Lawsuit Information Center
The page examines sexual abuse and assault lawsuits involve juvenile inmates at the New Jersey Training School (a/k/a Jamesburg) juvenile detention facility. The New Jersey Training school has a long and notorious history of victimization and abuse of its juvenile inmates. Now many of these inmates are courageously coming forward to file civil lawsuits and get financial compensation.
If you have a potential sex abuse lawsuit involving the New Jersey Training School, call our New Jersey sex abuse lawyers, today at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.
News & Updates:
July 2024 – Committee Formed to Explore Shutdown of NJTS
The New Jersey Attorney General announced that he has formed a special committee to look into the logistics of shutting down NJTS (and other juvenile detention facilities). The committee will evaluate options and provide recommendations for implementing such a plan.
January 2024 – Governor Vows to Shut Down NJTS
In response to a civil lawsuit brought on behalf of 50 former NJTS inmates alleging that they were sexually abused at the facility, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that he was strongly in favor of shutting down the facility entirely. The State Attorney General followed suit with his own vow to launch an “extensive investigation” into allegations of systemic abuse at NJTS.
June 2022 – Investigative Report on Failed Juvenile System in NJ
A significant investigative report found that New Jersey’s juvenile correction and detention system was a disaster. It explained how NJTS and other facilities were places where juvenile inmates were habitually abused, sexually and physically, and neglected. It also criticized the common practice of putting juvenile inmates in solitary confinement (something that happened primarily at NJTS).
August 2017 – Former NJTS Files Sex Abuse Lawsuit
A former inmate at NJTS filed a civil lawsuit against the state alleging that it negligently failed to protect him from sexual abuse by a correctional officer at the facility. The lawsuit alleged that the female correctional officer bribed and coerced him into a sexual relationship.
About New Jersey Training School
The New Jersey Training School (NJTS) is the biggest state operated juvenile detention center in New Jersey. NJTS can accommodate up to 200 juvenile inmates ranging in age from as young as 12 to as old as 23. NJTS is located in Monroe Township.
NJTS was first opened way back in 1867 as a home for “troubled youth.” Today, NJTS is a highly advanced, modern facility in which juvenile inmates are kept under high level security. Inmates at NJTS are those who have been sentenced to a period of correctional by the courts, so they tend to have long stays compared to local juvenile facilities.
NJTS provides a full range of care, treatment and educational services to its juvenile inmates. It has various “rehabilitation” programs for juvenile detainees. The facility has 7 separate housing units, a school, vocational training center, medical building, and recreation facilities.
Sexual Abuse of Juveniles at NJTS
The New Jersey Training School, also known as Jamesburg, has been plagued by years of scandal involving staff-on-inmate sexual abuse. A scathing U.S. Department of Justice report identified NJTS as one of the worst juvenile detention centers in the country for the sexual victimization of youth inmates.
For decades, reports of staff mistreatment and neglect at NJTS have been consistent. Advocates for juvenile justice reform have pointed to the facility as an example of the systemic failures that exist. Recent lawsuits involving abuse of NJTS inmates are now being filed. These lawsuits show that inmates housed at NJTS were for decades subjected to sexual abuse at the hands of facility staff, who regularly used physical force, threats, and manipulation to take advantage of youth under their care.
Investigations and lawsuits have revealed that sexual abuse of juveniles at NJTS may have been committed by correctional officers, counselors, teachers, and other staff members at the facility. Staff and officers at NJTS have been accused of conducted improper strip searches, violent rapes, and the use of bribes and threats to coerce inmates into sex.
What Qualifies As 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. Lack of consent is one of the 2 key elements of this. Under New Jersey law, minors (anyone under the age of 18) do not have the capacity to give consent to sexual touching with an adult. This means that any sexual contact with a juvenile offender by an adult staff member at NJTS would be considered sexual abuse, regardless of whether the perpetrator thought it was consensual.
Lawsuits for Sexual Abuse of Juvenile Inmates NJTS
NJTS is under the operational control and authority of the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC). The JJC and its administrators have full control over every aspect of the running NJTS. This includes deciding who to hire as correctional officers and staff members at the facility. It also includes training and properly monitoring and supervising staff members at NJTS.
JJC has a legal duty to take reasonable measures to protect juvenile inmates in its custody from sexual abuse and assault. This responsibility extends not only to preventing abuse by staff but also by other inmates. To meet this obligation, JJC was required to implement and enforce policies and procedures designed to safeguard inmates from sexual victimization.
However, growing evidence suggests that JJC systematically failed in this duty. Despite previous reports of abuse, state authorities and facility staff did not take sufficient action to prevent further harm. This negligence included inadequate staff supervision, weak policies, poor employee training, and a failure to implement effective safety measures.
As a result, JJC can be held legally accountable in civil lawsuits. Anyone who suffered sexual abuse while incarcerated in a New Jersey juvenile detention center has the right to file a lawsuit against JJC for negligently allowing the abuse to occur.
Identification of the Abuser
Many victims incorrectly assume that they need to be able to name and/or identify the person who abused or assaulted them in order to bring a sex abuse lawsuit against NJTS. This is actually not true. Many victims of abuse at NJTS are not able to give the name of the staff member that abused them at the facility. In many cases, all the victims have is a general description of the individual and their job or role.
Being able to name a specific individual as the perpetrator of the abuse will certainly make a case much stronger, but it is definitely not necessary. Sex abuse lawsuits against NJTS are based on more general allegations of systemic neglect, which is enough to hold JJC accountable.
Deadline to File Lawsuit for Sex Abuse at NJTS
Thanks to new changes to the statute of limitations laws for civil lawsuits involving sexual abuse of minors, victims at NJTS have a much longer legal deadline to file a lawsuit. Under New Jersey’s new law, victims of child sexual abuse have until their 55th birthday to file a civil lawsuit. Even victims who have already turned 55 may be able to extend their deadline by showing that they did not “become aware” of the abuse until recently due to psychological repression.
Settlement Value of NJTS Sex Abuse Lawsuits
The amount of compensation you can receive from suing JJC and the state for sexual abuse at NJTS depends on several key factors, including:
- Evidence: While a victim’s testimony is often sufficient to prove that abuse occurred, additional evidence can significantly increase the settlement value. Evidence showing that the detention center or its staff were negligent, such as repeated policy failures or inadequate procedures, strengthens the case. Institutions with a history of systemic negligence often face higher liabilities.
- Severity: The level of harm inflicted, including diagnoses of PTSD, depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, plays a significant role in determining the case’s value. Even without objective physical injuries, claims can remain strong, especially with expert testimony from psychologists or psychiatrists regarding the abuse’s impact on the victim.
- Age of the Victim: Younger victims often receive higher settlements due to the abuse’s long-term effects on their development and life.
- Your Lawyer: The lawyer representing the victim can have a major impact on the settlement outcome. Experienced sexual abuse attorneys are skilled at maximizing compensation and negotiating strong settlements.
Contact Us About NJTS Sex Abuse Cases
If you were sexually abused as an inmate at NJTS, you may be able to file a lawsuit and get compensation. Reach out to us online or call 800-553-8082.