Los Angeles Country Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawyer

Los Angeles County is at the center of one of the most extensive government-run institutional child sexual abuse scandals in U.S. history, with thousands of allegations tied to county-operated juvenile halls, youth detention centers, and foster care placements.

For more than sixty years, children placed in these facilities reported being sexually abused by staff, probation officers, and contracted caregivers. Many of these reports were not properly investigated, and some survivors have alleged that known abusers were transferred rather than removed.

On April 29, 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $4 billion settlement to resolve nearly 6,800 claims of child sexual abuse tied to county-run juvenile and foster care programs. The settlement acknowledges decades of harm experienced by children who were under the custody and care of county institutions.

Our law firm represents survivors of sexual abuse. If you experienced abuse in one of these Los Angeles County facilities and have not yet filed a lawsuit, you may still be eligible to take legal action. This article explains your options, current legal deadlines in California, and how compensation is determined.

Call us at 888-322-3010 or contact us online to schedule a private consultation.

Facilities Where the Abuse Occurred in Los Angeles Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuits

The Los Angeles juvenile hall sex abuse lawsuits name dozens of county-run juvenile facilities and youth detention centers as the locations where widespread sexual abuse of children occurred. These are not obscure institutions hidden in backwoods areas. These are large, taxpayer-funded facilities with long histories, full staffing, and decades of oversight from Los Angeles County. And for far too long, they served as hunting grounds for predators employed by the state.

Survivors have filed lawsuits identifying the following juvenile detention centers and probation camps in Los Angeles County as sites where they were sexually assaulted, exploited, or subjected to other forms of abuse:

• • MacLaren Children’s Center (El Monte) – a now-closed facility that has become a central focus in many of the most disturbing survivor accounts.

  • Dorothy Kirby Center, located in Commerce, housed many minors with emotional and behavioral health needs.

  • Camp Resnick, part of the Challenger Memorial Youth Center in Lancaster, was one of several probation camps cited for systemic abuse.

  • Camp Fred Miller and Camp John Munz, both situated in Lake Hughes, have been named in multiple survivor complaints.

  • Camp Kilpatrick in Malibu, known publicly for sports rehabilitation programs, is now facing scrutiny over its darker institutional history.

  • Camp Glenn Rockey, based in San Dimas, was another probation facility where serious allegations have surfaced.

  • Camp Mendenhall, located in Lake Hughes, also appears in survivor reports involving prolonged periods of abuse.

  • Camp Scott (Santa Clarita) and Camp Scudder, both within the Santa Clarita region, were home to many abuse allegations spanning decades.

  • Camp Holton in Sylmar was another location where multiple survivors reported being sexually assaulted by staff.

  • Camp David Gonzales, operating in Calabasas, has also been cited in litigation involving staff misconduct and institutional negligence.

  • Barley Flats Probation Camp, tucked in La Cañada Flintridge, was one of the lesser-known facilities where abuse claims have emerged.

  • Camp Joseph Paige and Camp Afflerbaugh, both in La Verne, were often used interchangeably for transfers, with survivors alleging predators were reassigned between the two.

  • Camp Rockey in San Dimas has been linked to repeated PREA violations and survivor allegations involving supervisory cover-ups.

  • Camp Louis Routh, located in Tujunga, was cited by multiple survivors in the 2025 wave of legal filings.

  • Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall (Downey) – one of the most high-profile institutions where systemic failures persisted for decades.

  • Central Juvenile Hall, in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, was the site of numerous confirmed abuse complaints.

  • Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, located in Sylmar, was one of the largest youth detention facilities in Los Angeles County and has been repeatedly named in lawsuits.

The MacLaren Children’s Center sex abuse lawsuits are particularly disturbing. Survivors describe a facility that failed on every level—placing vulnerable children in the care of predatory staff and then isolating and punishing those who tried to speak out. Though the facility was shut down years ago, the trauma it left behind continues to surface in courtrooms across California.

These Los Angeles juvenile detention facility lawsuits do not just name physical locations. They exposed an institutional system that ignored complaints, moved predators between locations, and allowed abuse to flourish in plain sight. And the victims—children from broken homes, children of color, children living in poverty—were the easiest to silence.

In addition to juvenile halls and probation camps, hundreds of abuse claims have been filed involving Los Angeles County foster care sexual abuse. These include licensed foster homes, group homes, and contract agencies paid to supervise children removed from their parents. Many survivors in these cases allege that social workers failed to investigate credible abuse reports, allowed known abusers to stay in homes, and retaliated against minors who spoke up.

A Pattern of Abuse and a Culture of Silence

Our lawyers have read the statements. We have spoken to survivors. We have seen the records. The pattern is horrifying.

Children as young as eight were sexually assaulted during strip searches. Others were groomed with gifts and promises of protection before being assaulted in locked rooms or showers. Some were assaulted while on suicide watch or under the influence of psychiatric medication.

This was not the work of one predator. It was not a few bad apples. It was a system. A culture. A machine designed to protect itself. Los Angeles County employees used their power, their positions, and their badges to exploit children who had nowhere else to turn. When reports were made, supervisors turned their heads. In some cases, abusive staff were quietly transferred to other facilities, where the cycle continued.

How could this go on for so long? The answer is painful but simple. These children were easy to ignore. Many came from broken homes. Many had been labeled as “troubled.” They were not believed. They were not protected. They were left to suffer in silence while the system protected itself

How the $4 Billion Los Angeles Juvenile Abuse Settlement Will Be Distributed

The historic $4 billion settlement reached by Los Angeles County to resolve nearly 7,000 juvenile hall and foster care sexual abuse claims is not a one-size-fits-all payout. This is not a class action where everyone receives the same amount. Instead, compensation will be calculated individually, based on the specific circumstances of each survivor’s experience. This is being handled through a detailed points-based allocation system overseen by a team of neutral legal and trauma experts.

Each survivor’s story will be evaluated on its own merits. These independent reviewers—trained in trauma, child abuse, and institutional misconduct—are tasked with assessing the impact of the abuse and determining a fair monetary award. Their decisions will be informed by documentation, interviews, psychological evaluations, and any available evidence from facility records or other survivors’ statements.

While the exact internal formula has not been made public in every detail, similar mass tort and institutional abuse settlements—including the Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Church, and USA Gymnastics cases—rely on points systems structured around several common factors. Based on that framework and information from filings, the Los Angeles County juvenile facility settlement appears to follow a similar methodology.

Key Factors That Influence Compensation

1. Severity and Nature of the Abuse (High-Value Factor)

This is the most heavily weighted component. Physical penetration, repeated rape, or forced oral sex typically receives the highest point values. Abuse that involved coercion, violence, or threats also scores higher. Lesser forms of sexual misconduct—such as groping, exposure, or verbal grooming—are still compensable but will fall into lower point tiers.

Survivors who suffered multiple incidents over time, particularly those involving multiple abusers or prolonged periods of exploitation, are assigned more points than those whose abuse occurred as an isolated or singular event.

2. Age of the Victim at Time of Abuse

The younger the child at the time of the abuse, the greater the presumed long-term psychological damage and developmental disruption. Survivors who were under the age of 12 at the time of abuse will generally receive higher point values, particularly if the abuse was ongoing. Teens may still qualify for significant awards, especially if the abuse was severe or included elements of power imbalance, such as grooming or threats of discipline.

3. Duration and Frequency of Abuse

Was this a single incident or a sustained campaign of exploitation? The length of time the abuse occurred—whether over days, weeks, months, or years—matters greatly. Repeated abuse scores higher, especially in cases where the survivor was under ongoing supervision or vulnerable due to isolation or disability.

A survivor abused repeatedly in the same facility over the course of months or years may receive three to five times the point value of someone who suffered a single instance of abuse, even if the nature of the act was similar.

4. Long-Term Psychological and Functional Impact

This category evaluates the damage left behind. Has the survivor been diagnosed with PTSD? Have they suffered from depression, substance abuse, or suicidal ideation directly linked to the abuse? Have they experienced major disruptions in education, employment, or relationships?

Medical records, therapist statements, and testimony from family or friends may be used to document the ongoing effects of the abuse. Points increase if the trauma led to psychiatric hospitalization, a suicide attempt, or lifelong disability.

Some settlement models assign maximum points for survivors who are functionally disabled, either emotionally or cognitively, due to the trauma they endured.

5. Evidence of Institutional Failure or Cover-Up

If there is evidence that facility staff or county officials knew about the abuse and failed to intervene, survivors may be awarded additional “aggravated circumstance” points. This includes:

• Ignored reports or complaints

• Staff members transferred after accusations

• Known abusers being left in supervisory roles

• Documentation showing PREA violations

• Patterns of retaliation or isolation of reporting victims

These aggravating factors acknowledge that the abuse was not just committed by individuals—it was enabled and concealed by the very institution responsible for protection.

6. Corroboration and Supporting Evidence

While a survivor’s testimony alone is enough to file a claim, awards tend to increase with corroborating evidence. This might include:

• Incident reports

• Other survivor statements naming the same perpetrator

• Medical or psychological records

• Law enforcement or probation investigations

• Witness accounts from facility staff, parents, or guardians

However, lack of documentation does not disqualify a survivor from receiving compensation. The system is designed to avoid retraumatizing survivors or forcing them to “prove” abuse that occurred decades ago.

This Settlement Does Not End the Legal Fight

If you are a survivor of sexual abuse in Los Angeles County’s juvenile justice or foster care system and you did not file a claim in time to be included in this settlement, that does not mean you are out of options.

California law still allows survivors to file civil claims under AB 2777. This law gives survivors until December 31, 2026, to bring a lawsuit, even if the abuse happened decades ago. You may also have additional time under the “discovery rule,” which gives you five years from the date you realized that the abuse caused your psychological injuries.

You do not need to have detailed memories or physical evidence. You do not need to know exactly who the abuser was. What matters is that you speak with an attorney who understands how to investigate these cases and gather the evidence needed to support your claim.

Los Angeles County is now the epicenter of what may be the largest institutional child sexual abuse scandal in United States history. For decades, children in juvenile detention centers, probation camps, and foster placements across the county were sexually assaulted, ignored, and silenced. Many of these survivors came forward to seek justice and settlement compensation.  And more victims are coming.

Why the $4 Billion Settlement Matters

The settlement is more than a financial agreement. It is an acknowledgment—however reluctant—that the county enabled decades of sexual abuse under its watch.

The funds will be distributed over the coming decades and will come from a combination of reserves, judgment obligation bonds, and diverted funds from other county services. That should be a sobering reminder: systemic abuse carries a price. And eventually, it comes due.

A neutral allocation team will evaluate each claim. Factors will include the severity of abuse, the length of time the abuse occurred, the long-term impact on the survivor, and whether the institution covered it up.

Still, no amount of money can erase what happened. For many survivors, this is not about the money—it is about finally being heard. It is about accountability.

What the Los Angeles County Settlement Does Not Cover

Crucially, the settlement only applies to the claims filed before the settlement agreement cutoff date. Survivors who have not yet come forward still have a legal path forward. California law still allows survivors to file lawsuits against government agencies, foster care agencies, and contractors who failed in their duty to protect children.

This is not the end of litigation. It is a signal that the courts and the public are finally listening.

California’s Extended Statute of Limitations

Thanks to recent legislative changes, California has one of the most survivor-friendly legal frameworks in the country. The statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims now extends to:

• Age 40 for claims based on abuse that occurred while the survivor was a minor

• Or 5 years from the date of discovery—meaning the moment the survivor links psychological harm to the abuse

Importantly, Assembly Bill 2959 (passed in 2022) removes the requirement for survivors to file an administrative notice before suing government entities like Los Angeles County. This clarification allows more survivors to file without procedural barriers.

Damages in Juvenile Detention Center Abuse Lawsuits

Every case is different, but these are the common categories of damages in sexual abuse lawsuits:

• Medical expenses (past and future)

• Psychological counseling (including PTSD, anxiety, depression, etc.)

• Lost wages or diminished earning capacity

• Pain and suffering

• Loss of enjoyment of life

• Punitive damages (in cases involving gross negligence or cover-up)

Settlements in these cases often reflect the severity, duration, and impact of the abuse. Victims who were younger at the time, or who endured repeated abuse over long periods, may receive higher compensation. So may those with documented mental health harm or evidence of institutional knowledge and inaction.

Estimate of Individual Settlement Amounts

While there is no official per-person amount announced, a raw average of $4 billion divided by 6,786 claimants would be over $500,000 per survivor. But this is not how compensation will be calculated. The actual amounts will vary widely.

Factors that affect individual payouts include:

• Whether the abuser was criminally convicted

• The existence of institutional cover-up

• Whether the survivor was drugged, under suicide watch, or otherwise especially vulnerable

• The extent of mental health treatment required

• Whether multiple survivors were abused by the same employee (a sign of systemic failure)

Some cases may result in six- or seven-figure awards. Others may be less, depending on evidence and severity.

Why More Survivors Are Coming Forward Now

The $4 billion settlement has inspired more survivors to come forward. For many, the realization that thousands of others suffered the same abuse is empowering. It breaks the shame and isolation that kept them silent for decades.

Many did not even know they had legal options. California’s new laws, including anonymity protections (John Doe/Jane Doe filings), make it possible to file a lawsuit without revealing your identity publicly.

Some survivors are even learning that their own children were later abused in the same facilities—an unbearable reminder of how deeply this system failed generations of vulnerable youth.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Can I still file a lawsuit if I was not part of the $4 billion settlement?

Yes. That settlement only applies to claims filed before the county finalized the agreement. Under AB 2777 and AB 2959, you may still have the right to file.

---

❓ What if I do not remember exact names or dates?

You can still file. Many survivors blocked out details. The law does not require that you have a perfect memory. Sexual abuse attorneys can use facility records, patterns of abuse, and internal documents to support your claim.

---

❓ Can I stay anonymous?

Yes. California courts allow survivors to file under pseudonyms, such as John Doe or Jane Doe, to protect their identity.

---

❓ What if the abuser was never charged criminally?

Civil lawsuits are separate from criminal prosecutions. You can sue even if there was no arrest or conviction. The standard of proof is lower, and institutions may be held liable regardless of criminal outcome.

---

Who Can Be Held Responsible?

The individual who committed the abuse can be sued in civil court. But they are rarely the only person at fault.

Our sex abuse lawyers pursue claims against:

• The facility where the abuse occurred

• Supervisors who ignored complaints or moved abusers to new locations

• County departments that failed to enforce safety protocols

• The California Division of Juvenile Justice and the California Youth Authority

In many cases, the abuse was allowed to continue because of institutional negligence. Staff were not properly vetted or trained. Complaints were ignored. Reports were buried. These are not minor errors. These are choices. And those choices have consequences.

What Compensation Can Survivors Receive?

Every survivor’s case is different. But the law allows for both economic and non-economic damages. This can include:

• Medical expenses

• Psychological counseling

• Loss of education or employment opportunities

• Pain and suffering

• Emotional trauma

• Lifetime care costs for severe mental health injuries

• Punitive damages for especially egregious conduct

In some cases, survivors can also receive compensation for loss of future income if the abuse led to long-term disability or mental illness.

Contact Our Detention Center Sex Abuse Attorneys

If you were sexually abused in a juvenile detention facility in California—whether in the 1960s or last year—you may still have a valid claim. We represent survivors with compassion, discretion, and the tenacity to hold powerful institutions accountable.

You are not alone. You deserve to be heard. And we are here to help and make the path to compensation for you as painless as possible.

Call us today at 888-322-3010 or contact us online for a confidential, free consultation.

.