150 People Sue Over Past Abuse at New York City Juvenile Facilities
In 2022, the City of New York passed a law opening a two-year “lookback window” for victims of gender-motivated violence, including sexual abuse, to file lawsuits over incidents that were no longer within the statute of limitations. In April 2024, some 150 people sued for abuse they suffered at juvenile facilities operated by the city.
The complaints alleged physical and sexual abuse that occurred from the 1970s through the 2010s. Defendants include the city’s Administration for Children’s Services and its Department of Correction. Plaintiff victims, 80% of whom are men, were juveniles when they were abused. The alleged abuse took place at Horizon Juvenile Center, Crossroads Juvenile Center, Spofford Juvenile Detention Center (later known as Bridges), and the Rikers Island jail complex. “Overall, I think these cases show a broken juvenile justice system in the City of New York, a juvenile justice system that inflicts sexual trauma on children,” said Jerome Block, one of the attorneys representing Plaintiffs.
One of the suits, filed under the city’ Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection (VGMVP) Law, N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 10-1101, et seq., was brought by Amanda Talavera and Mary Soto, who were held at Horizon and Crossroads from 2004 to 2008, where they alleged “rampant sexual abuse of juvenile detainees” that “has haunted [them] for their entire lives.” See: Talavera v. City of N.Y., N.Y. Sup. (Cty. of Bronx), Case No. 807051/2024E.
Talavera and Soto claimed that children held in city juvenile facilities have long suffered sexual abuse by guards, counselors and other staff, and that Defendants “had knowledge of, and turned a blind eye to, this culture of abuse.” That culture included inappropriate strip searches, voyeurism, fondling, oral sex and forcible rape. Juveniles were groomed by employees who gave them candy, cigarettes, drugs, alcohol and other contraband in exchange for sexual favors, they said, but few incidents were reported due to fear of retaliation—including physical assaults.
Talavera said she was sexually abused by “Ace,” a staff member at both Horizon and Crossroads, starting when she was around 14 years old. She alleged that Ace would bring her food and cigarettes, and in exchange he had her expose her breasts and forced her to perform oral sex on him, raping her repeatedly.
Soto also said she was abused at Horizon by Ace when she was about 13. He would come to her room “around three times each week and would kiss [her] on the mouth and fondle her breasts, buttocks, and genitals beneath her clothes,” the complaint said. He also performed oral sex on her multiple times, and continued to prey on her even after she was released. Soto said that she was also targeted by Natalie Medford, an employee who had other detainees assault or attempt to assault her.
Five lawsuits have been filed alleging sexual abuse by Medford. Talavera and Soto’s complaint raises claims that include state law violations; negligence; negligent hiring, supervision, retention and training; as well as breach of statutory duty to report abuse. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages. The approximately 150 plaintiffs who have sued are all represented by attorneys with Levy Konigsberg, LLP in Manhattan.
In April 2023, Horizon employee Natasha Robinson was charged with sexual abuse of a teen detainee; three months later, two supervisors at the facility were charged in federal court with beating, stomping and dragging a 16-year-old boy, then filing false reports in an attempted cover-up. Federal investigations were conducted in 2012 and 2018 into sexual abuse, excessive use of force and failure to protect children held in New York juvenile facilities.
The two-year lookback window for claims under the city’s VGMVP law expires on February 28, 2025. Those who have suffered physical or sexual abuse at a city juvenile facility have until then to sue their abusers and/or institutions that enabled, directed or participated in the abuse, even if it occurred decades ago.
Additional source: New York Times
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