Youth Service International programs can be a vital way for young men to learn more about the world around them. These programs focus on helping youth in Youth Service International discover the good in the world around them. They focus on encouraging young people to spread good worldwide by providing a service, time, or friendship.
However, service organizations like Youth Service International must carefully vet employees to ensure the children’s well-being and prevent abuse, including sexual abuse. Children often travel with youth service leaders around the world or community, completing service projects or spending time alone with leaders, making it crucial to ensure youth leaders are safe to be around.
If you suffered sexual abuse in youth service programs like Youth Service International, you deserve justice. Our youth detention center sexual abuse lawyers pursue civil cases against organizations like Youth Service International, holding them accountable for their failures to protect vulnerable young people.
Table of Contents
About Youth Services International
General Overview
Youth Service International, or Youth Services International, is the largest private provider of treatment programs for troubled teens in the juvenile justice system. At its height, Youth Service International operated 22 centers in 12 states, serving approximately 3,000 individuals. The company was founded in 1991 and had 2,900 employees [1].
The URL for the official Youth Service International website is currently up for sale [1]. There’s a reason you can’t find the website for Youth Service International anymore.
Ownership and Affiliations
W. James Hindman founded the Jiffy Lube auto care company and founded Youth Service International [4]. When Pennzoil purchased Jiffy Lube in the 1990s due to falling profits, Hindman reinvested the funds into starting Youth Service International [2].
Youth Service International maintained contacts with multiple state departments, including Maryland, Iowa, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah. The organization claimed it had 25% lower expenditures than state-run programs by paying children to work at the school and not allowing their staff to unionize [2]. Over time, Yout Service International continued to expand.
In 1999, Youth Service International was purchased by James Slattery. Youth Service International became the youth portion of Correctional Services Corporation, a Sarasota-based company. This happened the same year that several of his facilities were closed due to failed audits. However, he cited them not being profitable as the reason for closing the programs. [14]
The youth programs were then bought by GEO, but later sold back to Slattery. [15] Massive amounts of overcharges and continuous abuse allegations led to Florida canceling its contracts with the programs, and YSI agreed to a $2 million payout back to Florida around 2016. [16]
Now, you can’t find anything about YSI programs. However, the effects of abuse are still with the victims.
Lawsuits Against Youth Service International
State departments across the country have investigated Youth Service International, and states have ended contracts with the company due to allegations of severe abuse within the programs.
State of Florida Department of Juvenile Justice v. Youth Service International
In 2016, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice sued Youth Service International for failing to provide appropriate and necessary services to its clients. The organization held seven contracts for that fiscal year, all transferred to other service providers [3].
Youth Service International was making $90 million from the contacts at the time, but they settled with the state for only $2 million. The lawsuit alleged that Youth Service International falsified claims for tens of millions of dollars and that employees faked important documents like mental health checks [4].
United States Department of Justice v. Youth Service International
Youth Service International settled with the US Department of Justice for failing to provide the necessary accommodations for a deaf student at Victor Cullen School in Sabillasville, Maryland. This included refusing to allow him to use sign language or ASL interpreters while participating in programs [5].
Lawsuits Against Charles H. Hickey Jr. School
In 2023, 37 men sued the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School for sexual abuse that happened during their time there. With the help of Maryland juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawyers, the men alleged that employees would come into their cells at night and rape them, sometimes in groups.
They also claimed that employees would offer them bribes like candy and cigarettes to keep them from disclosing the abuse [6].
Charles H. Hickey Jr. School had been operated by Youth Service International from the early 1990s, during the time the alleged abuse occurred [7].
Lawsuit against Victor Cullen Center
Victor Cullen Center in Maryland, previously run by Youth Service International, has a history of abuse going back to 1995, when audits found issues like inadequate care and poor recordkeeping [8].
In a recent lawsuit filed after Maryland’s 2023 Child Victims Act, a plaintiff alleged sexual abuse at the Victor Cullen Center. The victim’s account discusses being sodomized, beaten, and threatened with death if he let anyone find out what was happening [9].
Violations by Youth Service International
Georgia Prison Has Highest Rate of Sexual Abuse Among Juvenile Detention Centers
In 2013, the Huffington Post reported that one of Youth Service International’s Georgia facilities had the highest sexual abuse rate in the United States [10]. One in three individuals held at the Paulding Regional Youth Detention Center in Dallas, Ga., reported at least one instance of sexual victimization in the past year [11].
Paulding Regional Youth Detention Center was closed in December 2013 [11]. Jesse Williams, Senior Vice President of Operations at Youth Service International, was called to testify in front of the Office of Justice Programs Review Panel on Prison Rape in January 2014 [12].
During the meeting, Williams claimed they had implemented the “Diana Screen,” meant to identify and remove employees at risk of perpetrating sexual abuse. Williams also stated they could not find the reason for the abuse due to the facility closing at the end of the year [12].
Florida Center Closes Due to Abuse and Use of Force
Before the State of Florida canceled all contracts with Youth Service International in 2016, they canceled a contract for the Santa Rosa Substance Abuse Treatment Center in Milton, Florida, for failing to comply with all standards.
A 2014 audit found that the facility was not providing an abuse-free environment, and some employees used excessive force. Only two of three employees were terminated for mistreating the prisoners in programs, while one was referred for additional training [13].
Concealing Reports of Abuse at Charles H. Hickey Jr. School
The Huffington Post report about Youth Service International also discussed the rampant abuse at Charles H. Hickey, Jr School in Maryland, which later led to multiple lawsuits. The report provides a shocking account of the problem, which included a 16-year-old inmate sexually assaulting a female staff member and boys breaking into cells to assault other boys [10].
The US Department of Justice launched an investigation into the school in 2004, finding that employees attempted to hide evidence of sexual abuse and only reported approximately two-thirds of cases. Eventually, the state took over the facility but did not fine Youth Service International for their mistreatment [10].
Your Rights as a Sexual Abuse Victim
You have the right to find a qualified sexual abuse attorney and to pursue a civil case against Youth Service International for damages. These damages may include economic damages, like medical bills, and non-economic damages, such as loss of enjoyment of life.
Our sexual abuse lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case and determine whether you have grounds to pursue compensation.
For example, we may find audits discussing abuse, prior charges against employees, or eyewitness testimony from fellow inmates. We will also determine what damages you can claim and create a demand letter explaining the sum we believe is justified.
Once we have gathered adequate information, we will respond to communications from Youth Service International or its lawyers on your behalf, ensuring you can focus on healing. As a trauma-informed law practice, we work to protect our clients’ well-being throughout the process and can direct you to local resources that will help you heal.
Based on our investigation, we will negotiate the highest possible settlement. Many cases are settled out of court, which speeds up the process. However, if Youth Service International refuses to provide a satisfactory settlement, we will file a lawsuit and represent you in court.
While negotiations are faster, they may provide less money than a lawsuit. We’ll carefully balance the possible damages you can receive with the stress a lawsuit can cause.
Statutes of Limitations
It’s important to learn what the statute of limitations is in your state, as it may limit your options for pursuing justice. One state may only allow you to file a lawsuit if you are below a certain age or within a certain time period after the abuse occurred.
However, some states have begun to update their statutes of limitations for child sexual assault, allowing victims to pursue cases from decades prior. We will keep up to date on legislative changes and leverage these to ensure that you can receive justice no matter how much time has passed.
Secure Expert Legal Representation!
Youth Service International has allowed thousands of children to suffer in their for-profit institutions. Having faced numerous lawsuits related to their programs, the organization has a long history of abusing children and falsifying records.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is here to hold them accountable for their failures and ensure you receive justice. Our team provides world-class representation on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we can earn you compensation.
Call (888) 424-5757 or use our online form to book a free consultation.
References: [1] Encyclopedia.com, [2] Chief Executive, [3] Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, [4] Florida Health News, [5] US Department of Justice, [6] AP News, [7] Maryland Law Review, [8] US Department of Justice, [9] People Magazine, [10] Huffington Post, [11] Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, [12] Office of Justice Programs, [13] Pensacola News Journal, [14] Profit Over Kids, [15] Prison Legal News, [16] Imprint News
All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.
