Articles Posted in California

This page is for victims looking to bring a civil sex abuse lawsuit who were juvenile inmates at the Sacramento County Boys Ranch, a now-closed detention facility that operated from 1960 to 2010 in Sloughhouse. If you were sexually abused there, our lawyers can review whether you have a claim against Sacramento County for failing to protect you. The facility closed. The questions about what happened to you, and who could have prevented it, still deserve answers.

If you were held at Boys Ranch and sexually abused by a staff member, guard, or counselor, call our California sex abuse lawyers at 800-553-8082 or get a free consultation online. The call is free, the consultation is confidential, and there is no obligation.

What do you need to call us?  All you need is to tell us your story. You do not need a police report or a criminal conviction to sue for compensation. You also do not need to have your old placement records on hand.  Being over 40 doesn’t always mean you cannot file a lawsuit (though our firm only takes cases for victims under 40).

On this page, our national sex abuse lawyers explain what survivors of abuse at Kern County Juvenile Hall need to know about lawsuits, settlement amounts, and potential compensation. Kern County Juvenile Hall, officially known as James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall, is a juvenile detention facility in Bakersfield operated by the Kern County Probation Department.

Former detainees have accused correctional officers at the facility of sexual abuse and misconduct, and survivors have pursued civil lawsuits against Kern County for failing to protect children in its custody.

Our lawyers believe the settlement amounts in serious Kern County Juvenile Hall sex abuse cases could be substantial. Los Angeles County recently agreed to pay more than $4 billion to resolve juvenile hall sex abuse claims, with average payouts approaching $600,000 per survivor. Kern County cases will be evaluated on their own facts, but the Los Angeles settlement provides an important benchmark for institutional abuse claims across California.

San Diego County’s juvenile detention system, including the former Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, has a documented history of sexual abuse, staff misconduct, and institutional failures that left minors vulnerable while in county custody.

For decades, youth held at these facilities were tragically abused by staff members and others in positions of authority, raising serious questions about supervision, oversight, and the county’s ability to protect children it was legally responsible for safeguarding.

Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, which operated for decades as San Diego County’s primary long-term juvenile hall, was under the control of the San Diego County Probation Department. Like other county-run juvenile facilities, it was required to meet basic constitutional standards and comply with laws designed to prevent sexual abuse, including the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Instead, internal reviews, complaints, and later investigations described an environment where reports of abuse were ignored or inadequately investigated, and where staff accused of misconduct were allowed continued access to detained youth.

Women who were incarcerated at Folsom Women’s Facility in Sacramento County, California, are now coming forward with civil claims of sexual abuse and retaliation by correctional staff. The women’s facility operated from 2013 until January 2023, when CDCR deactivated it. Its closure does not erase the abuse women suffered while they were there.

Women describe officials at this CDCR-run facility failing to prevent misconduct, ignoring reports of abuse, and creating an environment where victims were silenced rather than protected. Survivors are pursuing compensation through civil litigation, seeking justice and fair settlements for what happened inside one of California’s lesser-known but deeply troubled women’s prisons.

Though prisons like Chowchilla and Chino receive much of the current spotlight, survivors from Folsom have also begun to step forward with chilling stories of abuse, retaliation, and institutional betrayal.

Survivors of sexual abuse at High Desert Juvenile Detention Center may be able to file civil lawsuits for compensation against San Bernardino County for failing to protect them. Our lawyers are reviewing claims involving staff sexual abuse and failures by the San Bernardino County Probation Department to protect minors in custody. Victims of abuse at High Desert may be eligible for settlement compensation and the opportunity to hold the county accountable.

If you have a potential sex abuse lawsuit involving High Desert Juvenile Detention Center in Apple Valley, California, call our sex abuse lawyers today at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.

Dr. Barry Brock, a longtime OB-GYN affiliated with Cedars-Sinai, is now at the center of a growing sexual abuse scandal that has left hundreds of women seeking justice. As of early January 2025, more than 160 women have come forward, filing lawsuits accusing Dr. Brock of inappropriate and medically unjustifiable behavior during their care.

These sexual assault lawsuits not only name Dr. Barry Brock but also the institutions where he worked, including Cedars-Sinai and other Los Angeles facilities.  Why? Because they failed to protect patients from his predatory behavior. This Dr. Barry Brock lawsuit shows just how medical institutions enabled abuse by ignoring complaints and prioritizing their reputations and their social relationships with their colleagues over patient safety.

If you were one of Dr. Brock’s patients, you likely feel anger, confusion, or betrayal. Many survivors recount invasive exams without gloves, lewd comments about their bodies, and procedures that caused lasting physical and emotional harm. Worse, when some of these concerns were reported to Cedars-Sinai staff, they were dismissed with excuses like, “That’s just how he is.” Such disregard for patient welfare is at the core of institutional sexual abuse lawsuits, where hospitals and clinics must be held accountable for their role in enabling predators.