East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Countless juvenile inmates at the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility in San Diego may have been victims of sexual abuse due to the negligence of the San Diego County Probation Department. On this page, we will explain how victims of sexual abuse at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Center can file civil lawsuits and get financial settlements.

East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility

East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (“East Mesa” or EMJDF) is a fully secure detention facility for juveniles. EMJDF is located in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego and it is the primary intake and booking facility for all juvenile offenders in San Diego County.

East Mesa has the capacity to hold just under 300 juvenile inmates. Inmates are assigned to 10 separate housing barracks or units with 30-20 inmates each. Inmates at East Mesa receive the full range of educational and health services, including behavioral health and substance abuse treatment.

Most juvenile inmates at East Mesa are short term inmates who are housed at EMJDF temporarily after they have been charged with a crime and while they are awaiting adjudication of their case and assignment to a different facility. EMJDF also accommodates juveniles who are awaiting placement into a treatment program.

Sexual Abuse of Juvenile Inmates in San Diego County

Sexual abuse and victimization of juvenile inmates at detention facilities in San Diego county has been a major problem for a long time. Incidents of sexual abuse of young inmates by staff members and correctional officers at facilities such as EMJDF have been a regular occurrence. Below is a list of the major juvenile detention facilities in San Diego County, all of which have had significant issues with sexual abuse of inmates:

• Camp Barrett: Now closed, this facility in Alpine was the location of many incidents of abuse
• Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (KMJDF): Once one of the biggest long-term facilities, this is now closed.
• Rancho Del Campo Juvenile Ranch: This facility has probably the worst history of sexual and physical abuse of inmates
• East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility: Short-term primary intake facility.
• Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF): Female detention facility.

Inmate Sexual Abuse at East Mesa

East Mesa has suffered from many of the same systemic problems that have plagued all of the San Diego County juvenile detention facilities and directly resulted in the widespread sexual abuse of juvenile inmates. The primary problem was administrative neglect and a lack of monitoring and oversight by the San Diego County Probation Department (SDCPD). SDCPD has operational control and authority over all the County’s juvenile detention facilities, including East Mesa.

Sexual abuse of juvenile inmates at East Mesa has primarily been perpetrated by correctional officers and other staff members at the facility. These

abusers use their positions of power and authority, combined with their unmonitored access, to coerce juvenile inmates into sexual favors. The sexual abuse coercion usually takes the form of threats of physical harm or removal of privileges, combined with extra perks and benefits for cooperation.

SDCPD’s Negligence Enabled the Abuse to Occur

As the agency in charge of East Mesa and other facilities, SDCPC has a legal duty to ensure that juvenile inmates are reasonably safe. This includes keeping them safe from sexual abuse and assault by staff members. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that SDCPD habitually failed in this duty.

One of the primary problems that enabled sexual abuse of inmates to occur was the lack of proper oversight. Correctional officers had almost unlimited private access to juvenile inmates without any type of monitoring or supervision. This gave predatory staff the opportunity to abuse inmates sexually.

The other major shortcoming at East Mesa and other facilities has been a failure to investigate complaints. When juvenile inmates complained about sexual abuse by staff or correctional officers, administration at the facility routinely disregarded or dismissed these complaints without any type of investigation. In some cases, allegations were actually suppressed. The direct result of this was that predatory staff members were allowed to continue abusing inmates without any fear of consequences.

Holding SDCPD Legally Accountable

Civil lawsuits for sexual abuse of juvenile inmates at East Mesa seek to hold SDCPD legally accountable for allow the abuse to occur by forcing the County to pay financial compensation to victims of abuse. SDCPD may be held legally accountable for incidents of sexual abuse if it knew—or reasonably should have known—about the risk of abuse and failed to take appropriate action to prevent it. Establishing liability would require a victim to demonstrate a connection between their abuse and the county’s negligence. This

could involve evidence of ignored complaints about known offenders, or broader institutional failures such as inadequate training, poor supervision, or ineffective safety policies.

Deadline for East Mesa Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Recent changes to California law have significantly extended the time survivors of childhood sexual abuse have to file civil lawsuits, providing greater access to justice.

After January 1, 2024
Under the new law, there is no statute of limitations for civil claims related to childhood sexual abuse. Survivors can now file lawsuits at any point in their lives, regardless of how much time has passed since the abuse occurred.

Before January 1, 2024
The prior statute of limitations still applies to older cases. Victims must file suit by the age of 40, or within five years of discovering

the psychological impact of the abuse—whichever occurs later. If this window has already closed, filing a civil lawsuit may no longer be possible under current law.

Five Factors That Drive Will Juvenile Hall Settlement Payout Amounts for East Mesa Sex Abuse Cases

Lawsuits involving sexual abuse, particularly those tied to youth detention facilities like East Mesa or Santa Maria Juvenile Hall, often lead to substantial financial settlements. This is largely due to the deep and lasting psychological harm suffered by survivors—and the powerful emotional reactions these cases tend to evoke in jurors. Because of this, many defendants opt to settle rather than risk facing a sympathetic jury at trial. The potential settlement value of these claims depends on several critical factors:

1. Level of Harm and Trauma Suffered
The nature and extent of the abuse play a major role in determining compensation. Cases where survivors develop serious psychological conditions—such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic anxiety, or clinical depression—tend to result in higher settlements due to the long-term impact on the individual’s mental health and quality of life.

2. Quality and Availability of Supporting Evidence
While a survivor’s account is often enough to initiate a legal claim, additional forms of evidence can greatly enhance a case. Medical records, disciplinary reports from within the facility, eyewitness statements, or internal investigations can all add credibility and increase the overall value of the lawsuit.

3. Frequency and Duration of the Abuse
Survivors who experienced prolonged abuse or were subjected to multiple incidents often receive larger settlements than those whose experiences involved a single, isolated event. A pattern of abuse reflects greater institutional failure and deeper harm, both of which drive up settlement figures.

4. Whether the Abuser Has Been Identified
It is not necessary for survivors to know or name their abuser in order to pursue legal action. Many individuals who were abused as minors may have little or no memory of the perpetrator. However, when the alleged abuser is known and can be directly linked to the harm, it tends to make the case more compelling and can lead to increased compensation.

5. Age of the Survivor at the Time of Abuse
The age at which the abuse occurred is also a major factor. Young children are particularly vulnerable to emotional and developmental harm, and abuse at an early age can have lifelong consequences. Accordingly, cases involving younger victims often result in higher settlement payouts to account for this extended impact.

Contact Us About East Mesa Juvenile Detention Sex Abuse Lawsuits

You were sexually abused at East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, contact our sex abuse lawyers today for a free consultation. Contact us online or call us at 800-553-8082.

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