Lawsuit Information Center
The Polinsky Children’s Center, a temporary shelter for children in San Diego County, is now at the center of over 100 lawsuits alleging decades of sexual abuse. The facility, which was meant to provide a safe haven for children removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse, is now accused of failing to protect them from horrific mistreatment within its own walls.
Survivors who lived at the facility between 1994 and 2020 have come forward with allegations that staff members, older residents, and others repeatedly sexually abused them while they were in custody. The lawsuits describe a range of abuse, from molestation and groping to violent sexual assault. Many survivors say that their reports were ignored or dismissed by those in charge, and some claim they were threatened with further abuse if they spoke up.
The lawsuits argue that the County of San Diego, which operates the facility, failed in its responsibility to protect the children in its care. Allegations include the failure to conduct thorough background checks on employees, a lack of supervision that allowed abuse to go unchecked, and a culture of silence that discouraged victims from coming forward. In some cases, survivors claim that known abusers continued working at the facility even after concerns were raised about their behavior.
About the Polinsky Children’s Center
The A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center in San Diego is an emergency shelter facility for juveniles and younger children who are separated from their parents and have no other relatives to take them in. The Polinsky Center is designed to be a very short-term care facility. Children are typically sent to Polinsky for one of two reasons: (1) they are removed from the custody of their parent(s) for their own protection, or (2) their parent(s) are not able to care for them because they are incapacitated, in jail, etc.
The Polinsky Center is located on Ruffin County in San Diego. The facility is constructed on land that was donated by San Diego County. The Polinsky Center is not a state or county facility. The facility is funded by private donations from the Promises2Kids foundation. The Polinsky Center can accommodate up to 204 youth residents at a time. It has 6 “cottages” as well as school and recreational facilities.
Patterns of Abuse and Neglect
Many of the survivors say they were targeted because they had nowhere else to go. The Polinsky Children’s Center houses children of all ages, including infants and teenagers, who have been removed from unsafe home environments. Some children only stay for a short time before being placed in foster care, while others remain for extended periods. According to the lawsuits, this created an opportunity for abusive staff members to prey on vulnerable children with little fear of consequences.
Court filings describe instances where children as young as two years old were sexually assaulted at the facility. Survivors allege that some staff members would target specific children and take them to isolated areas such as storage closets, bathrooms, and medical rooms to assault them. Others say they were forced to endure repeated abuse inside their dormitories while other children slept nearby.
One of the most troubling aspects of these allegations is that multiple lawsuits claim the abuse was not isolated or random, but part of a larger pattern that lasted for decades. The complaints describe an institutional failure that allowed known predators to continue working at the center, despite warning signs and multiple opportunities for intervention.
Investigations and Legal Actions
Although survivors have been coming forward for years, it was not until recently that legal action began to gain momentum. In 2020, California passed a law allowing survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits up until the age of 40, or within five years of realizing the impact of their abuse. This change in the law has opened the door for many former residents of Polinsky Children’s Center to finally seek justice.
In 2024, an inspection report from the San Diego County Juvenile Justice Commission revealed multiple allegations of staff physically assaulting, verbally threatening, and inappropriately touching children in their care. The report documented 37 separate investigations into allegations of physical and sexual abuse at the facility that year alone. Of those cases, only three were officially substantiated, raising questions about how many incidents went unaddressed.
High Volume of Child Residents
One thing that makes the Polinsky Center different from other juvenile facilities is the high volume of children who passed through the center over nearly three decades. With an average of 60 to 90 children staying at Polinsky Children’s Center at any given time, and over 100 new children admitted each month, the total number of minors who cycled through the facility over the years is significant.
So far, there have been 100 reported cases of sexual abuse at Polinsky Center. However, the very high volume of children who come in and out of Polinsky every year means that 100 is probably just the tip of the iceberg.
What These Lawsuits Mean
The lawsuits against Polinsky Children’s Center are not just about individual acts of abuse. They are about a system that failed to protect children in its custody. The survivors argue that the county was responsible for their safety but instead placed them in a facility where abuse was not only possible, but common.
The legal actions seek to hold the county accountable for allowing the abuse to occur and to provide financial compensation to survivors for the trauma they have endured. While no amount of money can undo the harm that was done, these lawsuits are a way for survivors to demand justice and ensure that no other child has to suffer in the same way.
For decades, the children at Polinsky Children’s Center were told that they were being placed in a safe environment. According to the survivors who have come forward, that could not have been further from the truth.
Deadline for Polinsky Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Under California’s recently revised law, victims of child sexual abuse now have a very long time to file a civil lawsuit. If the abuse occurred AFTER January 1, 2024, there is no statute of limitations deadline at for a civil lawsuit involving child sexual abuse.
For sexual abuse that occurred before January 1, 2024, the abuse victim has until their 40th birthday to file a civil lawsuit. However, that deadline can potentially be extended if the victim can show that they did not “discovery” the injury caused by the sexual abuse until later (due to repressed memories).
What Qualifies as “Sexual Abuse”?
Sexual abuse is any form of non-consensual sexual contact or touching. Sexual touching is any contact with sexual organs done with the intent to obtain sexual gratification. In cases involving minors (under the age of 18), consent is not an issue because minors cannot legally give consent to sexual contact, period. This is not a gray area. It is a fundamental legal protection that exists because children are inherently vulnerable to exploitation. Any adult who engages in sexual contact with a minor is committing an act of abuse under California law, no matter the circumstances.
Settlement Value of Polinsky Center Sex Abuse Cases
California sex abuse lawsuits against facilities like the Polinsky Center are evaluated for settlement based on several key factors. These considerations help determine the potential settlement amount and the likelihood of reaching an agreement between the parties.
- Strength of the Evidence: The quality and availability of evidence supporting the victim’s claims play a critical role in the case’s success. Stronger evidence increases the likelihood of a higher settlement, as defendants often seek to avoid the risk of a large trial verdict. While having other victims come forward against the same perpetrator is not necessary for a strong claim, it can significantly strengthen the case.
- Severity of the Abuse: The nature and extent of the abuse have a direct impact on settlement amounts. More severe or prolonged abuse often results in higher compensation due to the greater emotional and psychological harm inflicted on the victim. However, even a single incident can have lifelong effects and warrant substantial damages.
- Statute of Limitations: While California has extended the statute of limitations for sex abuse lawsuits, allowing survivors more time to file claims, the age of the case can still impact the settlement. Older cases may face challenges such as fading memories, unavailable witnesses, or lost evidence, all of which can influence settlement negotiations.
- Damages: The victim’s damages—such as emotional distress, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages—are central to determining settlement amounts. Among these, pain and suffering typically constitute the largest portion of any settlement.
- Facility Negligence: The degree of negligence or wrongdoing by the Polinsky Center in a specific case will significantly affects settlement value. If administrators at the facility were aware of the abuse or ignored warning signs, this can increase liability.
Each case is unique, but these factors collectively shape the negotiation process and the final settlement amount in California sex abuse lawsuits against facilities like the Polinsky Center.
Contact Us About Polinsky Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits
If you were sexually abused at the Polinsky Center in San Diego, contact our California sex abuse lawyers today. Get a free no-obligation consultation online or call us today at 800-553-8082.