Lawsuit Information Center
On this page we will look at civil lawsuits alleging that juvenile detainees and foster children at VisionQuest facilities were sexually abused by staff members. If you were sexually abused at a VisionQuest facility, you may be able to get financial compensation. Call us today at 800-553-8082.
About VisionQuest
VisionQuest provides residential treatment and mentoring for troubled and dependent minors or juvenile delinquents. A juvenile delinquent is a young person engaging in behavior that would be considered criminal if done by an adult. Juveniles whose legal guardians are unable or unwilling to care for them may be placed in foster care through a dependency proceeding initiated by the state.
Foster care is just one of the many services VisionQuest offers to children needing a safe place after being removed from their biological families. The company also offers services for unaccompanied children, community-based services, and functional family therapy. However, most allegations against VisionQuest relate to the treatment of children deemed delinquent and subsequently placed in their care.
VisionQuest is basically a private contractor in the field of foster and juvenile care. VisionQuest contracts with state government agencies such as the Department of Juvenile Services or the Department of Health. Through these contracts the state essentially pays VisionQuest to provide various services such as foster care, therapy, and juvenile groups homes. These are services that the state has an obligation to provide but for efficiency purposes it contracts in out to VisionQuest.
Although it holds itself out almost as a public charity, VisionQuest is a for-profit company. Their first priority is making money, not helping needy children. Still, VisionQuest assumes legal obligations to safeguard children under its care.
Vision Quest Has Facilities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Arizona, and Texas
VisionQuest runs or has run residential treatment programs in various states across the country. VisionQuest juvenile facilities have been (or still are) operated in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, and Texas for youths who have been found to be delinquent.
Residents in each of these states have accused staff at VisionQuest locations of engaging in pervasive patterns of abuse.
Juvenile Residents Allege Sexual Abuse By VisionQuest Staff
A growing number of former juvenile residents at VisionQuest facilities across the country are now coming forward and revealing that they were sexually abused by staff members employed by VisionQuest.
Former VisionQuest residents are now claiming that VisionQuest was negligent in failing to protect them and they are going public with stories of the terrible abuses they suffered. Allegations include sexually abusing and sexually assault juvenile residents, physically restraining children, and the use of excessive force.
VisionQuest has a legal duty to its residents to guarantee their safety, since it is in the business of caring for children and preparing them for successful, independent adulthood. Any allegation of physical or sexual abuse that can be proven is a clear breach of this obligation, and victims may hold VisionQuest financially responsible for their damages.
VisionQuest Victims Can File Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Anyone who experienced physical or sexual abuse at a VisionQuest facility may be eligible to file a sexual abuse injury claim against the organization. Victims of sexual abuse at VisionQuest can get significant compensation for the emotional harm and long-term damage caused by the abuse.
Numerous lawsuits have been filed against VisionQuest, alleging gross negligence, abuse, and mistreatment of the youth in their care. Reports and legal complaints have highlighted a troubling culture within the organization where abuse, both physical and sexual, is allegedly widespread. Staff members have been accused of inappropriate behavior, and the company has been criticized for failing to adequately screen, train, and supervise its employees.
Former residents and employees have described VisionQuest facilities as environments where punitive measures are excessively used and where children are subjected to harsh and sometimes abusive treatment. The company has also been accused of neglecting to report instances of abuse to the proper authorities, further endangering the vulnerable youth under its care. Despite these allegations, VisionQuest has continued to operate, maintaining a presence in several states, including Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Settlement Value of VisionQuest Sex Abuse Cases
Child sexual abuse lawsuits tend to have a very high potential settlement value because the emotionally charged nature of these cases makes going to trial very risky for defendants. Sex abuse lawsuits tend to be highly unique in their individual circumstances, however, with no two cases having the same potential value.
There are certain key factors in each sex abuse case that tend to drive the potential settlement value of the claim. These factors include:
- Abuse Severity: The severity of the acts of sexual abuse make the biggest different in terms of settlement value. Cases involving numerous acts of violent, forcible rape over a long period of time are going to be worth much more than a case involving a single incident of sexual touching or groping.
- Age of the Victim: The younger the victim was at the time of the sexual abuse, the higher the settlement value of the case usually is. This doesn’t mean that a 16 year can’t have a high value case, it just depends on the circumstances.
- Evidence: In most sex abuse cases, the only evidence of the abuse is the testimony of the victim – and there is certainly nothing wrong with that – cases based solely on victim statements and nothing else can be strong claims and demand big settlements. However, it will always make the claim strong (and therefore have a higher value) if the victim’s story can be backed up by some type of evidence (e.g., a witness to the abuse, video, texts or emails, etc.).
Contact Us About VisionQuest Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Our national sex abuse lawyers are actively seeking VisionQuest sex abuse cases. If you were sexually abused while under the care of a VisionQuest facility, call us today at 800-553-8082 for a free case evaluation, or contact us online.