Polinsky Children's Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
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Content Last Updated: September 30, 2025
Key Takeaways
- A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center is an emergency shelter located in San Diego County, California, for children unable to remain at home due to abuse or neglect.
- Polinsky Children’s Center is the subject of numerous lawsuits accusing the facility of failing to protect children from abuse inflicted by staff over several decades.
- Police Brutality Center provides support to victims who have experienced abuse at Polinsky Children’s Center by connecting them with skilled and experienced attorneys.
Overview of Polinsky Children’s Center
The A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center, known simply as Polinsky Children’s Center, is a 24-hour, short-term emergency shelter in San Diego County, California, for children who cannot remain at home due to abuse or neglect. According to San Diego County’s Child Welfare Services, more than 100 children are admitted to the center each month.
Built in 1994 on donated land, the facility’s construction was funded with donations collected through Promises2Kids, previously known as the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation. San Diego County operates the campus, which includes six residential cottages, an infant nursery, a medical clinic, a school, a library, a cafeteria, playgrounds, and more. The children’s center can house 204 children, from infants to teens aged 17.
Allegations of Sexual Abuse in Polinsky Children’s Center
In recent years, over 150 individuals have filed lawsuits against San Diego County, claiming they were sexually abused as children by staff members at the Polinsky Children’s Center. Many of the plaintiffs alleged they were threatened to prevent them from speaking out about the abuse.
A 2024 report by the San Diego Juvenile Justice Commission revealed that in 2023, state regulators conducted 37 investigations in response to allegations of physical and sexual abuse, violations of personal rights, and other complaints. Of these investigations, only three were determined to be substantiated. The report indicates that the staff members involved in the substantiated cases are no longer employed at the center, but it does not provide specific details about the nature of these claims.
Additionally, the Juvenile Justice Commission’s 2023 report also noted sexual abuse allegations against Polinsky Children’s Center staff members. That report says 18 investigations into staff misconduct were conducted the year prior, with four complaints deemed substantiated.
Report on Systemic Failures and Institutional Negligence at Polinsky Children’s Center
Inadequate Staff Supervision and Oversight
- Lack of Supervision: Multiple lawsuits claim that children were left in isolated and vulnerable situations, allowing staff members to abuse them without consequences. Reports indicate that staff shortages resulted in insufficient supervision, increasing the risk of abuse.
- Failure to Conduct Proper Background Checks: Lawsuits accuse Polinsky Children’s Center of failing to implement adequate background checks and screening processes for staff members, allowing individuals with potential for abuse to be employed.
Institutional Culture of Silence and Retaliation
- Suppression of Complaints: Survivors have reported that their complaints of abuse were ignored or dismissed, and some have even alleged that staff threatened them to discourage them from speaking out.
- Lack of Accountability: The facility’s management has been criticized for not holding staff accountable, which has resulted in a culture of abuse that continues.
Legal and Regulatory Oversight Failures
- Delayed Legal Actions: The ability to file lawsuits has become more accessible after California’s AB 218 law, known as the California Child Victims Act, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases
Current Legal Actions and Lawsuits against Polinsky Children's Center for Sexual Abuse
In 2024, a series of lawsuits were filed, alleging that more than 100 children had been sexually assaulted by staff members at the Polinsky Children’s Center over the years. NBC 7 San Diego reported that these lawsuits involved abuse at the facility between 1994 and 2020.
In early 2025, an additional 50 individuals filed lawsuits against the center, also claiming sexual abuse and intimidation by staff members.
Legal Framework and Statute of Limitations for Polinsky Children's Center Abuse
Through civil litigation, survivors can hold the individuals and institutions responsible for the abuse accountable and help prevent further abuse. In a lawsuit, a survivor can pursue compensation to cover their medical bills, mental health therapy, lost earning capacity, emotional trauma, pain and suffering, and more. Such compensation can empower them and provide the means to move forward toward healing and closure.
Recent changes to California’s civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims have made the recent lawsuits over abuse at the Polinsky Children’s Center possible.
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.
The 2019 law also opened a three-year window for individuals whose claims were previously time-barred. That window expired in 2022.
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.
Resources and Support Available for Survivors of Polinsky Children's Center Abuse
The facility should have internal reporting procedures for abuse. Filing a report right away can create a valuable paper trail to bolster your case and encourage others to come forward. Other ways to report abuse include the following:
- Report to Police: File a report with the local law enforcement agency. Include as many details about the abuse that you can remember.
- Call a Child Abuse Reporting Hotline: Call the child protective services agency in your county to report child abuse or neglect. In California, each county has a 24-hour hotline staffed by trained social workers. The hotline numbers for San Diego County are 858-560-2191 and (800)-827-8724.
- 211 San Diego: Dial 2-1-1 or visit www.211sandiego.org for additional information and resources. According to its website, 211 San Diego is a free, 24-hour confidential phone service and searchable online database.
Seeking Justice After Polinsky Children's Center Abuse: Next Step for Survivors
Filing a civil lawsuit can hold accountable those responsible for child sexual abuse and help prevent abuse from occurring again. An attorney with experience handling child sexual abuse cases can help you better understand your legal options and available resources.
At the Police Brutality Center, we help victims seek justice by connecting them to resources and committed civil rights attorneys. If you or a loved one experienced child abuse at Polinsky Children’s Center and need legal counsel, contact Police Brutality Center today.