Sexual Abuse · LA County Juvenile Halls & Camps
Juvenile Detention Abuse — LA County
$4 billion Los Angeles County settlement — largest sex-abuse settlement by a local government in U.S. history
In April 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $4 billion settlement to resolve nearly 7,000 claims of childhood sexual abuse in county-run juvenile halls, probation camps, and MacLaren Children's Center — decades of alleged abuse by probation officers, staff, and contractors. California's AB 218 (2020) reopened the window for older survivors to bring these claims. Our firm handles new intake with the discretion and care these matters require.
Background
What this litigation is about.
For decades, survivors have described sexual abuse by staff at Los Angeles County juvenile halls (Central, Los Padrinos, and Barry J. Nidorf), at LA County probation camps (Kilpatrick, Scott, Scudder, Afflerbaugh, and others), and at MacLaren Children's Center — a county-run shelter for dependent children that closed in 2003 after repeated reports of abuse.
California's AB 218, signed in 2019 and effective in 2020, extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault and opened a three-year revival window (2020–2022) allowing survivors to file claims that were previously time-barred. Thousands of former juvenile detainees came forward under that window.
On April 29, 2025, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a $4 billion global settlement covering nearly 7,000 claims — the largest sex-abuse settlement ever paid by a local government in the United States. The settlement is being funded through a mix of reserves, bonds, and long-term budget commitments, with distributions administered through a claims review process.
Reported injuries
Complications documented in this litigation.
Sexual abuse in custody
Contact and non-contact abuse by probation officers, staff, contractors, or other personnel while the survivor was a minor in county custody.
PTSD & complex trauma
Ongoing post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and dissociation.
Substance use & self-harm
Frequently reported downstream harms among survivors of institutional childhood abuse.
Interrupted education & career
Long-term impact on schooling, employment, and earning capacity.
Who may qualify
An honest self-check.
You were held at a Los Angeles County juvenile hall — Central Juvenile Hall, Los Padrinos, or Barry J. Nidorf.
You were placed at a Los Angeles County probation camp (Camp Kilpatrick, Scott, Scudder, Afflerbaugh, Rockey, Munz, or another).
You were placed at MacLaren Children's Center between 1961 and 2003.
You were sexually abused by a staff member, probation officer, or contractor while in county custody as a minor.
You are ready — on your own timeline — to have a confidential, no-pressure conversation about your options.
Key events
A timeline of what has happened so far.
1960s–2000s
Alleged pattern of sexual abuse at LA County juvenile halls, probation camps, and MacLaren Children's Center.
2003
MacLaren Children's Center closes following repeated abuse reports and grand jury findings.
2019
California signs AB 218, extending the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault and creating a three-year revival window.
2020–2022
AB 218 revival window; thousands of former LA County juvenile detainees file claims.
2023–2024
Cases coordinated in LA County Superior Court; mediation and negotiations intensify.
Apr 29, 2025
LA County Board of Supervisors approves ~$4 billion global settlement covering nearly 7,000 claims — largest local-government sex-abuse settlement in U.S. history.
2025–2026
Settlement administration and distributions to eligible survivors.
These are among the most personal matters our firm handles. Survivors are heard, believed, and protected here — and the pace of the case is always the survivor's pace.
Frequently asked
Questions answered plainly.
Information current as of 2026. This page is for general information only, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case statuses, MDL orders, and settlement terms change; call our office for a current review of your specific situation.
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Tell us what happened, at your pace. We will listen, answer honestly, and — if we can help — begin quietly, right away.