East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility Abuse
East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility is San Diego County’s primary juvenile detention booking facility. The 185,825-square-foot facility sits on nearly 26 acres in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego and can house up to 380 detainees. It opened for operations in June 2004.
East Mesa is also home to the Youth Development Academy, a secure youth treatment facility developed in response to Senate Bill 823, which closed California’s Department of Juvenile Justice and returned responsibility for youth offenders to the counties.
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Content Last Updated: September 30, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Recent lawsuits allege East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility and other juvenile detention centers in the San Diego area have been rampant with abuse for decades.
- Due to recent legislative changes, survivors of childhood sexual abuse in California now have more time to file a claim.
- If you or a loved one has suffered abuse in the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, Police Brutality Center can connect you with a civil rights attorney to review your legal options.
Overview of East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility is San Diego County’s primary juvenile detention booking facility. The 185,825-square-foot facility sits on nearly 26 acres in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego and can house up to 380 detainees. It opened for operations in June 2004.
East Mesa is also home to the Youth Development Academy, a secure youth treatment facility developed in response to Senate Bill 823, which closed California’s Department of Juvenile Justice and returned responsibility for youth offenders to the counties.
Allegations of Abuse and Investigations against East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
In February 2025, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on lawsuits brought by at least two dozen former detention center detainees who allege they were sexually assaulted as minors by probation officers at San Diego County facilities. While some of the allegations in the lawsuits against the county date back to the 1970s, most of the plaintiffs allege the assaults occurred in the last three decades, with some as recent as 2022. The lawsuits allege abuse occurred at several detention facilities, including the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. Several of the other facilities are no longer in operation.
In May 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the opening of a civil rights investigation to determine whether unlawful treatment had occurred at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility and Youth Transition Campus in San Diego County. The announcement did not indicate what specifically prompted the investigation.
Report on Systemic Failures and Institutional Negligence at East Mesa Juvenile Detention
Many detention centers fail to implement proper safeguards, such as a lack of adequate oversight and failure to address complaints, which allows abuse to occur unchecked. Victims are often reluctant to come forward due to intimidation, fear of retaliation, or distrust of the justice system.
The lawsuits covered in the San Diego Union-Tribune report claim the San Diego County Probation Department failed to adequately screen its officers before hiring them. Among other things, the lawsuits assert the department did not properly investigate the victims’ complaints and failed to discipline or fire officers who had committed abuse.
A 2024 report by the San Diego County Juvenile Justice Commission says three staff members were investigated for misconduct in the year prior. The allegations involved physical assault and inappropriate touching of a youth.
Impact on Survivors of Sexual Abuse at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
Signs of mistreatment and abuse can take many different forms, including anxiety, depression, withdrawal from social activities, changes in sleep patterns and eating habits, fractures or sprains, head injuries, and more. While these signs might indicate other causes, they can be a strong indicator of abuse.
Getting emotional and legal support after abuse is a crucial step in healing and seeking justice. If you or a loved one at a juvenile facility is exhibiting these behaviors or signs of abuse, consider seeking therapy, counseling, and other support to begin the healing process.
Center for Community Solutions is an organization in San Diego County that assists victims of sexual assault and victims of relationship violence. It has a confidential hotline available at any time of day or night.
San Diego Family Justice Center provides confidential services and resources to those who have experienced sexual assault, sex trafficking, and other forms of violence and abuse.
Survivors of abuse at juvenile detention facilities have rights and options to seek justice for the harm they’ve endured. If you have experienced abuse at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, a skilled and knowledgeable civil rights attorney can advise you of your legal options, help you navigate the legal system, pursue claims against the parties responsible, and seek compensation for the trauma and damages you’ve suffered
Steps to Take if You Were Abused at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
Sexual abuse in juvenile detention facilities is perpetrated by staff, other detainees, or external individuals with access to incarcerated youth. Despite the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act and state laws aimed at preventing, detecting, and responding to sexual abuse, many cases still go unreported or are ignored by authorities. A 2023 federal government report examining nationwide rates of sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers found that a majority of perpetrators never faced consequences for sexually abusing youth detainees.
Filing a civil lawsuit is one way victims of abuse can hold accountable those who were responsible for their harm.
According to reporting by the San Diego Union-Tribune, many abuse survivors who recently initiated legal action against juvenile detention centers in California, including East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, have been able to do so because of recent changes to the law expanding the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims.
In 2019, lawmakers passed a law allowing child sexual assault survivors to file lawsuits until their 40th birthday or within five years of discovering the harm the abuse caused, whichever is later. Previously, California only gave victims of childhood sexual abuse until their 26th birthday to file a lawsuit.
In 2024, California lawmakers eliminated the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault claims entirely for those arising on or after January 1, 2024. For cases of abuse that occurred before this date, the 40th birthday deadline still applies.
Report the Abuse
Detention facilities generally have internal reporting procedures for abuse. Some agencies do not have an online form, so you must visit the department to file a complaint. File a report as soon as possible to create a paper trail. Be specific in your complaints and reports.
Here are some ways you can file complaints and report abuse that occurred at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility:
- File a police report.
- Contact the California Attorney General’s Office by emailing BCJ@doj.ca.gov.
- Contact the San Diego County Probation Department’s Chief Probation Officer by mail at 9444 Balboa Ave., Suite 500, San Diego, CA 92123, or by calling 858-514-3148.
- Contact the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board via their website or by calling 619-238-6776.
Gather Evidence
Collecting materials such as medical records and contact information from witnesses can help you build a stronger case. Here are some things to consider when collecting evidence:
- Write down everything you can remember about the abuse.
- Keep copies of any reports and complaints you file.
- Speak with an attorney about what evidence will be most useful for your case and how to obtain those materials.
File a Civil Lawsuit
Holding individuals and institutions accountable through legal action can help prevent further abuse. It can also provide compensation to cover your medical bills, mental health treatment, lost earning capacity, emotional trauma, pain and suffering, and more. A lawsuit can empower you to pursue justice and provide the resources you need to heal.
Seek Legal Representation
A California juvenile detention abuse lawyer can advise you of your legal options and answer any questions you have about your case. A skilled and experienced attorney will investigate your case, gather evidence, protect your rights, handle all the legal details, negotiate a settlement, and fight for you in court.
Steps to Take if You Were Abused at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
Police Brutality Center helps victims of juvenile detention centers start their journey to justice by connecting them to skilled civil rights attorneys. If you or a loved one has suffered abuse in a juvenile detention facility, contact us today for your confidential legal consultation with an experienced attorney in your area.