HARRISBURG - Former residents at state-run juvenile detention facilities have sued the Department of Human Services, claiming it ignored data showing "rampant" sexual abuse.
A lawsuit has been filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County by 15 plaintiffs against the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
The plaintiffs, represented by attorney John Guinan from Levy Konigsberg LLP, allege that they were subjected to sexual abuse while confined in state-run juvenile detention facilities.
The abuse allegedly occurred over a span of more than 15 years and involved guards, counselors, and other staff members.
The complaint alleges horrific accounts of sexual harassment, assault and rape endured by the plaintiffs during their time at facilities such as Loysville Youth Development Center, North Central Secure Treatment Unit, and South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit.
Despite reports and federal investigations highlighting high rates of sexual abuse in these facilities, Pennsylvania officials allegedly failed to take appropriate action to protect the children.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for physical, psychological, and emotional injuries resulting from the alleged abuse. They claim that the Commonwealth's negligence allowed a culture of exploitation and violence to persist within its juvenile detention system.