfortable enough to speak to a lawyer about their trauma.

Thankfully though, in recent years the laws have changed, so now depending on when the abuse occurred and the age of the victim among other factors, in some cases there are no statute of limitations at all.

Speak Now to One of Our Compassionate Attorneys – We Can Help

Take the first step. Call us and learn whether a statute of limitations applies to your situation and let us discuss how we can be of help to you without any further obligation. You’ll find that each attorney on our legal team is not only experienced and knowledgeable, but also compassionate, understanding and discreet. You can even request to speak directly with Mitchell Sexner if you’d prefer, our founding attorney who once worked in the Cook County Juvenile Justice Center and who has helped secure millions of dollars in sexual abuse settlements for our clients to date. All conversations are 100% confidential. We can be reached 24/7 at (312) 243-9922.