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For survivors of abuse in juvenile detention

Were You Sexually Abused in Juvenile Detention as a Minor?

If a guard, counselor, officer, or other staff member sexually abused you while you were held in a juvenile detention center, juvenile hall, youth camp, or youth correctional facility, you may have legal options, even if it happened years ago. A participating attorney can review your situation for free and in confidence.

What happened was not your fault. You are not alone. Justice is on the way.

Check if you qualify Who may qualify
  • Free and confidential
  • No obligation
  • A few short questions
Laws and deadlines vary by state.Some states have extended deadlines for childhood sexual abuse claims. An attorney can review where and when it happened.
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What this is about

When the adults in charge failed to protect you

For decades, young people held in juvenile detention were placed in the care of adults who had power over nearly every part of their day. Some of those adults abused that trust. Survivors have described sexual abuse and sexual harassment by guards, counselors, officers, and other staff.

Lawsuits allege that facilities, and the agencies that run them, failed to screen staff, supervise them, respond to complaints, or protect the youth in their care. A civil claim is about that responsibility. It is separate from any criminal case.

A duty to protect

Facilities and the agencies that run them were responsible for keeping the young people in their custody safe.

Waiting is common

Fear, retaliation, shame, or simply being young keep many survivors silent for years. That is a normal response.

Each claim is different

Claims are reviewed one at a time, based on the facility, the timeframe, and what happened.

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Who may qualify

You may be eligible for a free review if:

  • You were under 18

    The abuse happened before your 18th birthday. Many people who reach out are adults today.

  • You were held in a juvenile facility

    For example a juvenile detention center, juvenile hall, youth camp, or youth correctional facility.

  • You were sexually abused or harassed

    By a guard, counselor, officer, or other staff member, or by someone the facility should have protected you from.

It may have happened many years ago. You do not need to have reported it, and you do not need any paperwork to ask. Depending on state law, it may still be possible to pursue a claim. Only a licensed attorney can evaluate whether you have one.

Check if you qualify

How it works

Three simple steps

Getting a free review takes a few minutes, and you decide what happens next.

  1. 01

    Answer a few questions

    The evaluation assistant on this page asks short, mostly yes-or-no questions. You do not have to describe what happened in detail.

  2. 02

    Decide whether to share contact details

    If you want someone to follow up, add how to reach you. You decide whether to submit your contact details.

  3. 03

    Talk with a participating attorney

    A participating attorney or their intake team may contact you privately to talk through your options. There is no obligation.

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You stay in control

The assistant opens right on this page. You can pause or stop at any time, skip what you are not ready to talk about, and you decide whether to submit your contact details.

Start my free review

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What to expect

Compassionate, confidential support

  • Confidential and judgment-free

    Your story is private. Asking for a review is free, and you are under no obligation to move forward.

  • At your own pace

    Participating attorneys understand how hard it is to come forward. You can take breaks, ask questions, and stop at any time.

  • No cost to get a review

    There is no charge to submit your information or have it reviewed. These cases may be handled on a contingency-fee basis, meaning no attorney fee unless there is a recovery. Ask about fees and costs before you sign anything.

  • Separate from your record

    A civil claim is not a criminal case and is not about anything you were held for. Ask the attorney any questions about your own situation.

Who we are

An advertising and referral service, not a law firm

Justice Route is operated by TFT Legal Service, an attorney advertising and referral service. We do not give legal advice. When you ask for a review, your information may be shared with a participating attorney or law firm, who decides whether to offer representation.

Submitting information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is different, and no particular outcome can be promised. Deadlines (statutes of limitations) vary by state, so it can help to ask sooner rather than later.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers about how this works. If you are unsure about anything, ask the attorney before you sign.

Is this a law firm?

No. Justice Route is an attorney advertising and referral service operated by TFT Legal Service. We are not a law firm and do not give legal advice. If you ask for a review, your information may be shared with a participating attorney or law firm, who decides whether to offer representation.

I'm an adult now. Can I still ask?

Yes. Many survivors are adults today and are only now ready to talk about what happened. Depending on the state, it may still be possible to pursue a claim years later. Only a licensed attorney can tell you whether a claim is still possible in your case.

Does it matter which state or facility it was?

Laws and deadlines vary by state, and some states have extended the deadlines for childhood sexual abuse claims. A participating attorney can review where and when it happened and explain what that may mean for you.

What if I never reported it?

Many survivors never told anyone, or were afraid to. You do not need to have filed a report or a grievance to ask for a review, and there are no wrong answers.

Will this affect my record or probation?

A civil claim is separate from any criminal or juvenile case, and asking for a review is not a report to the police or the court. If you have questions about your own record, probation, or parole, ask the attorney before you decide anything.

Does it cost anything?

No. Submitting your information and having your situation reviewed is free. Participating attorneys may handle these cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means no attorney fee unless there is a recovery. Fee terms and case costs vary, so read any agreement before signing.

What happens after I answer the questions?

If you choose to share your contact details, someone from a participating law firm or its intake team may contact you by phone, text, or email to learn more. You decide whether to continue. No particular outcome can be promised.

Is my information private?

Your information is used to evaluate your request and is shared only with participating attorneys and the service providers who help run this website, as described in our Privacy Policy. Submitting information does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Need support right now?

  • If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
  • RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline, free and confidential 24/7: 1-800-656-4673 or rainn.org.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988.

When you are ready, we are here

Answer a few confidential questions. It is free, it only takes a few minutes, and you are under no obligation.

Start my free, confidential review