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Illinois Faces Massive Lawsuit Over Decades of Alleged Abuse in Youth Detention Centers

Ninety-five plaintiffs seek justice for systemic sexual abuse claims spanning from 1996 to 2017.

The office building at 100 North Western Avenue in Chicago, on Monday, May 6, 2024, where an office of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice is located. Child sexual abuse at Illinois juvenile detention centers was pervasive and systemic for decades, according to disturbing accounts in a lawsuit filed Monday by 95 men and women housed at youth centers as children. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
This photo made 11 June, 2002 shows the Cook County Juvenile Center that houses the youth detention center.
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D. Todd Mathews, the lead counsel at the law firm Bailey & Glasser LLP, right, speaks during a press conference with attorneys and abuse survivors on May 7 in Chicago.

Overview

  • The lawsuit implicates Illinois state agencies and staff in failing to prevent or address abuse at nine detention facilities.
  • Victims report enduring severe sexual misconduct by various staff members, including counselors and chaplains.
  • Historical abuse allegations were often ignored, with victims facing threats or bribes to ensure silence.
  • Recent reforms and safety protocols claim to address past oversights, but skepticism remains among advocates.
  • Survivors express empowerment and solidarity through legal action, demanding $2 million each in damages.