This page will look at civil lawsuits involving the sexual abuse of juvenile inmates at the Illinois Youth Center Joliet (IYC Joliet). IYC Joliet was the scene of widespread inmate abuse and mistreatment, including sexual abuse of juvenile inmates by the staff members who were supposed to be protecting them. The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice had a legal obligation to protect juvenile detainees at IYC Joliet (and other IYC facilities) but negligently enabled the abuse of inmates at Joliet to occur. Civil lawsuits are now being brought by former inmates who were the victims of abuse.
If you have a potential sex abuse lawsuit against IYC Joliet our Illinois sex abuse lawyers today at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation. Our attorneys will fight to get you the overdue compensation that you deserve.
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Illinois Juvenile Detention Center Lawsuits
About Illinois Youth Center Joliet
Illinois Youth Center Joliet (IYC Joliet) was a maximum security juvenile detention center for the most dangerous youth offenders in Cook County. IYC Joliet was the only max security detention center operated by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). DJJ had full control and authority over the operation IYC Joliet. DJJ was responsible for hiring, training, and supervising the staff, and it also had the obligation of ensuring juvenile inmates were safe from abuse and assault.
Joliet was plagued by various issues during its years in operation, including rampant abuse of juvenile inmates. In 2011, a staff member at IYC Joliet was charged and convicted for assaulting a juvenile inmate at the facility and sentenced to 6 years in prison. IYC Joliet was officially closed as a youth detention center in 2013 and it has since been converted into an adult jail.
Lawsuits Allege Abuse at IYC Joliet
A group of former juvenile inmates at IYC Joliet and other Illinois juvenile detention centers recently filed a civil lawsuit, claiming they were subjected to sexual abuse during their incarceration. The lawsuit alleges that various staff members at these institutions committed sexual abuse and assault against the plaintiffs while they were detained.
This lawsuit underscores a longstanding issue of abuse at IYC Joliet and other Illinois juvenile correctional facilities. The Department of Justice ranked Illinois among the worst states in the U.S. for incidents of inmate abuse in juvenile correctional facilities. The DOJ report spurred state legislative hearings and investigations, which revealed a high rate of reported abuse, primarily perpetrated by staff members.
Abuse Victims at IYC Joliet Can Get Compensation
Under Illinois law, anyone who was subjected to sexual abuse during the time that they were an inmate at IYC Joliet has the right to file a civil lawsuit against Illinois DJJ and seek financial compensation for the harm caused by the abuse. The Illinois statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits gives victims additional time to bring claims. For abuse of a child that occurred anytime after 2014, the victim has until their 38th birthday to file a lawsuit. For child sexual abuse that occurred prior to 2014, the victim has until their 28th birthday to file a lawsuit.
What Constitutes Sexual Abuse?
sexual assault or sexual abuse is defined as sexual touching or contact without the other person’s consent and for the purpose of sexual gratification. In the context of a civil lawsuit, sexual abuse or assault is often referred to as sexual battery. There are two key elements that must be present to meet the definition of sexual abuse in Illinois. First, the contact or touching must be intentionally done for the purpose of sexual gratification.
The second essential element is the lack of consent. For intentional sexual touching to qualify as abuse or assault, it must be done without mutual consent. Under Illinois law, minors under the age of 18 cannot give consent to sexual touching. Any sexual contact with a minor by an adult is automatically considered sexual battery. So any sexual contact by an adult staff member with a juvenile inmate at IYC Joliet would be considered sexual abuse.
Suing the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice for Sexual Abuse
The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) had full and legal responsibility for everything that went on at IYC Joliet and the other secure juvenile detention centers in Illinois. DJJ was responsible for the screening and hiring staff members, training those staff members and ensuring proper supervision of the staff and the inmate population. These measures are critical to protect vulnerable youth inmates from abuse.
Legally, DJJ had a duty to protect juvenile inmates at its facilities from sexual abuse. DJJ can therefore be held liable in a civil lawsuit if its negligence enabled specific acts of abuse to occur. All the plaintiff needs to do is show that there was a link between negligent conduct by DJJ and the sexual abuse.
Thanks to recent investigations and civil lawsuits, there is now a growing mountain of evidence demonstrating the various ways in which DJJ was negligent in its efforts to protect juvenile inmates from sexual abuse. Specifically, we know that DJJ habitually and consistently ignored complaints from inmates and their families about abuse by staff members. The general policy at DJJ was to ignore or downplay all accusations of abuse made against staff members and protect their own. This ultimately created a culture in which sexual predators on the staff at IYC Juliet had free range to victimize inmates.
Contact Us About IYC Joliet Sex Abuse Lawsuits
If you are thinking about bringing a sexual abuse lawsuit against a juvenile detention facility like the Illinois Youth Center Joliet, contact our sex abuse lawyers today for free consultation. Contact us online or call us at 800-553-8082