CA Juvenile Detention Abuse
“Sent as children. Preyed upon by the system.”
For decades, children held in California's juvenile halls, camps, and probation facilities were sexually abused by the very staff meant to protect them. California law reopened the courthouse doors — and the reckoning is now the largest in the nation.
Juvenile halls, probation camps, MacLaren Hall, county facilities
People abused as minors in CA juvenile or probation custody
California's Child Victims Act (AB 218) revived long-barred claims
LA County's ~$4 billion settlement — largest of its kind in U.S. history
What this litigation is about
Thousands of survivors were sexually abused as children while held in California’s juvenile-detention system — county juvenile halls, probation camps, and facilities such as the notorious MacLaren Children’s Center — by probation officers, counselors, and staff, while the institutions responsible looked away. In April 2025, Los Angeles County reached a tentative settlement of roughly $4 billion covering thousands of these claims, believed to be the largest sexual-abuse settlement in U.S. history — and claims against counties across California continue.
Who may have a claim
Anyone who was sexually abused as a minor while held in a California juvenile hall, probation camp, foster or placement facility, or county detention facility.
California's revival of survivor claims
Unlike states that never acted, California’s Child Victims Act (AB 218) revived a wave of previously time-barred claims and reshaped what is possible for survivors abused decades ago. Because the timing rules are complex and continue to evolve, we evaluate every survivor’s eligibility individually — confidentially, and at no cost.
The legal theory
Institutional negligence — negligent hiring, training, supervision, and retention; failure to protect children in custody; and cover-ups — brought alongside direct claims against the abusers. The defendants are counties and probation departments with substantial resources.
Talk to the lawyers who actually try these cases.
Free, confidential case review. If we take your case, you pay nothing unless we win. Our attorneys — not a call center — evaluate every claim.