In the last year and a half, more than a thousand courageous survivors have broken their silence, demanding justice for the sexual abuse they endured while confined as children in Maryland’s juvenile detention system. Levy Konigsberg attorneys Jerome Block and Clark Binkley announced that, with 85 newly filed lawsuits today, the firm has now filed lawsuits on behalf of more than 650 survivors of Maryland Juvenile Detention sexual abuse.
These lawsuits allege that the plaintiffs suffered repeated sexual abuse while in custody at one of 12 juvenile detention facilities across the state. This new filing marks a significant expansion of an ongoing legal advocacy led by Levy Konigsberg under the Maryland Child Victims Act, a statute that opened the door for survivors to file claims. However, that door may soon begin to close, as recent legislative amendments have restricted those very rights.
In commenting on the latest legal filings, Jerome Block, Partner at Levy Konigsberg, stated:
“It is both appalling and disappointing to our clients that the State of Maryland has refused to take any responsibility for this horrific sexual abuse. Instead of supporting survivors, the State has callously attempted to revoke vested rights provided by the Maryland Child Victims Act. These survivors will not be ignored, they will not be silenced, and they will not allow unconstitutional tort reform efforts stop them from obtaining full justice and accountability.”
A Crisis Spanning Generations
With more than 650 cases now filed by Levy Konigsberg, including the 85 filed by plaintiffs today, these cases have exposed abuse spanning from the 1970s through at least 2018. These cases demonstrate that this was not an isolated or historic issue, but a persistent, generational crisis. Despite a long trail of investigations, warnings, and damning reports outlining issues such as abusive personnel, invasive strip searches, and solitary confinement, meaningful reform was consistently delayed or ignored.
Widespread Abuse by Those in Power
According to the complaints, the sexual abuse was carried out by a wide range of facility personnel, including:
- Correctional and detention officers
- Counselors
- Teachers and educators
- Supervisors
- Facility managers
- Other individuals in positions of authority
The lawsuits contend that Maryland failed time and again to stop these predators or even acknowledge the patterns of abuse. The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, entrusted with protecting these children, instead enabled an environment of silence and suffering.
Holding the State Accountable
These cases highlight the systemic negligence that has defined Maryland’s juvenile justice system for decades. As more survivors find the strength to come forward, their stories reinforce the urgent need for accountability and change. Levy Konigsberg is proud to stand beside these survivors, helping them seek the justice they were long denied.
The latest lawsuits not only amplify the voices of 85 more individuals, with the total now exceeding 650, but also renew the call for transparency, accountability, and institutional reform—so that no child in Maryland’s care is ever subjected to such horrors again.