Sexual Abuse
On this page, we will explain how juvenile inmates who were victims of sexual abuse at the New Jersey Training School (Jamesburg) can file civil lawsuits and get financial compensation. The New Jersey Training School is one of 3 state juvenile detention facilities and it has a long and notorious history of abuse and neglect.
If you were sexually abused at the New Jersey Training School, contact the national sex abuse lawyers at Miller & Zois to see if you have a case. Call at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.
About the New Jersey Training School (Jamesburg)
The New Jersey Training School (NJTS), commonly referred to as “Jamesburg”, is a juvenile correctional and detention facility located in Monroe Township, New Jersey. NJTS is the largest and oldest youth detention center in the state, dating back to 1867.
NJTS houses adjudicated juvenile males, typically those convicted of serious offenses. Inmates at NJTS can be as young as 12 and sometimes as old as 25 (if their sentence as a juvenile extends past their 18). NJTS has several different levels of security and it is 1 of 3 statewide juvenile detention centers operated by the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC).
NJTS provides inmates with education, vocational training, and rehabilitation programs to help reintegrate them. It also provides mental health and substance abuse treatment programs. Despite all of these programs and services, however, NJTS is basically a prison for juveniles.
A Legacy of Sexual Abuse at NJTS Jamesburg
NJTS is widely regarded as one of the worst juvenile detention facilities in the country and it has a long and sad history of abuse and mistreatment of juvenile inmates. The U.S. Department of Justice has conducted several investigations of NJTS and consistently found that inmates at the facility are mistreated and victimized.
For decades, reports of staff mistreatment and neglect at the New Jersey Training School have been common. Juvenile justice reform advocates have long cited the facility as a prime example of systemic failures within the youth incarceration system. Recently, lawsuits have been filed alleging that NJTS inmates endured years of sexual abuse by facility staff, who used physical force, threats, and manipulation to exploit the youth under their care.
Investigations and legal actions suggest that instances of sexual abuse at NJTS involved correctional officers, counselors, teachers, and other staff members. Allegations include improper strip searches, violent assaults, and the use of coercion—such as bribes and threats—to force inmates into sexual acts.
US Department of Justice Reports
The U.S Department of Justice has conducted a number of reviews and investigations into New Jersey juvenile detention centers, and specifically NJTS. The DOJ has released 2 separate investigation reports detailing widespread and systemic mistreatment and abuse of juvenile inmates at NJTS. The DOJ reports indicate that inmates at NJTS have some of the highest reported victimization rates of all juvenile detention halls in the country.
What Constitutes Sexual Abuse at NJTS?
Sexual assault or abuse is defined as any sexual touching or contact without the other person’s consent, intended for sexual gratification. In civil lawsuits, these acts are often referred to as sexual battery. A lack of consent is one of the two key elements in such cases.
Under New Jersey law, minors—anyone under the age of 18—cannot legally consent to sexual contact with an adult. This means that any sexual interaction between a juvenile offender and an adult staff member at NJTS constitutes sexual abuse, regardless of whether the perpetrator believed it was consensual.
Bringing an NJTS Sex Abuse Lawsuit
NJTS operates under the authority of the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC), which has full control over all aspects of the facility’s management. This includes hiring correctional officers and staff, overseeing training programs, and ensuring proper supervision of employees.
The JJC has a legal duty to take reasonable measures to protect juvenile inmates from sexual abuse and assault—whether by staff members or other inmates. To fulfill this responsibility, the JJC was required to establish and enforce policies designed to safeguard youth from sexual victimization.
However, mounting evidence suggests that the JJC systematically failed in this duty. Despite prior reports of abuse, state authorities and facility staff failed to take adequate steps to prevent further harm. This negligence included insufficient staff supervision, weak policies, poor training, and a lack of effective safety measures.
As a result, the JJC may be held legally accountable in civil lawsuits. Individuals who suffered sexual abuse while incarcerated in a New Jersey juvenile detention center have the right to pursue legal action against the JJC for failing to prevent the abuse.
Deadline to File an NJTS Sex Abuse Lawsuit
So how long do you have to file a lawsuit for sexual abuse at NJTS? Thanks to new laws in New Jersey, most victims have a very long time to file a lawsuit. New Jersey’s statute of limitations laws have recently extended the timeframe for victims of child sexual abuse at NJTS to file civil lawsuits. Under the updated law, survivors now have until their 55th birthday to take legal action.
Even those victims who are already over 55 may still be eligible to file a lawsuit if they can demonstrate that they only recently became aware of the abuse due to psychological repression or other factors. These legal changes provide victims with a greater opportunity to seek justice and hold perpetrators accountable.
Settlement Value of NJTS Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Sexual abuse lawsuits in general tend to have a very high settlement value because these cases can trigger strong emotional reactions from juries if they go to trial. To avoid this risk, defendants will often feel compelled to settle even at high amounts. The potential settlement compensation for a NJTS sex abuse lawsuit depends on several critical factors:
Strength of Evidence: The strength of evidence plays a pivotal role in determining the settlement amount. Victim testimony can be compelling and may suffice to establish the basis of an abuse claim. However, corroborating evidence like medical records, incident reports, or testimony from other witnesses makes a much stronger case.
Severity of Abuse: The psychological and emotional impact of the abuse directly influences settlement amounts. Cases involving severe mental health diagnoses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, or generalized anxiety disorder, often lead to higher settlements.
Duration of Abuse: Cases involving prolonged or repeated abuse generally result in larger settlements compared to those involving isolated incidents.
Age of the Victim: The victim’s age is another significant factor. Younger victims often receive larger settlements because the abuse tends to have a much more significant impact on them and they are viewed as more vulnerable.
Contact Us About NJTS Sex Abuse Lawsuits
If you are thinking about bringing a sexual abuse lawsuit against NJTS, contact our sex abuse lawyers today for free consultation. Contact us online or call us at 800-553-8082.