Preston Youth Correctional Facility was a reform school located in Amador County, in the city of Ione, California. It was also known as the Preston School of Industry and Preston Castle, or simply “The Castle.” Even today, Preston Castle is considered one of the most important examples of Romanesque Revival Architecture, though much of the original structure has been rebuilt over the years.
At one time, Preston Youth Correctional Facility was one of America’s best known reform schools for wayward youth, and many notable figures spent time there, including country singer Merle Haggard, actor Rory Calhoun, and writer / actor Edward Bunker. Preston Castle has also been featured in numerous films, like Bad Manners in 1984 and Apparition in 2019.
In spite of its illustrious past, most people have forgotten about the Norman-style building and its original purpose as a juvenile detention center. But former inmates who were sexually abused by guards and other staff members can never forget what they went through. The Preston School of Industry was closed in 2011 by the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation. However, that doesn’t absolve the state of sexual misconduct by their employees, not to mention the lifelong harm and suffering that was inflicted on the victims.
If you or someone in your family was sexually assaulted or exploited while staying at the Preston Youth Correctional Facility, it’s not too late to seek justice through the civil court system. By contacting our law firm, you’ll have the chance to speak to a lawyer who can represent you in a lawsuit for sexual abuse at the Preston School of Industry in Ione, California. Contact us today and schedule a free, confidential case review.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$600,000
$1.5 Million
$54 Million
$525,000
$1.2 Million
Can I Sue if I was Sexually Abused at the Preston Youth Correctional Facility?
Yes, you have the right to sue for being sexually abused as someone that was detained at the Preston Youth Correctional Facility. The key is to determine who is liable for the abuse you endured, and the answer may seem obvious at first. Certainly, the person that sexually assaulted or harassed you can be sued, but what about the agency that operates the facility?
Preston Youth Correctional Facility was operated by the Division of Juvenile Justice, which is a subsection of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. That means it’s the State of California that’s ultimately responsible for ensuring the health and safety of inmates who are staying at the Preston Youth Correctional Facility, aka the Preston School of Industry or Preston Castle.
While state officials may not have hurt you directly, their negligence and misconduct likely played a role in the abuse you suffered. When we investigate these cases, there is almost always a long list of complaints against the same employee, and not just from one facility. And very little was done to look into these allegations or enact measures to keep the victim from further incidents of abuse.
Due to the lack of accountability, child molesters and other sick individuals continue their pattern of assault and abuse year after year. As a result, it’s not unusual for dozens or hundreds of victims to contact us when we announce our involvement in a lawsuit against a youth prison or reformatory school managed by the State of California.
Our lawyers are ready to listen to your story and advise you on the legal options that are available to you. Please take this opportunity to contact us and speak to an attorney that’s experienced in lawsuits for the sexual abuse of minors.
Can I Join a Preston Youth Correctional Facility Inmate Abuse Class Action Lawsuit?
Yes, you can participate in a class action lawsuit along with other inmates who were sexually abused due to negligence and misconduct at the Preston Youth Correctional Facility. You have probably seen stories about juvenile hall lawsuits in the news, like the on-going class action claim against the Los Angeles County Probation Department. This is due to the wave of sexual abuse victims that have spoken out in recent years to demand justice for what they went through in government institutions like juvenile halls and foster care group homes.
If you would like to take part in a Preston Youth Facility class action lawsuit, all you have to do is contact our office, where you can be assisted by a juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawsuit attorney.
Average Value of a Preston Youth Correctional Facility Sex Abuse Claim
A Preston Youth Correctional Facility sexual abuse lawsuit may be settled for around $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 if we go by similar cases for child abuse at youth detention centers. But there are plenty of victims that end up with less, and this is not a sign that they were cheated out of the compensation they deserve. After all, we also have claimants on the other end of the spectrum that receive settlements of $10,000,000 and above.
The takeaway here is that sex abuse case values are unique to each and every claimant, so there’s no “average” amount that works for these lawsuits as a whole. That’s why we always go into a case with an open mind and take our time to listen to the victim and investigate their allegations. By learning about you and uncovering as much evidence as possible, we can make an informed decision on how much you are entitled to as a victim of child sexual abuse.
Reaching a Settlement – How Long will it Take?
Settling a case for the sexual abuse of a juvenile inmate can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years, though 1 to 2 years is a good range to keep in mind. Cases that take over 3 years usually go to trial, but court intervention is not necessary for over 90% of all sex abuse lawsuits. Generally, these cases are resolved by attorneys presenting settlement demands and both sides negotiating back and forth until everyone agrees on the numbers. The question is, how long will it take to negotiate a settlement that’s fair to the victim and acceptable to the defendant? For incidents of sexual abuse at a government institution, we find that it takes at least 12 months – and usually longer – for both sides to agree on a settlement.
How Much Time Do I have to Sue the Preston Youth Correctional Facility?
The amount of time you have for a sexual abuse lawsuit depends on whether you were a minor or adult at the time of the event. If you were 18 or older, you would have been an adult under California law, so the statute of limitations to sue for sexual abuse at Preston Youth Facility is 10 years from the incident date.
As a minor (younger than 18) who was subjected to sexual abuse, you have until 40 years of age if you wish to file a lawsuit. This is based on the 22-year statute of limitations for sex abuse during childhood, starting from whenever the victim is 18 years old.
The other standard that applies to child sexual abuse lawsuits is the discovery rule, where victims have 5 years from the date of realizing the harm they sustained from acts of sexual assault or exploitation. This legal exception applies to victims who experience a delayed discover of physical or psychological damage from sexual assault and exploitation during their childhood. This is very common with kids who are abused in juvenile hall settings, where they are forced to stay quiet about the abuse they are going through. And chances are, even if they were to tell someone, the accusations would not have been investigated, as administrators at correctional facilities often protect the abuser rather than the victim.
That’s why coming to terms with sexual abuse can take many years, and some victims are past 40 years old when they realize their physical and mental health issues are due to the events that occurred at Preston Youth Correctional Facility. As someone who has exceeded the normal statute of limitations for a juvenile inmate sexual abuse lawsuit, you may be eligible for a lawsuit under the terms of the discovery rule. To learn more about the deadline for a Preston Youth Correctional Facility sexual abuse lawsuit, please give us a call.
Contact a California Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Reform schools, wilderness camps, and county juvenile detention facilities have a long-standing reputation of physical and sexual abuse against children. For too many years, the people in charge have gotten away with neglecting these kids and allowing sexual predators to stay in the system.
Our goal is to bring justice to anyone that was abused at Preston Youth Correctional Facility or any other youth detainment center in the state of California. To ensure that nothing stands in your way, we cover the costs associated with your case and wait to be reimbursed by the State of California. Our payment is issued at the same time as your settlement check, and if we don’t win your case, you owe $0 in legal fees.
To learn more about your rights and legal options, contact Normandie Law Firm and ask to speak with a lawyer who can sue Preston Youth Correctional Facility for sexual abuse.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Eastlake Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Camp David Gonzales – Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Sexual Abuse at Camp Erwin Owen – Lawyer for Child Abuse Victims
