Take the first step toward justice and healing.
Thousands of individuals who were once held in California juvenile detention centers have come forward to report sexual abuse and mistreatment while in state custody. If you were abused while confined in a youth detention facility or probation camp, you may have legal options.
For years, abuse within the California juvenile detention system went unreported or ignored, leaving individuals who experienced sexual abuse without justice. Recent changes to California law have reopened the door for people to take action, allowing those harmed in juvenile detention or probation camps to seek compensation for the trauma they endured.
These juvenile detention lawsuits aim to hold detention facilities and supervising agencies accountable for allegedly failing to protect children in their care.
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse while in youth detention, you can take the first step toward accountability by completing the confidential form on this page. Your information is kept private and will only be used to determine if you qualify for legal action.
Who qualifies for a juvenile detention lawsuit?
If you experienced sexual abuse as a child or teenager while held in a California juvenile detention center or probation camp, you may be eligible to pursue a juvenile detention lawsuit.
Due to recent changes in state law, many individuals who experienced abuse now have additional time to come forward. Individuals under age 40 may still be eligible to file a claim, even if the abuse occurred years ago.
Please fill out the form on this page. Share only what you feel comfortable providing. Your information will be kept confidential and used solely for legal purposes.
Fill out the form on this page for more information.
The law firms responsible for the content of this page are: Dolman Law Group, Accident Injury Lawyers, PA; Clearwater, Florida; 866-481-5347; dolmanlaw.com and LegaFi Law LLC (an Arizona law firm), 888-4-LegaFi, www.legafi.com.
What are the California juvenile detention lawsuits?
The California juvenile detention lawsuit refers to multiple legal claims filed by people who experienced sexual abuse while held in juvenile detention centers, probation camps and other state-run youth facilities.
Many individuals are unable to come forward right away. In some cases, it takes years — or even decades — before individuals feel ready to report abuse or pursue legal action. Historically, strict statutes of limitations prevented some people from seeking justice or compensation for the harm they suffered.
That changed in 2019 when California introduced Assembly Bill 218, significantly expanding the time individuals have to file child sexual abuse claims. As a result, thousands of individuals have come forward to report abuse in the California juvenile detention system, leading to a surge in lawsuits across the state.
California juvenile settlements and possible compensation
California courts are now addressing thousands of sexual abuse lawsuits involving juvenile detention centers, marking a significant shift toward accountability for harm suffered by children in state custody.
Recent California juvenile settlements approved in Los Angeles County underscore the scope and seriousness of these cases:
- April 2025: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $4 billion juvenile sexual abuse settlement, which will be distributed among more than 6,800 individuals who reported abuse while in juvenile detention facilities.
- October 2025: The Board of Supervisors approved an additional $828 million settlement to resolve allegations that staff at California juvenile detention centers, foster care facilities and probation camps sexually abused individuals in their care.
These settlements represent a major development for individuals who are considering a juvenile detention lawsuit in California. While every case is different and compensation depends on individual circumstances, these resolutions demonstrate that these voices are being heard — and that justice and meaningful compensation may be possible.
How to join a California juvenile detention sexual abuse lawsuit
If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse while held in a California juvenile detention center, you are not alone — and you may have legal options.
Filing a juvenile detention lawsuit may help expose systemic failures, hold responsible agencies accountable and provide compensation for the pain and trauma endured.
To get started, please share your experience using the form on this page. Your responses will remain strictly confidential and will only be used to determine whether you qualify for potential legal action.
We understand how difficult this can be. Sharing your story can be a powerful first step toward healing, justice and change.
Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.
See If You Qualify
Join a California juvenile detention sexual abuse lawsuit investigation
Filling out this form is quick and easy. It only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify.
After you fill out the form, an attorney(s) or their agent(s) may contact you to discuss your legal rights.
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PAID ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT: THIS WEB PAGE IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND THE PARTICIPATING ATTORNEY(S) ARE INCLUDED BECAUSE THEY PAY AN ADVERTISING FEE. Top Class Actions is not a law firm, lawyer referral service, or prepaid legal services plan. We do not endorse or recommend any third-party claims processing company, lawyer, or law firm who participates in the network. We do not make any representation, and have not made any judgment, as to the qualifications, expertise, or credentials of any participating lawyer or processing group. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services or claims processing to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services or claims processing performed by other lawyers or claims processing group. The information contained herein is not legal advice. Any information you submit to Top Class Actions does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be protected by attorney-client privilege because Top Class Actions is not a law firm. Instead, your information will be forwarded to an attorney(s) or their agent(s) or a claims processing firm for the purpose of a confidential review and potential representation if you qualify. You will only be contacted by an attorney(s) or their agent(s) in response to your inquiry if your initial information appears to qualify you for representation. If you are not contacted by an attorney(s) or their agent(s) within one week, you should consult another firm since all legal claims are subject to filing deadlines. All photos on this website are stock art and do not depict clients.
