San Diego Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in Juvenile Detention and Youth Facilities

San Diego County is facing a profound reckoning as more survivors come forward to expose the extensive sexual abuse that occurred for decades inside its juvenile detention centers and youth treatment facilities. These are not isolated claims. They represent a long-standing pattern of institutional failure, silence, and harm inflicted on some of the most vulnerable children in California.

A History of Abuse in San Diego County Youth Facilities

Multiple lawsuits have detailed the systematic abuse of children in San Diego’s juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Survivors describe horrifying experiences of rape, molestation, forced sex acts, threats, and grooming—often carried out by adults entrusted with their care. The reported abuse spans more than 50 years, with some victims as young as eleven.

Facilities named in these allegations include:

• Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (KMJDF)

• East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (EMJDF)

• Camp Barrett in Alpine

• Girls Rehabilitation Facility

• Juvenile Ranch Facility (Rancho del Campo and Rancho del Rayo)

• A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center

• Phoenix House Academy of San Diego

Each of these institutions has been the subject of serious allegations, many of which suggest that staff, including probation officers and facility employees, sexually assaulted children repeatedly and with impunity.

Recent Litigation and Survivors’ Accounts

In 2025, over two dozen individuals filed lawsuits against San Diego County, describing daily abuse while incarcerated as minors. These lawsuits paint a devastating picture of unchecked violence and intimidation. According to survivors, abuse often occurred in cells, showers, and bathrooms. Refusal to comply or threats to report often led to retaliation, including physical violence or prolonged confinement.

Other cases have described:

• A male teen being repeatedly raped by a female probation officer at Camp Barrett

• Another youth being coerced into oral sex under threat of extended detention

• Staff at Phoenix House providing methamphetamines to youth and engaging in sexual activity

• Over 100 children from the Polinsky Children’s Center alleging abuse spanning decades

These claims reveal more than just misconduct. They reflect systemic negligence, a culture of secrecy, and a county government that for years failed to protect children in its custody.

Understanding the Impact

Survivors of child sexual abuse often carry deep psychological wounds well into adulthood. Many experience post-traumatic stress, depression, addiction, and difficulty forming trusting relationships. For those abused in state-run institutions, these effects are often compounded by betrayal and isolation.

No amount of compensation can undo the harm. However, civil lawsuits offer an important path toward accountability, validation, and support for survivors who were denied justice as children.

Los Angeles County’s $4 Billion Settlement: A Turning Point in Institutional Abuse Litigation

In 2024, Los Angeles County agreed to pay more than $4 billion to resolve thousands of claims filed by survivors of sexual abuse who were victimized in its juvenile halls and youth detention centers. This massive settlement is one of the largest of its kind in United States history and represents a long-overdue reckoning for decades of institutional failure, neglect, and abuse.

The Los Angeles settlement sets a clear precedent. It demonstrates that California municipalities can be held financially accountable for allowing sexual abuse to persist in their youth systems. The scale of the payout reflects the seriousness of the claims and the strength of the evidence showing systemic problems that went unchecked for generations. The LA County Board of Supervisors ultimately faced intense public scrutiny and legal pressure before agreeing to the historic resolution.

What This Settlement Means for San Diego County Survivors

Legal experts and advocates for survivors believe that San Diego County may be the next major California municipality to reach a comprehensive settlement. The facts emerging from San Diego’s juvenile facilities, including Kearny Mesa, East Mesa, Camp Barrett, Rancho del Campo, and the Polinsky Children’s Center, mirror the patterns of abuse, concealment, and institutional neglect that led to the Los Angeles payout.

Attorneys investigating the San Diego Juvenile Hall class action lawsuit are urging survivors to come forward now. A successful outcome in Los Angeles has created new legal momentum and public pressure. Our firm is currently reviewing cases related to the San Diego Juvenile Hall lawsuit, including those involving abuse at Rancho del Campo, Girls Rehabilitation Facility, and other facilities under county supervision.

LA County Is Benchmark

While every case is unique, the $4 billion LA settlement will almost certainly serve as a benchmark for evaluating claims filed against San Diego County. It has helped establish financial tiers based on the severity, frequency, and impact of the abuse, which will likely influence settlement negotiations in the future.

San Diego May Be Next Up

Attorneys and abuse litigators in San Diego know that the county cannot and will not fight every case individually. It would be impossible.  Instead, the county is expected to pursue a large-scale resolution, possibly through a global settlement or structured payouts to survivors, similar to what was seen in Los Angeles.

For survivors, this turning point offers more than compensation. It sends a message that their stories matter, and that institutions cannot hide behind bureaucracy or silence. A path to justice is opening, and San Diego survivors deserve the same recognition and settlement compensation that Los Angeles survivors fought to obtain.

Legal Options for Survivors

California has extended its statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims. Survivors who were abused as minors may still have time to file a lawsuit—even if the abuse happened decades ago.

Our sexual abuse lawyers are talking to victims who may have grounds for a claim if:

• You were sexually abused while placed in a San Diego juvenile detention center or residential treatment facility

• The perpetrator was a staff member, probation officer, counselor, nurse, or another employee

• The abuse caused emotional, psychological, or physical harm

You do not need a criminal conviction to pursue a civil case. That is a common misconception.  These claims focus on holding institutions and their leadership accountable for negligence, cover-ups, and failures to protect children. The standard to prove one of these cases is significantly easier than proving a criminal case.

Institutions That May Be Held Liable

Depending on the circumstances, a survivor’s lawsuit may name one or more of the following as defendants:

• The individual perpetrator

• San Diego County or other government agencies

• Private organizations contracted to operate youth facilities

• Treatment centers such as Phoenix House

• Facility leadership responsible for hiring, supervision, or responding to abuse reports

What a Civil Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Can Provide for Survivors

Filing a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse—particularly when the abuse occurred in a juvenile detention center or youth residential facility—can offer more than financial compensation. It can be a powerful step toward justice, healing, and systemic change. Survivors often pursue these claims not only to recover damages but also to hold institutions accountable and prevent future harm to others.

If the lawsuit is successful, survivors may be entitled to compensation for:

• Past and future mental health treatment – This includes the cost of therapy, counseling, psychiatric care, and other support services needed to address the psychological toll of the abuse.

• Pain and suffering – The legal system recognizes the intense emotional and physical distress survivors endure and provides a means to seek redress for that suffering.

• Emotional trauma – Many victims live with long-term effects such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and difficulty forming healthy relationships. These damages can be reflected in the compensation awarded.

• Lost income or educational opportunities – Abuse can disrupt education and derail careers before they even start. Survivors can seek damages for the financial opportunities they missed due to the trauma they endured.

• Other long-term consequences – From substance abuse to social withdrawal, the impact of institutional abuse can span decades. Civil claims consider these broader consequences when determining appropriate compensation.

Our focus is on maximizing settlement compensation.  That is what victims deserve.  But, there can be more than one good thing to come out of these cases.  Civil lawsuits serve a public good. We are on the side of the good guys.  Thes suits expose patterns of institutional failure, negligence, and cover-ups that allowed secual abuse to continue unchecked.

By bringing these issues into the light, survivors force accountability from county agencies, juvenile facilities, and care providers. Their courage in stepping forward can lead to real reform, improved protections for future youth, and a cultural shift toward transparency and justice.

In short, a civil sexual abuse lawsuit can be a vital tool, not just for individual compensation, but for societal change.

Taking the First Step and Protecting You as You Do It

Coming forward is difficult. Many survivors have lived in silence for years or feared they would not be believed. But this is changing. Increasingly, individuals are reclaiming their voices, supported by advocates and legal teams committed to pursuing justice without judgment or pressure.

If you or someone you care about was sexually abused in a San Diego juvenile facility or youth residential center, you are not alone. Your experience matters. And you have the right to demand accountability.

Our lawyers are focused on making the process of bringing a claim as easy, safe, and supportive as possible for every survivor who reaches out to us. We understand how difficult it can be to revisit traumatic experiences, especially those involving abuse during childhood or confinement. That is why our team is committed to guiding survivors with care, patience, and respect at every step.

We work hard to minimize the emotional burden of filing a legal claim, and we will never pressure anyone to share more than they are ready to disclose. Most importantly, we take privacy seriously. All consultations are strictly confidential, and any information shared with our attorneys is protected. You are always in control of your story. Our mission is to help you pursue justice in a way that honors your needs, your comfort, and your voice.

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. We are here to help and make the path to compensation as painless as possible for you.

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