Representing Survivors of Sexual Abuse at Camp Barrett
Lawsuits allege that the San Diego County Probation Department has refused to investigate Camp Barrett sexual abuse for years, putting thousands of children at risk. Many survivors are too afraid to speak out until years later due to threats of retaliation or physical harm.
At Injury Lawyer Team, we are fiercely committed to helping those who were sexually abused at a San Diego County juvenile facility. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation about your legal rights.
Settlements Recovered by Our Legal Team
$6,000,000 for sexual assault at a children’s facility
$4,000,000 for five boys sexually abused by a religious leader
$3,850,000 for three boys molested by a coach
$1,160,000 for a teenager assaulted by a guard at a detention center
About Camp Barrett
Camp Barrett Youth Correction
21077 Lyons Valley Rd,
Alpine, CA 91901
This facility closed in 2018, and the remaining residents were moved to the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (later Youth Transition Campus). This closure was due to a redevelopment of the county’s juvenile justice system, including a focus on keeping at-risk youth closer to their families.
Camp Barrett was a camp-style residential facility in a remote area of the county about 35 miles from San Diego. Services available included behavioral health treatment, education, vocational training, and medical care.
Camp Barrett Sexual Abuse Allegations
Civil lawsuits filed against Camp Barrett and other facilities allege that sworn officers and staff members sexually abused dozens of children. Children as young as 11 were molested and assaulted by the adults, including instances where they were forced to commit sex acts or drugged.
The attorneys in this class action lawsuit allege that there was “a systemic failure to protect vulnerable minors” from misconduct and harassment throughout the San Diego County system. Other defendants included East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility, and Rancho Del Campo Juvenile Ranch.
A separate lawsuit states that two officers assaulted a 16-year-old boy on different occasions. The first, a woman, groomed him before assaulting him in her bedroom. During his second time at Camp Barrett, the boy was ordered into a restroom, then forced to perform oral sex on a male guard.
The fact that the abuse occurred with two separate officers demonstrates the widespread culture of sexual abuse in the San Diego youth detention system.
How Our Legal Team Can Help Victims of Camp Barrett
Our team advocates for sexual abuse survivors, ensuring they receive the compensation they deserve for the psychological harm caused in facilities like Camp Barrett. We have won millions for our clients, including a $1.6 million settlement for a teen who experienced sexual assault while detained.
We will guide you through the entire civil lawsuit process, including gathering evidence, filing claims, negotiating with defendants, and representing you in court if necessary.
We can help you file civil lawsuits against facilities such as:
Patterns of Abuse and Negligence at Camp Barrett and Other Juvenile Detention Facilities
Lawsuits filed against Camp Barrett and other facilities demonstrate widespread institutional issues. These include failures in hiring, supervising, and disciplining sworn officers and others accused of sexual misconduct.
Known predators kept their employment, and those with complaints were not monitored. These officers went on to intimidate and coerce the detainees into sexual acts. When children complained, they were silenced or ignored. The administration sided with the perpetrators, covering up reports and refusing to act.
Under the Prison Rape Elimination Act, all facilities must demonstrate a zero-tolerance policy for any form of sexual harassment or abuse (34 USC §303). If they fail to do so, they can be held liable and face penalties.
Filing a Claim for Abuse at Camp Barrett
We will help you file lawsuits against staff members, guards, medical staff, or mental health professionals who perpetrated abuse. Additionally, we can sue institutions that failed to prevent harm. This includes if another resident abused you due to a lack of supervision.
Our law firm recognizes that survivors face many challenges in coming forward, including fear and shame. We will protect you from retaliation and help you access the resources you need to heal.
California Child Victims Act and Statute of Limitations
California law provides survivors with an extended statute of limitations. Survivors of childhood sexual assault can file claims until age 40 or up to five years after discovering they were abused. This delayed discovery clause ensures that those who may not have been aware they were eligible for a lawsuit can still file a claim.
Additionally, juries can award treble damages if it can be proven that the facility knew that the abuse occurred but attempted to cover it up. Due to court decisions likeLos Angeles Unified School District v. SuperiorCourt, recovering treble damages from a public entity can be challenging.
However, this ruling does not pertain to private citizens, such as the perpetrator or an individual administrator. Our California youth detention center abuse attorneys will fight hard to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Holding Camp Barrett and San Diego County Legally Accountable
We can bring a civil suit against numerous parties, including the following:
The Perpetrator – Staff members, officers, guards, medical staff, or others can be held responsible for abusing children.
Camp Barrett Administration – Though this facility is now closed, we can still sue any administrators or other staff. Under the law, they have strict liability, meaning that if abuse occurred under their supervision, they can be held responsible.
San Diego County Probation Department – The San Diego juvenile system must provide proper oversight for all facilities and swiftly intervene in cases of suspected abuse. When it doesn’t adequately supervise these facilities, the county can be sued.
Other Government Agencies – The probation department is connected to many other agencies, such as the Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC). This commission is meant to provide oversight and identify areas of improvement. When these investigators don’t take allegations seriously or do not demand change in the system, they can be liable.
Contractors or Employees – Anyone who knew you were being abused but did nothing may be considered liable for your pain and suffering, as they could have intervened and protected you.
Eligibility for Filing a Lawsuit
To file a lawsuit, the abuse must have occurred at Camp Barrett, and it must have been perpetrated by someone associated with the facility. This could be a probation officer, guard, mental health professional, teacher, or contractor.
Your lawyer will need testimony about the abuse and some evidence, such as medical reports or personnel files.
We understand that it’s hard to talk about sexual abuse, so our team will use a trauma-informed approach and help you find resources to help you process the experience. Additionally, we’ll thoroughly investigate the allegations and identify witnesses who can support your story.
In some cases, the abuser may have passed away. It’s possible to sue their estate or to bring a claim against other individuals who may have known about what happened. Additionally, you don’t have to have filed a criminal charge against them or reported to the police. A civil lawsuit is separate from a criminal investigation.
While reporting to the police or pressing charges can help your case, we can demonstrate why it may not have been possible for you. Only one in three survivors ever reports the incident, meaning your experiences are very common.
Types of Compensation Available
Our team will fight hard to ensure that you receive all possible compensation, including economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate you for the financial losses you suffered as a result of the abuse. This can include:
Medical treatment
Psychological care
Therapy
Lost wages
Loss of future income
Future medical or psychological needs
Non-economic damages consider how the abuse impacted your social life and emotional well-being. This includes:
Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Trauma
Loss of enjoyment of life
If your case goes to court, the jury may award punitive damages. This is meant to prevent the perpetrator from reoffending and to encourage other survivors to come forward with their stories.
What Impacts Your Settlement Amount?
Each case is unique, so there is no guaranteed settlement amount. Our San Diego sexual abuse lawyers will consider every facet of your case and demonstrate how it supports your claim for a fair settlement. These factors include the following:
Severity of the Abuse – If the assault was violent, such as using a weapon, or the assault lasted a long time, then you may receive more. This is also true if the perpetrator threatened you.
Frequency – Repeated abuse or long-term molestation is more severe than an isolated incident, and it causes greater psychological harm to the child. This should be reflected in your settlement amount.
Supporting Evidence – A strong case must have a preponderance of evidence proving the perpetrator is liable. This evidence can come from many sources, such as witness testimony, medical records, incident reports, facility inspections, and personnel files. We will help you gather this evidence and also speak to experts who can testify about how the abuse impacted your life.
Negligence or Cover-Up – You may be eligible for treble damages if it can be proven that administrative staff or organizations attempted to hide the abuse or refused to punish the perpetrator.
Long-Term Effects – This kind of trauma can have severe and lifelong impacts, especially if the abuse occurred at a young age. Common effects include difficulty with holding a job, struggles with interpersonal relationships, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Not only will we learn more about what happened to you through your testimony, but we will also consult with experts who can testify about how you may have been harmed.
Available Insurance – Organizations typically have liability insurance that will pay if they are sued. They may also have funds specifically earmarked to handle litigation. The available funds may influence how much you can be awarded. Individuals, such as guards, may not have as much insurance.
Book a Free Consultation with Our Law Firm
Rehabilitation facilities are meant to assist young people in developing healthy coping strategies so that they do not reoffend. When adult employees violate a child’s trust, it can severely impact their lives for years to come. We will fight hard to hold perpetrators and organizations accountable while also protecting your privacy.
Our California sexual abuse lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you owe us nothing unless we obtain compensation for you. We have recovered over $450 million for our clients over the past 25 years and have a 98% success rate. You can schedule a free and confidential consultation with our experienced attorneys by calling 866-757-6452 or using our online contact form.
