News and Press – MD Juv Justice

News & Press

New Complaints Have Emerged, Alleging Widespread Sexual Abuse At Six Juvenile Facilities Operated By Maryland's Department Of Juvenile Services.

According to People magazine, the complaints were filed on the same day that the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 came into effect, which removed the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases in civil lawsuits.

The complaints reveal a disturbing pattern of abuse, with incidents spanning from 1962 to 2012. One complaint contains allegations of sexual abuse from 11 former detainees at the Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School in Baltimore, Maryland. A second complaint from the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center in Cheltenham, Maryland, features claims from 10 former detainees.

Additionally, four other facilities were implicated in these complaints:

The Thomas J.S. Waxter Children's Center;
Victor Cullen Center;
The Montrose School; and,
The Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center.

All the survivors mentioned in these complaints, totaling 50 individuals, were children when the alleged abuse took place. The Department of Juvenile Services classifies these facilities as secure detention centers, except for the Victor Cullen Center, designated as a treatment facility, and The Montrose School, which closed in 1988.

The Law Firms Bailey Glasser, Walsh Law PLLC, and Rhine Law Firm provide the Legal Representation For The Plaintiffs.

These complaints were filed on the day the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 took effect, marking the elimination of the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse cases in the state. Some of the allegations in the complaints date back to 2012 but were only eligible for legal action once the new law came into force.

Sharon Iskra, a partner at Bailey Glasser law firm who leads the Institutional Abuse and Neglect team, commented on the significance of the new law, noting that child sexual abuse cases are unique due to the vulnerability of children and their susceptibility to manipulation. Survivors are often made to believe that no one will believe their claims because they are in juvenile detention for a reason and are deemed "bad kids."

More Details That Outline The Story of Two Survivors

One survivor, identified as John Doe 2 in the Hickey School complaint, alleges that he was subjected to sexual abuse starting in 2000 when he was just 14 years old. He was placed in multiple DJS facilities while awaiting transfer to a foster home, where he claims:

To have been raped and sodomized by staff for approximately 15 months.
He was forced to participate in group sexual acts with other youth residents and perpetrators, and,
That his abusers threatened him with violence if he disclosed the abuse.

After reporting the alleged abuse, John Doe 2 asserts that the assailant escalated the abuse to the point where he feared for his life and contemplated suicide.

Another survivor, identified as Jane Doe 2 in the Cheltenham complaint, alleges that she was sexually abused multiple times by a male employee in 1990 when she was 15 years old. The complaint states that the alleged abuser threatened to harm her family if she disclosed the abuse. Jane Doe 2 reported the abuse to individuals at Cheltenham, but she believes that no action was taken in response to her report.

These facilities, including Hickey and Cheltenham, have operated since the 1800s. According to Iskra, one of the oldest cases of abuse in the complaints dates back to 1962, when the survivor was only seven years old.

Fifty Individuals Who Allege They Were Sexually Abused As Minors In Maryland's Juvenile Justice System

The Washington Post reveals that a series of lawsuits have been filed involving fifty individuals who allege they were sexually abused during their time as minors in Maryland's juvenile justice system. The lawsuits were initiated on the same day a new state law went into effect, granting expanded rights to victims of child sex abuse.

The claims revolve around widespread sexual abuse of young people that allegedly occurred over five decades in six of Maryland's juvenile justice facilities. These lawsuits have made Maryland's government the latest defendant in a growing reckoning over long-standing allegations prompted by legislative changes.

The allegations within the lawsuits include:

Accusations of repeated rape or molestation of children while in state custody;
Negligence by the state in preventing the abuse; and,
A lack of practical procedures to monitor staff members with patterns or histories of illegal behavior.

Some of the incidents are said to have taken place in the victims' bedrooms, with the doors allegedly locked from the outside.

The lawsuits emphasize the Department of Juvenile Services' alleged lack of management and oversight, suggesting that thousands of youngsters suffered harm rather than receiving help while being subjected to abuse by staff members.

Defendants Include the State Of Maryland, the Department Of Juvenile Services, And Various Predecessor Agencies

The lawyers involved in the cases have indicated they have several hundred more clients, most of whom they plan to add as plaintiffs.

These lawsuits come as part of a broader trend of litigation addressing abuse and accountability in various institutions, including private schools, Catholic parishes, and government entities. Anticipating a wave of settlements they may be unable to afford, the Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for bankruptcy.

The Maryland Child Victims Act provides for potential damages of up to $1.5 million for lawsuits against private institutions and $890,000 against public ones.

For victims, these lawsuits offer an opportunity to bring alleged abusers and individuals who failed to protect children into the public eye.

The plaintiffs include individuals who suffered abuse at various Maryland detention centers, such as:

The Montrose School;
Thomas J.S. Waxter Children’s Center;
Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center;
Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School;
Cheltenham Youth Detention Center; and,
Victor Cullen Center.

The lawsuits highlight a tragic opportunity to address long-standing issues and seek justice for the victims, with attorneys making efforts to provide a trauma-informed intake process for those coming forward with their stories.

The Plaintiffs In These Lawsuits Range In Age And Describe Instances Of Abuse Dating Back Decades

The plaintiffs in these lawsuits range in age and describe instances of abuse dating back decades:

A man who alleges he was molested in 1962 at the age of 7;
A woman who claims repeated rape in 1984 at the age of 12.

Each victim alleges abuse at one of the six Maryland detention centers mentioned earlier.

The lawsuits come after previous reports of chaos and abuse within these detention centers, with some facilities having a history of investigations by the U.S. Justice Department due to issues of violence against youth by staff and inappropriate relationships between staff and residents.

These legal actions are intended not only to seek justice for the victims but also to expose the alleged abuses and ensure accountability for those responsible. Victims hope that speaking out will help shed light on the issue and support others who may have endured similar experiences in silence.

MDJuvJustice.com firmly believes that every victim of sexual abuse within active and closed juvenile hall detention facilities in Maryland should seek justice and compensation through the legal system.

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