Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF) Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in San Diego

The Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF) in San Diego was supposed to offer structure, care, and a second chance to court-involved girls. Instead, civil lawsuits and survivor accounts reveal a deeply troubling reality: a facility that allowed sworn officers to use their positions of authority to sexually exploit the very minors they were charged with protecting.

As more survivors come forward, a clearer picture has emerged of a juvenile justice system plagued by abuse, cover-ups, and systemic failures. These lawsuits seek to hold the County of San Diego and the San Diego Probation Department accountable for the sexual assaults that allegedly occurred under their watch.

A Culture of Abuse at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF)

The Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF) is a juvenile detention center located at 2861 Meadow Lark Drive, San Diego, CA 92123. Operated by the San Diego County Probation Department, GRF opened in 1990 with the goal of providing court-involved girls with structure, rehabilitation, and a second chance. The 50-bed facility housed girls ranging from approximately 13 to 18 years old—many of whom entered the system due to family instability, trauma, or low-level offenses.

But for far too many young women placed in Girls Rehabilitation Facility custody, the facility became the site of systemic abuse, coercion, and betrayal. Recent lawsuits allege a disturbing pattern of sexual misconduct committed by correctional officers and probation staff, revealing a deeply flawed system that failed the very children it was meant to protect.

Abuse Behind Locked Doors

Girls detained at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility were uniquely vulnerable. Isolated from family and advocates, they lived under strict supervision and control—yet the staff assigned to care for them were given unsupervised, intimate access, particularly during strip searches, showers, late-night room checks, and disciplinary interactions. According to survivor complaints, these moments were repeatedly exploited by some officers for sexual gratification.

One survivor, for example, has alleged that a uniformed officer groped her genitalia under the pretense of handing her a broom. When she reported the incident, the officer in question wasn’t disciplined—he was merely transferred to a different unit, a decision that survivors say enabled continued abuse of other girls.

A Climate of Grooming, Threats, and Retaliation

Multiple survivors describe patterns of grooming, where staff members gradually normalized inappropriate behavior and blurred boundaries through compliments, excessive attention, or veiled threats. When girls resisted or reported abuse, they were allegedly met with retaliation: loss of privileges, transfers, threats, or indifference.

Staff allegedly took advantage of the power imbalance inherent in youth detention. Complaints were often dismissed, ignored, or deliberately buried. Some survivors say they were told they wouldn’t be believed, especially when accusing sworn officers. Surveillance cameras were reportedly not reviewed or used to corroborate claims, further allowing predatory behavior to persist unchecked.

Systemic Failure and County Accountability

Like other San Diego juvenile facilities, Girls Rehabilitation Facility was legally required to provide a “safe and supportive home-like environment” under California’s Welfare and Institutions Code. However, lawsuits allege that county officials failed to meet even the most basic standards of care, instead tolerating misconduct through lax supervision, negligent hiring, and a failure to act on credible allegations.

As early as 2014, the Youth Law Center filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice, flagging serious civil rights violations in San Diego’s juvenile detention system—including noncompliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). PREA sets national standards for preventing, detecting, and responding to sexual abuse in confinement settings. Violations cited included insufficient staff-to-youth ratios and inappropriate supervision of youth on suicide watch by staff of the opposite sex.

Despite these warnings, allegations of sexual assault at GRF and other facilities continued for years—suggesting a broader culture of indifference and institutional protectionism that prioritized the system’s image over children’s safety.

Part of a Larger Pattern Across San Diego Facilities

The abuse at GRF is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader pattern of alleged misconduct across San Diego’s juvenile facilities. Officers named in lawsuits—such as Officers Radovich, Gonzales, and Weatherspoon—are accused of sexually assaulting boys and girls at multiple county-run centers, including:

• Camp Barrett (closed in 2018)
• Rancho Del Campo Juvenile Ranch (closed)
• East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (EMJDF)
• Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (KMJDF)
• Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF)

According to court filings, these officers used the same tactics: isolating victims, exploiting their emotional vulnerability, and weaponizing their roles as guardians and authority figures. These were not single incidents. Many survivors describe repeated abuse over the course of months or even years.

Legal Allegations Against the County of San Diego

The lawsuits allege that San Diego County is liable for:

• Negligent hiring, training, and supervision of known or suspected abusers.
• Failure to provide a safe environment as required under California law and the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
• Civil rights violations under the Bane Act and Gender Violence Act.
• Vicarious liability for the sexual abuse committed by staff acting under color of authority.

Plaintiffs argue that the County not only failed to prevent abuse but actively concealed or ignored complaints, contributing to a culture of impunity. The Youth Law Center even flagged San Diego’s juvenile system to the U.S. Department of Justice for civil rights violations in 2014, citing PREA noncompliance and unsafe conditions—including opposite-gender staff conducting strip searches and supervising vulnerable youth.

California Statute of Limitations for GRF Sex Abuse Lawsuits

If you were sexually abused while in custody at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility in San Diego, your right to file a civil lawsuit may still be valid—even if the abuse happened years ago. California has expanded its statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse, giving many people a new opportunity to pursue justice.

But there is still a statute of limitations you have to get past.  The statute of limitations is the legal deadline for filing a civil lawsuit. If you wait too long and the deadline expires, you may lose the right to sue—even if the abuse happened and even if there is strong evidence.

California law provides different time limits depending on whether the abuse occurred when the victim was a child or an adult.

Civil Lawsuits for Childhood Sexual Abuse at GRF

Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1, if you were under the age of 18 at the time you were sexually abused at GRF, you can generally file a lawsuit any time before your 40th birthday. This is based on changes to California law passed in recent years that give childhood sexual abuse survivors more time to come forward..

Who We Can Help in GRF Sex Abuse Cases

We want to help every survivor who reaches out. No one should have to carry the pain of abuse alone—and every survivor deserves to be heard, believed, and supported. But we are sometimes limited by California law and the evidence requirements needed to move a case forward in court.

To ensure we can provide the strongest support possible, our sex abuse lawyers focus on cases that meet the following criteria. If you are unsure whether you qualify, contact us. We will listen and do our best to point you in the right direction.

Our Girls Rehabilitation Facility Sex Abuse Eligibility Criteria

We are currently reviewing San Diego detention center sex abuse lawsuits for survivors who meet the following:

1. You were sexually abused at one of the San Diego County juvenile facilities, including:
   • Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF)
   • Rancho Del Campo
   • East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
   • Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
   • Camp Barrett
2. You were under 18 years old at the time the abuse occurred.
3. The abuse was committed by:
   • A staff member, such as a probation officer, correctional officer, counselor, or other adult working at the facility; or
   • Another resident or youth in custody, during a time when staff were responsible for your safety.
4. You can identify the perpetrator by name, or you can describe them in detail, such as:
   • Their appearance
   • The job or position they held
   • Your interactions with them or how they had access to you
5. The abuse happened in 2009 or later.
   (If the abuse occurred before 2009, it may fall outside the legal time limit. Please still reach out if you’re unsure.)
6. You are currently under 40 years old. (Really, 39 years and eight months in practical term.)
7. You are not currently represented by another attorney for this specific abuse claim.
8. You have not previously signed a contract with another law firm related to this case.

We Are Here to Help

Our team of attorneys is committed to seeking justice for those who were sexually abused while in juvenile detention in San Diego County. We understand how difficult it can be to come forward. That is why we’ve created a confidential, trauma-informed intake process to support survivors every step of the way. We want to make this easy and painless as possible for you.

If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility —or any San Diego juvenile facility—please contact us. You may have the right to file a civil lawsuit and pursue compensation, but legal deadlines apply. Our lawyers are here to listen and help you understand your options.

Contact Us

Reach out to us confidentially by calling 800-553-8082 or visiting our confidential online contact page.