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Representing Survivors of Sexual Abuse at Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility

The San Diego juvenile justice system has failed to protect minors from abuse, including sexual assault. Those who have suffered sexual abuse at the Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility (GRF) have legal options for justice, and the Injury Lawyer Team can help.

Many survivors come forward years later due to fear and shame. We will utilize California and federal law to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable, even if it has been years. Contact us today to book a free and confidential consultation about your legal rights.

Settlements Recovered by Our Legal Team

$6,000,000 for abuse of a minor
$5,000,000 for two men assaulted by a therapist
$1,900,000 for a stalking and assault victim
$1,160,000 for a teen abused at a rehabilitation center

About Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility

Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility

2861 Meadow Lark Dr

San Diego, CA 92123

(858) 694-4510

This facility offers short-term residential therapy and treatment for medium to high-risk youth between the ages of 13 and 18. While not locked, residents are not free to leave. Instead, they are given additional privileges as they complete five treatment modules. Those who violate the rules may be sent back to juvenile hall for five days. Residents typically stay for 10 to 12 weeks.

Services available include individual counseling, drug and alcohol treatment, and esteem building. While there, girls can complete their schoolwork and receive sex education.

Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility Sexual Abuse Allegations

GRF was included in a class action lawsuit against San Diego juvenile detention facilities, which included facilities like Kearny Mesa, Rancho Del Campo, and Camp Barrett. In the lawsuit, a girl identified as Jane LW Roe stated that she was abused by a guard starting at just 11 years old.

The man would take her to a stairwell and sexually assault her, or enter her room when she was sleeping and abuse her. Additionally, at least one man grabbed her by her hair and forced her to perform oral sex on him.

Roe complained to the facility staff, who took no action and ignored her complaints. Because of the abuse, she suffered from low self-esteem, mental health issues, depression, and anxiety.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on the scope of this lawsuit, which included girls and boys ranging from children to teens. One of the attorneys stated that the lawsuit represented a systemic failure to protect children in the system’s custody, including inadequate supervision and ignoring complaints.

How Our Legal Team Can Help Victims of Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility

The Injury Lawyer Team supports survivors throughout the San Diego juvenile detention center sexual assault lawsuit process. We have achieved settlements for over a million dollars, such as $1.16 million for a teen molested at a juvenile hall. We will help you gather evidence, file legal paperwork, and negotiate with the responsible institutions for a fair settlement.

We can help you file claims against facilities such as:

Understanding Sexual Abuse Under California Law

California defines sexual battery as touching intimate parts of another person without that person’s consent for the purposes of sexual arousal or gratification (PEN § 243.4). As youth cannot give consent, any sexual contact between a child and an adult is automatically non-consensual (PEN §261.5 (a)), and anyone who assaults a child is strictly liable.

Additionally, sexual acts between staff and residents at a detention facility are illegal (PEN §289.6). This is true even if the detainee is above the age of consent because detention staff have control over a detainee’s life and well-being.

United States case law, such as Farmer v. Brennan, asserts that detention facilities have an obligation to protect anyone in their custody, both from guards and from other residents. As such, they are vicariously liable for any inappropriate acts committed by anyone in the facility, even if they were not involved or aware.

Detention facilities also must abide by the Prison Rape Elimination Act, which imposes a no-tolerance policy for any sexual misconduct (34 USC §303). They are required to report on any incidents and safeguard those under their care. When places like GRF fail to take action, they are negligent and can be held accountable in court.

Patterns of Abuse and Negligence at Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility

Lawsuits show sexual assault is a systemic issue throughout the San Diego County Probation Department, including places like Rancho Del Campo and GRF.

According to survivor accounts, these centers have failed to provide proper supervision of staff members or to respond promptly to allegations of abuse. Many, like GRF, actively ignored complaints and forced survivors to remain in close contact with the perpetrators.

All the while, sexual predators intimidated and coerced young detainees into sex acts, often while other guards watched out for them. Known predators were not immediately fired, and their misconduct was covered up. Lack of monitoring, refusal to take action, and actively ignoring complaints have all contributed to severe trauma for dozens of young women and men.

Experienced California attorney handling sexual abuse claims from the Girls' Rehabilitation Facility.

Filing a Claim for Abuse at Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility

Our team helps survivors file claims for abuse by staff, probation officers, guards, medical personnel, social workers, and mental health professionals. We can also sue the facility for failing to prevent abuse, whether by staff members or by other detainees.

The attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team are committed to reducing the stress of a court case. We understand that survivors face many barriers when sharing their story, particularly fear of retaliation or shame about being mistreated. Our focus is always on protecting your privacy while pursuing a fair settlement for your injuries.

California Child Victims Act and Statute of Limitations

Our team will use relevant statutes to our advantage when filing a lawsuit. California law allows survivors to file claims until age 40 (AB-218). The statute of limitations is tolled, or paused, until the survivor turns 18, and then resumes for up to 22 years.

This law also allows survivors to file claims up to five years after they realized that they may have been injured. The delayed discovery rule acknowledges that some girls may not know that what happened was abuse or may be too afraid to come forward. Additionally, some girls may have remained in custody after the abuse occurred, making it more challenging to report.

However, it’s important to act as quickly as possible after determining that you may have been abused. The sooner we can start on your case, the easier it will be for us to gather substantial evidence and speak to potential witnesses. You can call our California youth detention sexual abuse lawyers at any time for a free consultation.

Additionally, survivors may be eligible for triple punitive damages if it can be proven that the facility or San Diego County covered up the abuse.

Holding Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility and San Diego County Legally Accountable

We can bring a civil suit against multiple parties, including the following:

Abuser – The individual in question committed an inappropriate act against a youth, which is always illegal.
GRF – The facility may be liable due to poor training and supervision. Additionally, it may have to pay additional damages if it ignores complaints.
San Diego County Probation Department – The San Diego justice system is required to provide appropriate oversight to all facilities and protect the youth under its care. If they do not investigate complaints or take appropriate action to stop them, they are responsible.
Other Agencies – The Juvenile Justice Commission conducts inspections and follows up on any infractions it may have noted. If it is aware of illegal acts committed in a detention center but does not report the abuse, it may also be liable.
Other Employees or Contractors – Anyone who was aware of the abuse but didn’t speak up or intervene could be considered liable. This is called contributory negligence, as they contributed to further harm by not protecting you.

Eligibility for Filing a Lawsuit

To file a lawsuit, the abuse must have occurred at GRF and been perpetrated by someone associated with the center. There must be some substantiation of the abuse, whether that is complaints, medical reports, or testimony by other survivors.

You can still file an abuse lawsuit if the perpetrator is now deceased. We may settle with the person’s estate and also pursue GRF under strict liability laws.

Many survivors fear that the courts will not believe them if they did not file a police report. However, you can still pursue a personal injury lawsuit if you did not press criminal charges against the perpetrator.

Types of Compensation Available

You may receive a variety of damages, including:

Medical and psychological treatment
Therapy
Loss of income or loss of future income
Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress and trauma
Loss of enjoyment of life

If your case goes to court, the jury may also award punitive damages, which are meant to punish the perpetrator and encourage other girls to come forward. These will not be awarded if we settle with an insurance company.

What Impacts Your Settlement Amount?

Every San Diego sexual abuse case is unique, including how much compensation may be awarded. Many factors influence your ultimate settlement, including the following.

Severity and Nature of Abuse – Girls who were violently assaulted or who suffered long-term abuse may receive more.
Frequency – If the abuse happened repeatedly or regularly, we can argue for more compensation. This is because not only is long-standing abuse very traumatic, but it also suggests that GRF and the San Diego County Probation Department were not providing adequate supervision.
Supporting Evidence – To make a case, we must have strong evidence. This can include medical records, interviews with other girls who were at GRF, testimony from guards, incident reports, and expert testimony. While you don’t have to have previously complained about the abuse or filed a police report, this can support your claim.
Negligence or Cover-Up—If it can be proven that GRF knew about the abuse but did nothing to stop it, the court may award treble punitive damages. We can demonstrate this through evidence such as previous investigations, complaints, and personnel records.
Long-Term Effects of Abuse – Childhood sexual abuse, especially at a young age, can have lasting effects on a girl’s life. Survivors may suffer developmental issues, PTSD, issues with family and employment, and substance abuse. By sharing your story, you can demonstrate how severely the assault impacted you.

Speak With a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today

Sexual assault in San Diego youth detention centers is a widespread issue, and the probation department should be held accountable for their failure to intervene. The Injury Lawyer Team fights hard for survivors, ensuring they receive the funds they need to heal.We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we win your case. Everything you discuss with your attorney is private under attorney-client privilege. To schedule a free consultation about your legal rights, call us at 866-757-6452 or use our online form.