Hundreds File Lawsuits Alleging Sexual Abuse in Illinois Youth Detention Centers

Over 200 individuals report decades of systemic abuse, including rape and beatings, at state-run facilities.

Three lawsuits filed Monday detail abuse from 1996 to 2021 by corrections officers, nurses, kitchen staff, and chaplains.
Overall, 667 people have alleged sexual abuse at Illinois youth facilities, with few cases going to trial or resulting in settlements.
The lawsuits accuse the state of Illinois of fostering a culture of abuse and failing to investigate complaints or protect inmates.
The largest lawsuit, involving 222 plaintiffs, describes abuse at nine state-run youth detention centers, five of which have since closed.
A separate lawsuit targets the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago, citing abuse during unlawful strip searches of children as young as 11.