WASHINGTON JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors Sexually Abused in WA Youth Detention Facilities

Juvenile detention centers across Washington have faced years of scrutiny over failures to protect youth inmates from violence and sexual abuse. This includes a number of facilities operated by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families that have made headlines for their involvement in high-profile civil suits, large payouts to victims, and investigations that show how systemic abuse often went unchecked or covered up by those in positions of authority.

Now, a growing number of survivors are stepping forward to file civil lawsuits against the DCYF and other responsible entities that failed to protect them during their stays in state juvenile detention facilities.

If you or someone you love were sexually abused as a youth inmate in any secure juvenile residential facility, community facility, or treatment program in Washington, Levy Konigsberg wants to help you even if the abuse occurred many years or even decades ago.

Sexual Abuse in Juvenile Detention Centers in Washington

Washington’s problematic history of sexual abuse and violence within juvenile detention facilities has been documented by high-profile legal filings, public payouts, and investigations.

These records detail a systemic abuse problem in youth detention centers statewide and show that operators of these facilities – including the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) and the DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) division – enabled a culture of secrecy, cover ups, and unacceptable oversight failures that allowed staff-on-inmate abuse to proliferate for years.

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

Clark County Juvenile Justice Center (aka Robert L. Harris Juvenile Justice Center)

• In February 2026, eight former inmates filed a lawsuit against the Clark County Juvenile Justice Center (also known as the Robert L. Harris Juvenile Justice Center), alleging that staff members subjected youths to sexual violence, grooming, and intimidation between 1978 and 2014.

In the1980s, two corrections officers allegedly repeatedly entered a youth’s cell, forced him to perform oral sex, and threatened him if we would report the abuse.

Another incident involved a staff member allegedly touching a youth inappropriately in his cell. 

A 14-year-old victim was allegedly groped multiple times by a staff member. He reported the abuse to his probation officer after his release, but the officer allegedly accused him of lying and failed to file an investigation. When he later returned to the facility, the same staff member allegedly molested him during pat-downs and strip searches. This staff member also allegedly forced the victim to perform oral sex inside a mop closet.

The lawsuit alleged that some victims were ignored when they tried to report the abuse.

Green Hill School

• In November 2025, it was reported that a lawsuit on behalf of 14 victims was filed against the State of Washington, alleging decades of sexual abuse and negligence at Maple Lane and Green Hill juvenile detention schools.  The lawsuit names the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Children, Youth and Families, Green Hill and Maple Lane schools, and Dr. Isaac Pope who reportedly worked with the schools from 1982 to at least 2020.  The suit alleges that Dr. Pope sexually abused and raped hundreds of children behind closed doors when he was supposed to be caring for their health.  It was reported that claims have been filed against the State of Washington for over 200 victims of abuse at such schools.

• In September 2021, the state of Washington agreed to pay over $2 million to settle a lawsuit brought by 10 survivors who were sexually abused while housed at the Green Hill School, a secure residential facility in Chehalis, at various points from the 1970s through the early 2000s. The suit accused the state and Department of Social and Health Services of fostering a decades-long “culture of sexual abuse and cover-ups” that caused many Green Hill residents to be repeatedly abused while in custody.

• In April 2021, former Green Hill School employee Samantha Washington was sentenced after pleading guilty to second-and fourth-degree assault charges in connection to a sexual encounter with an inmate. Washington was the third former Green Hill staffer to be charged with sexual misconduct between January 2016 and June 2018. The other two were Erin Stiebritz (aka Erin Snodgrass), who pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree custodial misconduct in 2016, and Katherine Kimbrel, who pleaded guilty to custodial misconduct in 2019.

Maple Lane School

• In November 2025, it was reported that a lawsuit on behalf of 14 victims was filed against the State of Washington, alleging decades of sexual abuse and negligence at Maple Lane and Green Hill juvenile detention schools. The lawsuit names the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Children, Youth and Families, Green Hill and Maple Lane schools, and Dr. Isaac Pope who reportedly worked with the schools from 1982 to at least 2020. The suit alleges that Pope sexually abused and raped hundreds of children behind closed doors when he was supposed to be caring for their health. It was reported that claims have been filed against the State of Washington for over 200 victims of abuse at such schools.

• In December 2024, it was reported that a former resident alleged that he was sexually abused by a security guard. That guard also allegedly sexually abused other youths in the facility. Guards allegedly ignored sexual abuse, teens were allegedly forced to exercise until they vomited and one boy was allegedly beaten daily by other youths while staff ignored it, and was kicked by a guard. 

• In June 2011, it was reported that staff member Lindsay Anne Mitchell was charged with sexual abuse for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a male youth between April 2008 and November 2009.

• In the 1980s, a former youth resident was allegedly groomed and sexually abused by a counselor. 

Echo Glen Children’s Center

• In August 2009, a former female inmate housed at the Echo Glen Children’s Center in Snoqualmie filed a lawsuit against the Washington Department of Social and Health Services over claims that she was forcibly raped by Officer Robert H. Fox while incarcerated at the facility in May 2006. The suit claimed that Fox, who had been grooming the victim for some time, entered her room, removed her clothes, and assaulted her. The lawsuit was eventually settled in July 2011 when the DSHS agreed to pay $375,000 after Fox pleaded guilty to first-degree custodial sexual misconduct.

Naselle Youth Camp

• In July 2021, the state of Washington paid a total of $805,000 to settle sexual abuse lawsuits brought by four former detainees at the Naselle Youth Camp. All four survivors raised allegations of abuse against former counselor Michael Nolan that occurred, sometimes repeatedly, between 2018 and 2019 during skinny dipping and “sweat lodge” rituals orchestrated by Nolan. Nolan was arrested and charged with multiple sex crimes in January 2021, but charges were later dropped. Naselle was closed in September 2022.

• In January 2021, former Naselle Youth Camp employee Steven D. Wirkkala was charged with commercial sexual abuse in connection to inappropriate behavior with a 12-year-old victim on social media. Though the charges did not relate to Wirkkala’s employment at Naselle, where he has worked since mid-2020, authorities were investigating his conduct with minors at the camp.

Spokane County Juvenile Justice Center

• In October 2025, a lawsuit was filed alleging that at least 15 youths at the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center were groomed and sexually abused by guards.

The lawsuit named former guards William Lamb and Rafael Gray. 

Lamb, who worked at the facility from 1999 to 2016, allegedly groomed and repeatedly abused youths. He allegedly forced victims to perform oral sex, masturbation, and other sexual acts. He also allegedly threatened his victims to silence. One victim was allegedly introduced to sex trafficking. Another victim was allegedly given drugs and repeatedly raped.

Gray, who started working at the facility in 1983, also allegedly groomed and raped youths. One victim alleged Gray forced him to engage in sexual acts with other youths while Gray watched. In one instance, a guard reportedly saw Gray sexually abusing a youth in a closet but failed to intervene. The next day, the same guard allegedly joined Gray in abusing the same victim.

Denney Juvenile Justice Center (formerly Denney Youth Center) 

• In November 2025, Levy Konigsberg’s colleagues filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against Snohomish County, alleging widespread sexual abuse at Denney Juvenile Justice Center, previously known as Denney Youth Center.

The lawsuit alleged that a dozen former youths who were incarcerated at the facility were subjected to grooming, rape, and other sexual acts by guards and staff members. 

Staff allegedly performed invasive strip searches, monitored youths in showers, and spent unsupervised time with them in private areas. 

Remann Hall

• In January 2026, it was reported that 132 claims had been filed against Pierce County, alleging sexual abuse at Remann Hall from the 1980s to the 2000s. 

The county has settled 14 claims and paid out $9 million so far, while the total demand from claims has reached approximately $280 million.

One victim was allegedly raped multiple times by a guard when she was detained in the 1990s, beginning at the age of 13. 

• In 2004, a wing of Remann Hall was closed after officials cited alleged unsafe conditions, including reports of assaults, brawls, and claims from youths that they were violated.

LK Investigating Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Across Washington

Levy Konigsberg is now investigating cases of staff-on-youth sexual abuse that occurred at any Washington juvenile detention center.

• Clark County Juvenile Justice Center (aka Robert L. Harris Juvenile Justice Center)
• Echo Glen Children’s Center
• Green Hill School
• Maple Lane School
• Naselle Youth Camp
• Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center
• Denney Juvenile Justice Center (formerly Denney Youth Center)
• Remann Hall
• Benton-Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center
• Grays Harbor Juvenile Detention Center
• King County Juvenile Detention Center
• Thurston County Juvenile Detention Facility

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

Washington Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Under current Washington state law, survivors of sexual abuse have three years from the date of their abuse, or three years from the date they discover the connection between their injuries (which can include addiction, self-harm, and other mental health issues) and the abuse (or a defendant’s actions that led to the abuse), to file civil lawsuits.

In March 2024, the governor signed into law a bill (House Bill 1618) removing the statute of limitations for civil claims related to child sexual abuse. As a result, for any sexual abuse occurring on or after June 6, 2024, there is no deadline to file.

However, the new law is not retroactive, meaning that it does not apply to sexual abuse that occurred before June 6, 2024. Survivors of sexual abuse that occurred before this time still have three years from the date of their abuse, or three years from the date they discover the connection between their injuries and the abuse or actions that led to the abuse, to file civil lawsuits. 

We are committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and seeking justice for survivors of sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers and youth residential treatment facilities. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing legal representation and support to survivors, and we are actively investigating allegations of abuse. We are working tirelessly to ensure that survivors have access to justice and that future generations of young people are safe from harm within these institutions.