Were you sexually abused while being detained at a juvenile hall facility in the state of California? Sexual assault of a minor is an act of child abuse, which is grounds for a lawsuit against the individuals and organizations that allowed you to suffer. Believe it or not, you can sue the responsible entities even if the incident took place many years ago. If you’d like to learn more about your rights and legal options, please contact our law firm to discuss your case with a juvenile hall sexual abuse lawyer.
The lawyers of Normandie have been fighting for the rights of childhood sexual assault victims for many years. We’re not afraid to take on school systems, group homes, youth detention centers, and other institutions that are negligent in their duty of care to the children they serve. If you are looking for a skilled and aggressive attorney to fight for the justice you deserve, give us a call as soon as you can to schedule a free case evaluation.
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The Impact of Childhood Sexual Assault
There is a tendency to judge people who have been incarcerated, even as children, which is why many juvenile facility sex abuse victims are reluctant to come forward. However, there’s no denying the high rates of sexual assault, beatings, and verbal abuse at these places throughout the state of California.
Being sexually abused as a minor has life-altering effects on your physical and mental health. There are, of course, numerous physical injuries you can sustain, like harm to the reproductive organs, unwanted pregnancy, and complications from STDs. But the emotional trauma can have a far greater affect, especially when the perpetrator gets away with the crime. The truth is, sexual predators count on their victims to stay quiet, but more of these brave individuals are speaking out and demanding justice from the system that failed them. You too, can go after the juvenile detention center that harmed you and receive compensation for the damage you’ve suffered.
With these cases, it’s important to note that settlements are heavily based on the victim’s emotional injuries, which typically manifest as post-traumatic stress, sleep disorders, phobias, depression and other mental health issues. As a result, the rate of suicide and addiction to drugs and alcohol is high among sexual abuse victims. Taking legal action can be a powerful step towards taking back control from your abuser and healing from your trauma.
Your Right to Sue for a Case of Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse
The juvenile justice system is charged with the rehabilitation and protection of minors in their care. That includes keeping them safe from violent acts like sexual assault. Sadly, we know that many guards, counselors, and other employees at these facilities fail to provide these children with a safe environment. Even worse, the agencies that are in charge of these youth centers often turn a blind eye to accusation of physical and sexual assault. Or, they allow the facility to get away with lax hiring practices, poor training, and retention of employees that have a record of misconduct and complaints against them.
It’s important to note that any act of sexual conduct between you and a juvenile hall employee is child sexual assault, as minors cannot give consent under California law. Thus, it is not your fault that these incidents happened, no matter how much the perpetrator tried to convince you otherwise. In addition, being a juvenile offender does not take away your right to be housed in a safe and protective environment. Whether you committed an offense or were placed at these facilities while waiting for a foster placement, you have the right to seek monetary compensation if you were the victim of sexual abuse.
To learn more about your rights as someone that was sexually abused at a juvenile detention center, contact us to speak with a child sexual assault lawsuit attorney.
Average Settlement Value for Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
While there is no such thing as an average value for any type of lawsuit, child sexual assault claims typically result in high settlements. Values are especially high when the blame is placed on multiple entities, including government agencies like the county probation department. Thus, sexual assault cases due to negligence by the juvenile justice system may be worth around $1,000,000 to $7,500,000. Some lawsuits will settle for less, of course, but even cases on the lower end are usually worth around $500,000.
It’s essential to consult an attorney that can advise you on the factors that will affect your settlement value. These include the extent of your injuries (physical and/or mental), the impact your abuse has had on your life, and the defendant’s actions (did they cover up the abuse, fail to alert the authorities, etc.).
How Long Do I Need to Wait Before I Receive Payment?
Once you’re aware of what you can potentially recover from your lawsuit, you will most likely have questions about the settlement process. Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict how long it may take to achieve a settlement on your behalf. Our law firm is committed to bringing you payment as soon as possible, but we also want you to receive a fair amount of compensation based on your harm and suffering. Though we will try to negotiate a settlement within 6 months, the actual process can take over a year. With some cases, it may be 2 or more years before the victim is awarded compensation, possibly through a jury verdict.
Frankly, there are many issues that play a role in the process to settle these cases. That’s why we recommend contacting us and taking some to speak with a juvenile sexual assault lawyer at our office.
Statute of Limitations – What is the Deadline for a Lawsuit?
Those who were under 18 at the time they were sexually assaulted have up until the age of 40 to file a lawsuit. Alternatively, they have up to 5 years from the time they discover the physical and psychological effects of childhood sexual abuse. This is a generous amount of time, but we know there are many people out there who are close to exceeding the statute of limitations for their case. The courts rarely allow extensions if you run out of time for a lawsuit, so please don’t wait to contact our law firm and take action on a juvenile hall sex abuse case.
Call us for a Free Second Opinion
Law firms have the reputation of taking on too many cases and not giving each client the time and attention they deserve. Not all firms are like this, but unfortunately, there are enough of them out there. Quite possibly, you’ve signed up with a lawyer at one of these places and find yourself frustrated by the lack of communication – not to mention, how long it’s taking to settle your case. Regardless of the issues you are having, there’s no harm in meeting with one of our attorneys for a second opinion consultation. If you could use a second opinion on your sexual abuse claim against a juvenile facility, call us at your earliest convenience for a free second opinion.
Contact a Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Attorney
Our childhood sex abuse lawyers are committed to the rights of former juveniles who were sexually assaulted by a probation officer, social worker, or another adult while they were staying at a youth detention center. These incidents leave permanent scars on the hearts and minds of these children, and we know that money can’t make up for what they’ve gone through. But as an adult, the decision to take legal action is up to you, and we will be here to fight for you every step of the way.
With decades of experience in the recovery of sexual abuse lawsuit settlements, you can trust in the lawyers of Normandie to bring you the funds you are entitled to. In the meantime, you pay absolutely nothing under the Zero Fee Guarantee. We wait until the end of your case, when our bills are paid by the other party along with your compensation award. As we only get paid if you get paid, you owe us absolutely nothing if we don’t win your case.
To discuss your legal options with an experienced California juvenile hall sex abuse attorney, contact us right away. We represent victims who were subjected to child sexual abuse at the following juvenile facilities:
- Alameda Juvenile Hall
- Barry J. Nidof Juvenile Hall (Sylmar Juvenile Hall)
- Central Juvenile Hall (Eastlake Juvenile Hall)
- East Mesa Juvenile Hall
- High Desert Juvenile Hall
- Imperial County Juvenile Hall
- Indio Juvenile Hall
- Kearney Mesa Juvenile Hall
- Kern County Juvenile Hall
- Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall
- Orange County Juvenile Hall
- Riverside Juvenile Hall
- Sacramento Juvenile Hall
- San Bernardino Juvenile Hall
- San Francisco Juvenile Hall
- San Jose Juvenile Hall
- San Luis Obispo Juvenile Hall
- Santa Maria Juvenile Hall
- Southwest Juvenile Hall
- Sylmar Juvenile Hall (Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall)
- Ventura County Juvenile Hall
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
San Joaquin County Grand Jury Finds that County Jail and Juvenile Hall Facility Have Not Done Enough to Prevent Sexual Abuse
Social Worker Charged with 9 Counts of Sexual Abuse against Mental Health Patients
Can I Switch my Lawyer if I have an Active MacLaren Hall Sexual Abuse Case
