Connecticut Juvenile Detention Center Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Fighting for Survivors Sexually Abused in CT Youth Detention Facilities

Juvenile detention centers across Connecticut have faced years of scrutiny over failures to protect youth inmates from sexual abuse. This includes the state’s two primary juvenile detention centers, the Juvenile Residential Center at Bridgeport and the Juvenile Residential Center at Hartford, which were subject to sweeping state investigation following incidents of staff-on-inmate sexual abuse.

Now, a growing number of survivors are stepping forward to file civil lawsuits against the Connecticut Department of Correction and other responsible entities that failed to protect them during their stays in state juvenile detention facilities, residential centers, and other facilities that housed youth inmates.

If you or someone you love were sexually abused as a youth inmate in any juvenile detention center in Connecticut, Levy Konigsberg wants to help.

Levy Konigsberg is nationally recognized trial practice with a legacy of litigating sexual abuse lawsuitsagainst powerful institutions, municipalities, and public and private prison systems. We serve survivors statewide and offer FREE and confidential consultations. Call (800) 315-3806 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer.

History of Sexual Abuse in Connecticut Juvenile Detention Centers

Connecticut’s problematic history of sexual abuse and violence within juvenile detention facilities has been documented by high-profile cases, facility closures, and sweeping investigations.

These records detail a systemic abuse problem in youth detention centers statewide and show that the operators of these facilities – including the Connecticut Department of Correction and the Court Support Services Division (CSSD) Juvenile Residential Services (JRS) – enabled a culture of unprofessionalism, secrecy, and cover ups that allowed staff-on-inmate abuse and misconduct to persist for years.

Some examples include:

• In April 2018, former Governor Dannel Malloy announced the closure of the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown following the facility’s dark history of abuse and neglect. Built in 2001 under then Gov. John Rowland, the CT Juvenile Training School had been sharply criticized for failing to provide youth inmates with rehabilitative services, overusing restraints, and having a harsh “prison-like atmosphere” that enabled abuse and misconduct.
• In January 2018, lawmakers from Connecticut’s Committee on Children launched an investigative hearing to probe for answers into allegations of sexual abuse at the state’s two Juvenile Residential Centers. The inquiry followed the arrest of a Hartford Juvenile Detention Center Guard who was charged with sexual assault of a minor inmate. An external review conducted as part of the probe identified abusive staff and the need for more cameras, female staff, and supervisory tours during various shifts, while other investigations noted concerns about the ability of detention center staff to access female detainees and their confidential information, and failures to report multiple incidents to the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
• In November 2017, 40-year-old Marquis Marquez was arrested and charged with sexual assault related to an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female inmate housed at the Hartford Juvenile Detention Center. Marquez had worked as an Officer at the Hartford facility at the time of the allegations and arrest.
• In April 2010, Connecticut State Police launched an investigation into a sexual assault committed by an older youth against a younger boy at the Juvenile Residential Center in Bridgeport. According to authorities, the two boys have been sharing a room when the assault took place.

What is the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in Connecticut?

In recent years, Connecticut lawmakers have implemented a series of legislative revisions that greatly expand the rights of sexual abuse survivors – including survivors who were sexually abused as minors.

Under the state’s newly revised laws, the statute of limitations – or legal deadline – for survivors to file sexual abuse lawsuits will depend on specific factors, including the age of the victim and, in some cases, whether the offender was convicted. For example:

• Claims involving convicted abusers. Thanks to an amendment made effective in 2022, Connecticut has no statute of limitations for civil actions brought against alleged abusers who have been convicted of 1st degree sexual assault or 1st degree aggravated sexual assault. (Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 926 § 52-577e).
• Abuse claims involving victims under 21. In Connecticut, victims who were sexually abused under 21 years of age can file civil claims within 30 years (or until the age of 51) to file civil lawsuits from the date they turn 21, if the abuse occurred on or after October 1, 2019. For claims based on child sexual abuse that occurred before October 1, 2019, survivors have until the age of 48 to file suit. (Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 926 § 52-577d).

Determining the statute of limitations that applies to your case can be challenging. If you have questions about your ability to file a lawsuit, Levy Konigsberg can help during a free and confidential consultation.

Do I Have a Case?

You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if:

• You were sexually abused by a guard, counselor, or other juvenile detention center staff member.
• The abuse occurred at any youth detention facility in Connecticut.

While Connecticut’s law regarding civil sexual abuse lawsuits does contain a provision which eliminates the statute of limitations in cases where an abuser is convicted of a certain sex crime, the fact remains that civil sex abuse lawsuits are separate matters from any criminal proceedings and can proceed and prevail regardless of an abuser’s criminal case. This means that you may still have a viable claim even if:

• Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.
• Your abuser is no longer alive.

Levy Konigsberg represents survivors in civil lawsuits that aim to hold juvenile detention center operators accountable for their failures to stop abusive staff members and protect young inmates. We can help you determine whether you have a potential case during a FREE and confidential consultation.

Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:

• Past medical and mental health expenses
• Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and psychological harm
• Lost income
• Other economic and non-economic damages

Call For a FREE Consultation: (800) 315-3806

Levy Konigsberg has recovered more than $3 billion in compensation for clients, including millions in compensation for survivors of sexual abuse. We’re passionate about helping survivors seek justice and provide the firepower they need to fight back against powerful institutions.

If you have questions about pursuing a lawsuit over sexual abuse that occurred when you were a juvenile housed at a youth detention center or jail anywhere in Connecticut, we want to help. We serve survivors statewide and work on contingency, which means there’s no cost to hire and no fee unless we win.

Call (800) 315-3806 or contact us online for a FREE and confidential consultation.