Representing Survivors of Sexual Abuse at Juvenile Ranch Facility

According to lawsuits filed by survivors, Juvenile Ranch Facility (JRF) sexual abuse is rampant and has not been addressed by facility administrators. Many survivors have come forward years later to share their stories and get justice for systemic negligence.

The Injury Lawyer Team offers compassionate legal support to San Diego survivors on a contingency fee basis, ensuring victims feel supported throughout the process. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.

Settlements Recovered by Our Legal Team

$15,000,000 settlement for five teens molested by a coach
$5,000,000 for two men abused by a therapist
$3,850,000 recovery for three minors abused by a coach
$1,160,000 settlement for a teenager assaulted at a detention center

About Juvenile Ranch Facility

Juvenile Ranch Facility

957 Forrest Gate Road

Campo, CA, 91906

(619) 234-8000

https://www.sdcda.org/prosecuting/juvenile/institutional-facilities

The Juvenile Ranch Facility was a residential treatment facility for boys in San Diego County that closed in 2016. It was composed of two separate facilities named Rancho del Campo and Rancho del Rayo.

While not a fenced or locked facility, San Diego County worked with Border Patrol officers to capture any escapees. The Juvenile Ranch Facility offered rehabilitation services in a more rural setting.

Juvenile Ranch Facility did not offer vocational training, but it did provide mainstream education through the Rancho del Campo High School. Residents could also access behavioral health programs. Rancho del Rayo had two drug dorms where minors could undergo drug abuse counseling.

Juvenile Ranch Facility Sexual Abuse Allegations

A lawsuit alleges that guards at Rancho del Campo Juvenile Ranch Facility would regularly use force against minors, including pepper spray, and force them into the showers where they would be sexually assaulted.

One victim at JRF was 15 when the abuse occurred in the Rancho del Campo dorms. The unnamed survivor, listed as John TH Roe, stated that a female staff member molested him in the dorm room before bedtime. The woman slid her hand under the blanket and touched him inappropriately, then insisted he expose himself to her.

Later that evening, another officer placed John TH Roe in handcuffs and accused him of assaulting the female staff member, despite the fact that he had been the victim. He was later moved to a different dorm room with older boys for the rest of his stay.

A separate lawsuit centers on a victim named Paul, who was 14 years old when he stayed at JRF. This teen was locked in the shower room with a male guard, who insisted that he pleasure himself. When Paul refused, the guard instead exposed himself to the teen.

According to Paul, another staff member was outside the shower room while the guard committed this act, ensuring that his colleague wouldn’t be caught.

These cases demonstrate a serious lack of supervision at the facility. Additionally, they indicate that other people knew about the abuse but refused to speak up at the time.

San Diego attorney representing victims of assault at Juvenile Ranch Facility

How Our Legal Team Can Help Victims of Juvenile Ranch Facility

The Injury Lawyer Team works tirelessly to support survivors who were abused in San Diego detention facilities, including Juvenile Hall, Rancho del Campo, Rancho del Rayo, and others.

We will hold individuals and facilities accountable for failing to protect the minors under their care by gathering documentation, filing claims, and negotiating settlements. While many cases settle out of court, we can also represent you at trial if necessary.

Our team has secured millions for individuals abused in institutional settings, including $1.16 million for a teen who was assaulted while in a detention center.

We can help you file claims against San Diego juvenile detention facilities, such as:

Understanding Sexual Abuse Under California Law

In the state of California, civil cases are based on the legal definition of sexual battery. This defines battery as unwanted and non-consensual touching of another person’s intimate parts for the purposes of sexual gratification or arousal (PEN § 243.4).

Youth victims legally cannot give consent, so any contact between an adult and a child is illegal (PEN §261.5 (a)). Under the law, anyone who commits sexual acts with a minor has strict liability because it does not matter whether or not they believed the child could consent based on their experience or maturity. It also does not matter if the guard was in an altered state or did not understand the severity of their actions.

Additionally, it is unlawful for staff members of detention centers to have any sexual contact with the individuals under their supervision (PEN §289.6). This is because there is a severe power imbalance between staff and detainees.

Guards and probation officers can threaten detainees by increasing their time spent detained or revoking their privileges, making it impossible to have true consent.

Facilities are always responsible for the actions of their staff members, as they have a legal responsibility to prevent abuse under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (34 USC §303). If their employees committed an illegal act, the detention center can also be held liable.

Patterns of Abuse and Negligence at Juvenile Ranch Facility

These cases demonstrate widespread institutional issues throughout the San Diego County Probation Department. Administrators failed to hire and supervise their staff properly, and they did not respond to complaints. Potentially high-risk guards or officers were not monitored, even when survivors came forward with their stories.

Victims were silenced, and the administration covered up clear evidence of sexual misconduct. This resulted in known predators using these juvenile programs as their hunting grounds, identifying vulnerable youth and grooming them into illegal sexual activity.

In some cases, guards would threaten and intimidate their victims, such as telling them they would have to serve more time if they did not obey. While the children should have been focusing on school and obtaining treatment for behavioral issues, they were instead fearing they would be abused when no one was watching.

Filing a Claim for Abuse at Juvenile Ranch Facility

We can help you file a claim if you were abused by staff, guards, medical personnel, mental health professionals, or others at JRF. First, we could file suit against the individual responsible, then pursue those who failed to respond to the abuse or help you.

JRF can also be sued for its institutional failures to properly monitor and supervise employees. If another youth detainee hurt you, the facility can still be responsible for failing to intervene or identify potential abuse.

Victims often face serious psychological barriers in speaking out. This can include fear of retaliation, anxiety about the legal process, and shame in being assaulted. Shame is especially strong for boys, who may struggle to share their feelings or believe they should have stopped the abuse.

Our compassionate San Diego attorneys work hard to reassure our clients and help them feel comfortable speaking up. Everything you say is confidential through attorney-client privilege. We can petition the court to protect your anonymity, which can ensure you don’t face retaliation from defendants.

Additionally, we can direct you to local resources, like the Sexual Assault Response Team, which can connect you to service providers and victim advocates. We focus on helping survivors receive both the care and the compensation they need to heal.

California Child Victims Act and Statute of Limitations

The California Child Victims Act provides additional time to file for those who were sexually abused while underage. The statute of limitations begins at age 18 and lasts for 22 years, or until the victim is 40 years old.

This law also provides five years to file under a delayed discovery rule. If you did not immediately realize you were assaulted, you have five years after you recognized you were abused. We will prove through testimony and other evidence that you were not able to file earlier, such as not recognizing the abuse or suffering from mental health issues.

While you may have a longer timeline to file, it’s still important to contact our California youth detention center abuse lawyers as soon as possible.

The more time that passes, the harder it is to find evidence of the abuse and the less likely that key witnesses will remember important information. By scheduling a free consultation quickly, you ensure we can build a strong case for you.

Lastly, a jury may award triple damages if your case goes to trial. This can be difficult to achieve in cases against public entities due to rulings like Los Angeles Unified School District v. Superior Court, which provide counties and other agencies with immunity. However, this ruling does not apply to individuals.

Holding Juvenile Ranch Facility and San Diego County Legally Accountable

Our San Diego attorneys can bring a civil case against multiple defendants for their role in your abuse, including the following parties:

The Perpetrator – Under the law, any sexual contact between an underage person and an adult is illegal, especially if it happens in a detention center. They are liable for the damage they have caused to you, including both physical and mental suffering.
Juvenile Ranch Facility – Whether you were abused at Rancho del Campo or Rancho del Rayo, the center is responsible for protecting all youth detainees in its care. We can demonstrate that the facility hired potential predators, failed to train staff on signs of abuse, and did not respond to complaints.
San Diego County Probation Department—The Probation Department is responsible for overseeing all centers, including the Juvenile Ranch. It must respond to concerns and promptly intervene if there is any suspected abuse. San Diego County is liable for failing to do so.
Other Government Agencies—The Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) provides regular inspections and investigates concerns about the juvenile system. It must also interview teens at each center to find any issues. When the JJC is made aware of problems but does nothing, it can also be liable.
Other Employees – Anyone who is aware of abuse must quickly intervene, such as by calling the police or telling their superiors. If they kept quiet, they are liable, too. Additionally, some victims stated that fellow guards served as lookouts or took the side of abusers rather than listening to survivors. This also implicates them in a lawsuit.
Contractors and Employers – In addition to guards and officers, JRF had a school and therapeutic services. Some of these professionals may have been independent contractors or working for other organizations. Their employers were responsible for investigating issues that could have resulted in harm to a child. If they don’t meet this obligation, they are liable.

Eligibility for Filing a Lawsuit

Your case must meet some basic guidelines to be accepted. First, the abuse must have occurred at JRF and been perpetrated by someone affiliated with the facility. This could be a staff member, contractor, or administrator.

There must be proof of the abuse, but this does not have to be a criminal case or a complaint against the person. We understand that many survivors are afraid to speak out at the time of the assault, and they may not have told anyone out of fear. Additionally, the criminal and civil court systems are separate.

We can use various evidence to prove your case, such as medical reports, witness testimony, expert opinions, personnel files, and inspection reports.

You can file a suit even if the abuser is now deceased. We can sue their estate if they have one. Additionally, we can pursue a case against others, such as JRF or the San Diego County Probation Department, for their role in the abuse.

Types of Compensation Available

Our team of San Diego sexual abuse attorneys fights hard to ensure that you get all the compensation you deserve. This can include both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages compensate you for financial losses that you suffered or may suffer, such as:

Medical treatment
Psychological care
Loss of income
Therapy

Non-economic damages consider how the resulting trauma from abuse has impacted you socially and emotionally, as well as the pain you endured. This includes:

Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Trauma
Loss of enjoyment of life

Through your testimony and evidence from professionals, our San Diego lawyers can evaluate damages like anxiety, loss of trust in authority figures, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and damaged relationships. All these should be considered in your settlement.

What Impacts Your Settlement Amount?

Every sexual abuse case is different, so there is no set settlement amount that survivors can expect. The damages you are awarded depend on what type of abuse you suffered and how it impacted your life overall. These are some of the factors that we will consider when developing a demand letter.

Severity and Nature of Abuse

Those who suffered from a violent assault, such as being threatened with a knife or held down, will typically receive more. Additionally, prolonged assaults or those that involve multiple offenders may receive more compensation.

Frequency of Abuse

In some cases, the abuse may continue for weeks, months, or years. Some victims are also abused on a regular basis, sometimes nightly or weekly. These victims will often receive more because the trauma is more severe.

Supporting Evidence

A strong case requires ample evidence. The more evidence we can present proving who was involved and how they hurt you, the better our chances of receiving a high settlement. Our team will review files from JRF, speak to your friends and family, and analyze your medical records to support your story.

Negligence and Cover-Up

You could receive triple damages if we can prove that the JRF administration or the San Diego County Probation Department was aware of what was happening but chose not to respond, which resulted in more long-term abuse. This can be proven through inspections, personnel reports, communication between guards and administration, or complaints from other victims.

Long-Term Effects

Those who have been severely impacted by abuse generally receive more. Results of sexual trauma can include things like PTSD, struggling to maintain relationships, anxiety, or diminished career prospects.

Speak With a Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today

Our California sexual abuse lawyers ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for negligent and inappropriate behavior by San Diego detention centers. We focus on empowering you to speak out while protecting your legal rights.

Injury Lawyer Team works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we obtain compensation for you. Our attorneys have received million-dollar verdicts for our clients and are feared by insurance companies throughout San Diego County.To schedule a confidential consultation, call us at 866-757-6452 or use our online contact form. Everything you share with our attorneys remains confidential.