New Jersey Juvenile Detention Abuse
New Jersey’s juvenile detention centers are intended to help troubled youth in the justice system grow and thrive to become productive, law-abiding citizens. However, sexual, physical, and psychological abuse and neglect have run rampant in New Jersey juvenile detention centers for years. This culture of abuse has done significant harm to survivors, sometimes lasting decades after the abuse occurred.
If you or a loved one has suffered abuse at a juvenile detention facility, you have legal rights and options. Police Brutality Center is committed to helping survivors of juvenile detention abuse by providing abuse survivors with resources to fight for justice.
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Content Last Updated: May 6, 2025
Sexual Abuse in New Jersey Juvenile Detention Centers
Child sexual abuse has been commonplace and insufficiently addressed in New Jersey juvenile detention centers for many years. Sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers includes conduct such as rape, attempted rape, coerced sexual acts, unwanted touching, and sexual harassment. Sexual abuse may be perpetrated by facility staff members or fellow detainees.
Prevalence and Nature of Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse in juvenile detention facilities includes assault by staff, other detainees, or external individuals with access to incarcerated youth. Despite the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA, 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.
Examples of Sexual Abuse Cases in New Jersey Juvenile Centers
Many New Jersey juvenile centers have been accused of having a longstanding culture of unchecked sexual abuse. At least 150 lawsuits have been filed alleging sexual assaults and other abuse at state-run facilities in New Jersey.
Still-open centers such as the New Jersey Training School for Boys, known as Jamesburg, and defunct institutions such as the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center and the Training School at Skillman have all been the subject of lawsuits for dozens of claims of child sexual abuse.
A 2010 report from the United States Department of Justice named Jamesburg as an institution with particularly high levels of sexual victimization of youth detainees. Individual claims in recent years have also alleged that institutional authorities knowingly turned a blind eye to abuse in New Jersey juvenile detention centers.
Other Types of Abuse in New Jersey Juvenile Facilities
In addition to sexual abuse, other forms of abuse suffered by New Jersey children in juvenile detention include the following:
- Physical abuse, such as beatings, excessive force, or abusive restraint
- Emotional and psychological abuse, such as isolation, verbal harassment, or threats
- Neglect and medical mistreatment, which can include depriving children of medical care, food, or hygiene
Children in juvenile detention facilities have the right to be free of abuse, neglect, and violence of all types. If your child has faced abuse of any kind while living in a New Jersey juvenile detention facility, a New Jersey juvenile detention abuse lawyer can help.
Prevalence and Nature of Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is among the most common forms of abuse endured by children in juvenile detention nationwide. Excessive force, beatings, neglect, and unsafe conditions are all forms of physical abuse. Staff members often use intimidation, threats, or violence to control detainees, while facility administrators often fail to intervene.
Many detainees also report that they are at risk of physical abuse not only by staff in detention facilities but also by fellow detainees.
Systemic issues in the juvenile justice process, such as staff shortages, lack of oversight, and poor facility conditions, frequently lead to violence against minors in detention.
Examples of Physical Abuse Cases
The New Jersey juvenile detention system has been rife with examples of physical abuse. Jamesburg, the Juvenile Medium Security Facility, and the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility, or Hayes, have all reportedly had issues with violence among detainees and inadequate staff intervention.
Meanwhile, the state’s monitoring organization for facilities housing disabled people uncovered abuse of disabled children by the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center.
Who Is Responsible for Juvenile Detention Abuse?
A variety of different institutional authorities can commit juvenile detention abuse. Other authorities may perpetuate abuse by ignoring it. These parties can include facility staff and guards, administrators and supervisors, and government agencies overseeing juvenile facilities.
Statute of Limitations for Civil Lawsuits in New Jersey
New Jersey recently lengthened its statute of limitations deadline for cases of child sexual abuse. However, this expanded time window does not apply to physical abuse cases. It’s important to file an abuse claim on time to avoid permanently losing the chance to sue.
Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
The New Jersey Child Victims Act, passed in 2019, extended the time for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits, recognizing the difficulties these children commonly have with coming forward.
Under the new law, child sex abuse survivors typically have until age 55 or within seven years of realizing the impact of the abuse to file a claim. Previously, survivors of child sexual abuse had until age 20 or two years from the discovery of their damages, whichever was later, to file suit.
It’s important to consult a legal professional to determine whether your claim is eligible and how you may be able to file under the Child Victims Act.
Physical Abuse Statute of Limitations
Physical abuse claims generally have shorter filing windows than sexual abuse claims. In general, the two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits applies to physical abuse. Thus, minor victims of physical abuse have two years from turning 18—their 20th birthday—to file a civil lawsuit.
It can be difficult to determine when the statute of limitations in a physical abuse case begins to run. Talk to an attorney to see whether you are eligible to file a claim for physical abuse.
Settlement Amounts for Detention Abuse Claims in New Jersey
Settlement amounts for juvenile detention abuse claims depend on the survivor’s circumstances. Physical abuse settlements in recent years have ranged from $100,000 to $2 million per survivor.
Key factors affecting potential compensation include the nature and severity of the injuries, the extent of medical and psychiatric treatment, any pattern of misconduct within the facility, and whether there is clear evidence of institutional negligence or systemic issues.
What To Do if Your Child Is a Victim of Abuse in a Juvenile Detention Center in New Jersey
It’s important to act quickly if you’ve discovered that your child has been a victim of abuse in juvenile detention. Parents or guardians of a child in a detention center can take these immediate steps:
- Seek treatment. Make sure that your child receives the appropriate treatment for the injuries or trauma they suffered. This may include medical and mental health care.
- Report the abuse. The center where your child is detained should have internal reporting procedures for abuse. File a report right away to create a paper trail.
- Contact advocacy organizations for support. Advocacy groups are actively working to close New Jersey’s infamous juvenile detention centers. Reaching out to these groups can connect you with resources and fellow parents of incarcerated children.
- Consult a lawyer. A New Jersey juvenile detention abuse lawyer can help make sure you have a capable representative in court if necessary and don’t miss filing deadlines.
How a New Jersey Juvenile Detention Abuse Lawyer Can Help
An attorney can help you handle every step of filing a juvenile detention abuse claim, including the following:
- Investigating the abuse and gathering evidence to build a strong claim
- Filing claims against responsible parties correctly and on time to avoid filing errors
- Advocating for maximum compensation for victims at the negotiating table or in court
Contact a New Jersey Juvenile Defense Lawyer
If you or your child has suffered abuse in a juvenile detention facility, Police Brutality Center can help. We can connect you with a knowledgeable and skilled juvenile detention abuse lawyer to pursue justice and compensation for the harm suffered. Contact us today for your confidential legal consultation.
