Youth residential treatment centers and other institutions can be liable for failing to prevent sexual abuse on their premises. When institutions fail to do what is necessary to protect vulnerable individuals in their care, they deserve to be held fully accountable.
Sexual abuse in youth residential treatment centers and other institutions should not be an issue. There is no excuse for institutions allowing children and other vulnerable individuals in their care to be victimized—and all institutions in Illinois have a clear legal duty to implement measures to help prevent sexual assaults and other forms of sexual abuse on their premises.
Sadly, many institutions fail to do what is required.
When institutions fail to do what is required, they can (and should) be held accountable. From providing inadequate supervision to looking the other way, youth residential treatment centers and other institutions can face significant liability for sexual abuse in a wide range of circumstances.
Institutions can face liability for failing to prevent sexual abuse on various grounds. Some examples of potential grounds for victims and their families to pursue legal action in these cases include:
Like all employers, youth residential treatment centers and other institutions are legally required to make informed decisions about who they choose to hire. However, when institutions make negligent hiring decisions, the risks can often be far greater, and potentially lead to the institution being held liable for sexual abuse.
Making informed hiring decisions is just the first step. Institutions are legally required to supervise their employees as well, and negligent supervision can also lead to sexual abuse that could (and should) have been prevented.
From inadequate lighting to inadequate locks, various forms of inadequate security can also contribute to putting children and other vulnerable individuals at risk in institutional settings. Here too, when institutions fail to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual abuse, they can be held liable for sexual abuse.
Far too often, institutions ignore clear warning signs that their employees (or contractors, volunteers, or other individuals) may be predators. In this context, ignoring warning signs is a clear form of negligence that can clearly warrant a claim for liability.
Another example of when institutions may be held liable for failing to prevent sexual abuse is when there are inadequate policies and procedures in place. Inadequate policies and procedures that allow sexual abuse to occur within institutions can clearly warrant claims for liability as well. This includes everything from inadequate employee training policies to inadequate procedures for responding to complaints.
Proving that an institution could (and should) have done more to prevent sexual abuse involves conducting a thorough investigation. From examining the institution’s policies and procedures to speaking with employees, contractors, volunteers, and other witnesses, it may be possible to collect evidence of liability through various means.
While victims and their families can (and should) contact the police, it is important to hire a sexual abuse lawyer as well. There is only so much that the police can do in this scenario—and, even if the perpetrator faces criminal charges in court, this does not mean that the institution will be held accountable. Holding the institution accountable will involve filing a claim against the institution directly, and this requires experienced legal representation.
If you or your child has been sexually abused at a youth residential treatment center or another institution in Illinois, our lawyers can do everything necessary to seek accountability on your behalf. We can conduct a thorough investigation promptly, and then we can take legal action to preserve your rights in court.
We can also work closely with you and a team of experts to calculate the value of your claim. In cases of institutional sexual abuse, victims’ losses can be substantial. Our lawyers can help ensure that you are seeking appropriate compensation for your (or your child’s) financial and non-financial losses, and then we can fight to hold the institution fully accountable by all legal means available.
If you or your child experienced sexual abuse at a youth residential treatment center or another institution, the person who committed the abuse may not be the only one responsible. The institution may also be liable for failing to prevent sexual abuse if failures involving hiring, supervision, security, policies, or warning signs allowed the abuse to occur.
At Coplan + Crane, our Chicago sexual abuse lawyers can investigate what happened and determine whether the institution failed in its responsibility to provide a safe environment. If there are grounds to pursue a claim, we can fight to hold the institution accountable and seek the compensation you or your child deserves.
Contact Coplan + Crane today online or at (312) 982-0588 for a FREE case evaluation. Our Chicago sexual abuse lawyers help clients across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas.
