CROSSROADS JUVENILE CENTER SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors Sexually Abused at Crossroads Juvenile Center in New York

For years, staff at Crossroads Juvenile Center were accused of heinous acts, including assault, groping, and rape, while a culture of secrecy allegedly allowed the abuse to continue unchecked. 

Levy Konigsberg has been at the forefront of representing survivors in lawsuits against the City of New York for the sexual abuse these survivors suffered while confined at juvenile detention facilities at the hands of City employees.  Levy Konigsberg has already filed over 500 cases on behalf of survivors of child sexual abuse at juvenile detention facilities throughout New York City, including Crossroads. 

Of the more than 500 lawsuits filed, just under half involve abuse that occurred at Crossroads and Horizon Juvenile Detention Centers.

Levy Konigsberg is continuing to fight for the brave survivors of abuse at New York City juvenile detention centers.

On November 25, 2025, the New York City Council passed Introduction 1297, an amendment to the Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA).  Introduction 1297 reopens the GMVA lookback window for 18 months and explicitly reaffirms that the law applies not only to individuals, but also to institutions such as juvenile detention centers. This allows survivors with previously time-barred claims to bring their cases during the 18-month window and to seek justice against the institutions that enabled their abuse.

Levy Konigsberg is fighting for survivors to expose the truth and hold these institutions accountable. If you or someone you know suffered abuse at Crossroads, now is the time to take a stand. Contact Levy Konigsberg today, together, we can break the silence and demand change.

History of Child Sexual Abuse at Crossroads Juvenile Center in New York

Examples of alleged abuse, and of conditions likely to lead to abuse, include the following:

• In 2024 and 2025, Levy Konigsberg filed over 535 sexual abuse lawsuits on behalf of survivors who were sexually abused at Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brooklyn, Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in the Bronx, Horizon Juvenile Center in the Bronx and Rikers Island. The lawsuits were filed against the City of New York for the sexual abuse these survivors suffered while confined at juvenile detention facilities at the hands of City employees. Some of these individuals were sexually abused at multiple juvenile detention facilities in New York City. The lawsuits allege that despite widespread reports, investigations, and campaigns to close or reform these juvenile detention facilities, the City of New York has allowed a culture of sexual abuse and brutality to continue unabated. The abuse endured by these plaintiffs stretches across decades. The lawsuits include allegations of heinous assault, groping, forced oral sex and rape perpetrated by staff members against juveniles at these facilities.

• According to the lawsuits, staff members at Crossroads threatened the children that if they reported the sexual abuse, they would face more time in detention.

• In 2015, an Administrative Law Judge recommended the termination of Victor Silva, a former counselor at the Crossroads Juvenile Center after finding that he physically beat a youth inmate and placed him in an impermissible chokehold. Silva was also found to have made a false, misleading, and deceptive incident report.  In addition to claims of physical abuse, former youth inmates and advocates have raised allegations of sexual abuse by staff at Crossroads for years. As in the case of Silva, reports have also claimed that staff maintained a culture of secrecy and cover ups to conceal abuse and protect themselves and fellow employees.

Do I Have a Case?

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

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

Levy Konigsberg represents survivors in civil lawsuits that aim to hold youth residential treatment facilities,  juvenile detention centers, private healthcare companies, and other facility operators accountable for their failures to stop abusive staff members and protect young residents.

As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:

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

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

New York Juvenile Detention Center Attorneys

A statute of limitations sets deadlines for victims to bring claims against their abuser or entities responsible for the abuse. New York has pioneered efforts to make it easier for sexual abuse survivors to seek justice and compensation.

In 2019, New York passed the Child Victims Act, expanding the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Under current law: (1) survivors of childhood sexual abuse at privately operated juvenile detention centers who were born after February 14, 1998, have until age 55 to file civil lawsuits; and (2) survivors of childhood sexual abuse at juvenile detention centers operated by governmental entities, who were born after November 15, 1999, have until age 55 to file civil lawsuits.

In addition, on January 29, 2026, the New York City Council enacted Introduction 1297, an amendment to the Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA). Introduction 1297 reopens the GMVA lookback window for 18 months. As a result, survivors with previously time-barred claims for sexual abuse that occurred in New York City and prior to January 9, 2022 can file lawsuits between January 29, 2026 and July 29, 2027. Survivors of sexual abuse that occurred in New York City and on or after January 9, 2022 have seven years to bring their claims.

Thus, there may be new avenues to seek justice for previously time-barred claims of abuse at New York juvenile detention centers. If you were sexually abused at a New York juvenile detention center at any time, reach out today.