People's Justice

Injury guide

Sex abuse of children held in detention

If you were sexually abused while held as a child, ask about care and a claim check. A national survey does not decide what happened to you.

See If You Qualify

Free · No obligation · About 2 minutes

Updated Oct 4, 202615 sources

This may apply to you if

  • Tell the lawyer which youth facility you were held in and your age at the time of the harm.
  • Explain the harm you want reviewed in your own words.
  • Ask which law applies to the type of harm, where it happened and when it happened.

What the public record says

These are cited sources. Their inclusion does not imply that they endorse People’s Justice or reviewed this page.

Bureau of Justice Statistics · Federal statistical agency publishing the youth survey report

Finding: The 2018 youth survey recorded reports of staff sexual misconduct and abuse by other youth. Historical survey data do not decide an individual claim.

BJS youth survey, 2018 data (opens in a new tab) · Dec 11, 2019 · Checked Oct 3, 2026

The evidence and its limits

Bureau of Justice Statistics · 2019

Youth reports in the 2018 custody survey

Design:
Other study design
Participants:
6,049 analyzed youth interviews in 327 juvenile facilities; weighted cross-sectional self-report survey.
Finding:
Youth reported staff sexual misconduct and sexual abuse by other youth during the survey period.
Main limitation
Historical survey estimates; sampling and reporting limits. Not a clinical causal trial, current rate in every facility or proof of one claim.

Read the source: Youth reports in the 2018 custody survey (opens in a new tab) · Checked Oct 3, 2026

The short answer

What is sexual abuse in youth detention?
Federal standards address sexual abuse by staff and by other youth. A survey records reports, not a ruling on your case. Describe what happened without trying to fit a statistic. [9]
When should I ask a doctor for help?
RAINN can help you find care after sexual assault. Ask a provider about injuries, concerns and follow-up. Care is separate from deciding a civil claim. [11]
How do I ask about an exam and treatment?
RAINN describes an exam as a choice. A trained nurse can check injuries and explain aftercare. Ask what each part of the visit involves. [11]
What does the youth survey research show?
The federal survey concerns reports made in 2018. It includes staff misconduct and abuse by other youth. It does not prove your claim or today’s conditions everywhere. [9]

What rules a case out

Not covered by this case

  • This page does not decide your diagnosis, right to sue, filing date or payment.

The process

What happens next

  1. 01

    You answer a few questions

    About two minutes. Nothing is sent until you agree on the last step and press submit.

  2. 02

    A lawyer looks at it

    A lawyer at the firm reads your answers and checks them against the current case criteria.

  3. 03

    The firm decides and gets in touch

    If the firm takes your case, you get the terms in writing to read before you sign. You can always say no.

When it fits this case

  • Tell the lawyer which youth facility you were held in and your age at the time of the harm.
  • Explain the harm you want reviewed in your own words.
  • Ask which law applies to the type of harm, where it happened and when it happened.
  • Do not assume that a county agreement or the end of an older window decides your claim.

What is sexual abuse in youth detention?

Federal standards address sexual abuse by staff and by other youth. A survey records reports, not a ruling on your case. Describe what happened without trying to fit a statistic.

Tell a trusted provider or lawyer the facility, approximate dates and what you want help with. You do not need to repeat graphic details in a public comment. Ask who will hear your account and how it will be used.

When should I ask a doctor for help?

RAINN can help you find care after sexual assault. Ask a provider about injuries, concerns and follow-up. Care is separate from deciding a civil claim.

You can discuss physical and emotional concerns without choosing a legal label first. Ask whether a support person can join you. If you are still held, ask how to reach medical staff safely and describe any fear of retaliation.

How do I ask about an exam and treatment?

RAINN describes an exam as a choice. A trained nurse can check injuries and explain aftercare. Ask what each part of the visit involves.

You can ask what evidence an exam may collect and what happens to it. Do not infer a lawsuit requirement from a medical-care guide. A lawyer can review the facts even when records are incomplete.

What does the youth survey research show?

The federal survey concerns reports made in 2018. It includes staff misconduct and abuse by other youth. It does not prove your claim or today’s conditions everywhere.

The original report uses 6,049 interviews across 327 facilities. It is a survey of eligible youth, not a clinical trial or every child ever detained. Reporting and sample limits matter when comparing a headline with a personal history.

Who may have a claim after childhood abuse?

Ask a lawyer to check the abuse, place and dates. California has different rules for childhood sexual assault before and after 2024. Those laws do not approve every detention claim.

A closed revival period does not alone settle your options. Ask which ordinary time limit, conditions and filing rules apply to your account. Also ask for written fees and expenses before hiring the lawyer.

Which records should I ask about?

Start with care notes and place names you know. The youth rules also cover reports from other people. Ask how to seek and share files safely.

Keep a simple list of existing records and who may hold missing ones. Distinguish your own memory from a document or another person’s account. Ask before requesting a child’s private records or sending a full file to a website.

Scientific evidence for this case

Abuse in youth detention · Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice · 2018Cross-sectional

Sexual Victimization in Juvenile Facilities: Findings from the National Survey of Youth in Custody

9.5% of surveyed youth reported sexual victimization — extrapolated to tens of thousands of victims annually across the juvenile system

Abuse in youth detention · Journal of Traumatic Stress · 2017Cross-sectional

The Prevalence of ICD-11 Complex PTSD Among Survivors of Institutional Abuse

21.4% of institutional abuse survivors met ICD-11 diagnostic criteria for Complex PTSD

Abuse in youth detention · The Quarterly Journal of Economics · 2015Cohort

Long-Term Outcomes of Juvenile Incarceration: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Juvenile incarceration increased the likelihood of adult incarceration by 23 percentage points

Find out where you stand.

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Sources

  1. Section 1, former CCP 340.1(q)–(r)California AB 218, chaptered session law · regulator
  2. Section 1, CCP 340.1(a), (p)California AB 452, chaptered session law · regulator
  3. Subsections (a), (c), (p), (q); effective January 1, 2024California CCP 340.1, current statute · regulator
  4. Subsections (a)(1), (c), (d), (f)–(g), (q); added by SB 558, effective January 1, 2024California CCP 340.11, current statute · regulator
  5. April 4, 2025 notice, paragraphs on approval and allocationLA County April 2025 agreement notice · regulator
  6. November 19, 2025 notice, approval-history paragraphLA County retrospective approval confirmation · regulator
  7. October 28, 2025 recommendation, pages 1–3LA County later proposed agreement board paper · regulator
  8. July 23, 2025 notice, conditions and requested reliefCalifornia Attorney General juvenile-hall motion notice · court
  9. December 2019 report page, abstract and highlightsBJS youth survey, 2018 data · regulator
  10. Contact Us, National Sexual Assault HotlineRAINN contact information
  11. Medical-care and support sectionsRAINN finding medical care
  12. Rule 1.5(b)–(c)ABA model fee rule
  13. Calling 911, emergency assistance911 emergency help · regulator
  14. Juvenile sexual-abuse standards: 28 CFR part 115
  15. BJS 2018 youth survey: original report and methodsBJS 2018 youth survey: original report and methods · regulator

Checked against 13 primary sources by People's Justice editors · Updated

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People's Justice research team · Updated Oct 4, 2026