Fresno County Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Compensation for Victims of Abuse at Fresno County Juvenile Hall

Survivors of Fresno County Juvenile Hall sexual abuse deserve safety and a clear path to justice. Abuse in a county-run juvenile detention facility or within California’s youth detention system is both criminal and a civil wrong. 

We provide confidential, trauma-informed legal representation, allowing you to focus on healing while we hold institutions accountable.

We act quickly to investigate, preserve evidence, and pursue every responsible party to secure full and fair compensation for therapy, medical care, lost opportunities, and the emotional impact of childhood abuse. 

If you are considering a California youth detention sexual abuse lawsuit, we are ready to act; if you or your child was sexually abused inside a Fresno County youth detention center, we can file immediately while protecting your privacy and helping you seek justice.

Alleged Abuse at Fresno County Juvenile Hall

2018: Reported offense. A case surfaced involving a former Fresno County juvenile corrections officer and allegations that a 14-year-old was sexually abused.

October 2020: Plea. The defendant pleaded no contest to child abuse/endangerment, sexual battery by restraint, and a lewd act with a child under 14, plus misdemeanor DUI.

January 2021: Sentencing. The court sentenced the former officer to four years and four months in state prison. Criminal outcomes do not limit a survivor’s right to bring a civil claim

What Types of Financial Compensation Can Victims of Sexual Abuse Recover?

When we file juvenile detention sexual abuse claims against a county-run youth facility, our goal is full recovery, not a quick settlement. Civil sex abuse lawsuits let survivors seek damages for:

• Medical and mental-health care: therapy, psychiatry, medications, hospitalization, and a future care plan.
• Education and career harms: tutoring, credit recovery, special-education supports, wage loss, and reduced earning capacity.
• Out-of-pocket costs: travel to treatment, relocation or safety measures, childcare during appointments, and security or device updates.
• Non-economic damages: emotional distress, emotional anguish, psychological harm, PTSD symptoms, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive damages to punish egregious misconduct.

Your identity can remain confidential in court filings. Learn how we approach sexual abuse lawsuits in Fresno and what your recovery could include.

What Laws Govern Sexual Abuse Cases Against California Juvenile Detention Centers?

Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (Cal. Penal Code §§ 11164–11174.3)

Mandatory reporting framework for any child abuse and designation of mandated reporters (including juvenile facility staff members).

Title 15 – California Code of Regulations

Sets minimum standards for juvenile facilities covering safety, staffing, physical infrastructure, programming, and incident reporting. Violations can support negligence claims.

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

Federal zero-tolerance mandate requiring prevention planning, staff training, youth education, third-party reporting, data collection, independent audits, and tying certain federal funding to compliance.

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA)

Authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate patterns of abuse or civil-rights violations and obtain court-ordered reforms.

How Long Do Sexual Abuse Survivors Have to Take Legal Action After the CA Child Victims Act?

California passed the Child Victims Act (AB 218) in 2019, expanding filing rights and opening a three-year lookback (2020–2022). 

The state later passed AB 452, eliminating the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual-assault claims arising on or after January 1, 2024 (CCP § 340.1). For earlier child sexual abuse, prior rules apply, but many survivors who were minors can still file claims. 

Plaintiffs age 40 and older must submit confidential certificates of merit from their attorney and a licensed mental-health professional. 

Your rights to pursue damages are governed by sexual abuse lawsuits in California, which apply regardless of criminal proceedings.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Juvenile Detention Sexual Abuse?

In cases from juvenile detention centers, liability can extend beyond the individual abuser:

• Staff, contractors, volunteers who committed, enabled, or failed to report abuse.
• Supervisors/leadership for negligent hiring, supervision, training, or PREA/Title 15 noncompliance.
• County/Probation Department when systemic defects (unsafe policies, broken cameras, retaliation) foreseeably enable harm.
• Third-party vendors/clinicians whose negligence or reporting failures contribute to abuse.

We map custody, control, and policy breakdowns, then hold each responsible party accountable for their actions. 

Considering a claim? Start a youth detention sexual abuse lawsuit with a confidential consultation.

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

We move quickly to protect your privacy, preserve key evidence (reports, camera footage, PREA and Title 15 records, personnel files), and build a targeted defendant and insurance strategy. 

Our team collaborates with clinicians, correctional practices specialists, and life care planners to document harm and future treatment needs. We handle filings, negotiations, and trial preparation, allowing you to focus on your healing.

We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover money on your behalf. We also offer a free consultation. If you or your child suffered abuse in a Fresno County facility, contact us to discuss sexual abuse lawsuits and the path to justice.

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.