New Jersey Juvenile Detention Centers Have Some Of The Nation’s Highest Rates Of Sexual Abuse

Findings from a U.S. Department of Justice report have revealed that juvenile detention centers in New Jersey have some of the highest rates of sexual abuse in the nation.

These findings indicate that the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission and other facility operators failed to protect youth inmates from sexual abuse.

The New Jersey governor renews vows to close a nefarious state detention center where 50 men say they were sexually abused as boys.

New Jersey allegations depict a longstanding "culture of abuse" at a youth detention center, explicitly accusing the staff of virtually unchecked sexual abuse against boys residing at the New Jersey Training School in Monroe Township.

Attorney General Matt Platkin said the allegations would be “swiftly and thoroughly” investigated.

There are accusations that from the 1970s to the 2010s, officers, counselors, and other staff sexually assaulted boys under their authority.

Among the allegations are that staff:

• Conducted illicit strip searches;
• Carried out violent rapes;
• Offered bribes to keep the victims silent; and,
• Threatened punishment if the crimes were reported.

50 men who were former residents claim that the facility allowed this abusive environment to persist for decades.

Allegations outline disturbing details from the 1970s to the 2010s, including instances of sexual abuse by guards, counselors, and other staff within the facility and its surroundings.

Abuse victims assert that despite reporting the abuse to various authorities, including parole boards, their complaints were often disregarded or not taken seriously.

What Is The History Behind The New Jersey Training School?

The New Jersey Training School, the state's largest such facility, has faced scrutiny in the past, prompting plans for closure in 2018 due to allegations of abuse and racial disparities.

Despite its name, the facility is not only a school but a campus with seven cottages and a vocational building run by the state’s Juvenile Justice Commission.

It currently houses about 200 people, according to the state, and dates to 1867.

Most residents are 16-18, though it houses people committed by courts from ages 12-23.

Closure efforts have stalled as officials search for alternative sites.

The challenge is that the closure would require creating three additional facilities, one each in northern, central, and southern New Jersey.

So far, only two have been set up.

The abuse victims intend to illuminate systemic failures and advocate for reform in how New Jersey handles juveniles.

If you were sexually abused while incarcerated at a juvenile detention center in New Jersey, you might be eligible for resources and assistance to assist in your recovery.

We believe all victims of New Jersey detention centers and their families should receive assistance and resources to assist in their recovery from abuse.