A juvenile detention center is meant to be a place where young people who’ve made mistakes can get the help and structure they need. But sometimes, the very people in charge of caring for these kids turn out to be the ones who hurt them.
Unfortunately, many young people in these detention centers experience sexual abuse by the very staff members who are supposed to protect them. If this happens, the survivor has the right to file a juvenile detention center sexual abuse lawsuit.
But how do courts decide how much money should be awarded? That’s what we’ll be discussing in this article.
Common Forms of Abuse in Juvenile Detention Centers
Unfortunately, there are many different forms of sexual abuse that happen in juvenile detention centers. Some of the most common types of abuse include.
- Rape: This is the most extreme form of abuse, where a staff member forces sexual acts on a juvenile. Even if the juvenile does not resist, the law always considers this non-consensual.
- Indecent Exposure: Sometimes, detainees are forced to be exposed in degrading ways to staff or other inmates.
- Inappropriate Touching: This could include staff touching a juvenile in sexually inappropriate ways, for example, touching their private parts or groping them.
- Harassment: Even non-physical harassment can cause emotional harm, and this might be included in the abuse claims.
The Factors That Determine Compensation in a Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Here are some of the factors that are taken into account before the court agrees on the compensation the victim deserves.
The Severity of the Abuse
The first thing that really matters in figuring out compensation is how serious the abuse was. If the abuse was really bad, meaning it wasn’t just a one-time thing, and it caused a lot of damage to the person, the compensation would be higher to match that damage.
For example, let’s say a young person was repeatedly assaulted by a staff member over a long time. This kind of abuse can leave physical scars, like bruises or even infections, but the biggest impact often comes from the emotional and psychological damage. This might show up as anxiety, depression, or even PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), and sometimes these feelings can stick around for years.
If the person needs therapy for a long time, or even for the rest of their life, that extra cost gets added to their compensation.
Age of the Victim
Another major factor in how much compensation someone gets is how old they were when the abuse happened. Kids and younger teens are usually more vulnerable and affected in much deeper ways than older teens.
If a young child, say someone under 12, was abused in a detention center, their emotional and psychological recovery could take a lot longer and be more difficult. Younger kids have a harder time understanding what happened to them, and the trauma can mess with their ability to trust, form relationships, or even feel safe.
Emotional and Psychological Impact
We know that physical injuries can heal over time, but the emotional scars from sexual abuse can last forever. The trauma caused by the abuse can lead to long-term mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Many survivors struggle with trust; they find it hard to form healthy relationships, and they might always feel unsafe in the world around them.
Duration of the Abuse
Another thing that really impacts the compensation is how long the abuse lasted. If it was just one incident, it’s bad enough, but when abuse goes on for months or even years, it’s a whole different level of harm.
In cases where the abuse went on unchecked, especially if the detention center or staff ignored complaints or failed to act, the amount of compensation is usually higher because the institution didn’t do its job to protect the kids.