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Illinois Juvenile Detention Abuse Lawyers

Illinois·Juvenile detention

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Were you born after July 24, 1983? *

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Illinois has six state-run youth centers (Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, IDJJ), the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (formerly known as the Arthur J. Audy Home) and county detention centers.1,2,3 Adults sexually abused by staff while held there as minors may be able to bring a civil claim. A free, confidential review can tell you if a claim is possible.

Important: Time limits may apply to filing claims. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

See If You QualifyCall 516-914-5118

Were you abused at an Illinois juvenile detention facility?

Speaking with us is free and confidential.

See If You QualifyCall 516-914-5118

Who May Have a Claim

  • You were born after July 24, 1983
  • You were detained or held in custody at an Illinois juvenile detention facility
  • You experienced sexual abuse by a guard, counselor, medical staff, or other facility employee
  • The abuser was acting in their role at the facility when the abuse occurred
  • You can identify the abuser by name, nickname, or detailed description

These are the general requirements. Situations vary — final eligibility is determined after a free, confidential review.

Is there a deadline?

Illinois has changed its filing deadlines for childhood sexual abuse several times over the years. Under the current law (735 ILCS 5/13-202.2), survivors born after July 24, 1983 may generally file a civil claim at any time — including for abuse that happened decades ago.4

Every deadline here is general guidance. Whether a specific claim is timely depends on the facts of that case and requires review with an attorney — a free, confidential review can tell you where you stand.

Illinois filing deadlines for childhood sexual abuse claims — general framework
Born after July 24, 1983May generally file at any time — a free, confidential case review can tell you quickly
Claims involving government facilitiesTime limits may apply to claims against state-run or county facilities; talk with an attorney.

General information only. Timeliness depends on individual facts, and claims against the State involve additional procedural requirements. Attorney Advertising.

Not sure if you qualify? Start a free, confidential review

What happens when you reach out

Three quiet steps, on your terms

  • 1
    You tell us as much or as little as you want.A confidential conversation with our team — by phone or online. You stay in control of the pace.
  • 2
    We review whether you have a claim.At no cost, against the facts and the law — and we tell you honestly either way.
  • 3
    You decide what happens next.There's no cost to speak with us, and you're never obligated to move forward.
See If You QualifyCall 516-914-5118

Time Limits

Time limits can apply to these claims, and they depend on your specific situation. The sooner you reach out, the more we may be able to do — and speaking with us is free and confidential.

Last reviewed: October 22, 2026

Illinois juvenile detention centers at a glance

Illinois juvenile detention centers: operator, location and status (as of October 2026)
IYC Chicago1,5IDJJChicagoOpenIYC Chicago abuse claims
IYC Harrisburg1,5IDJJHarrisburgOpenIYC Harrisburg abuse claims
IYC Pere Marquette5,6IDJJGraftonOpenIYC Pere Marquette abuse claims
IYC Warrenville5,7IDJJWarrenvilleOpen; youth housed in St. Charles since a July 2024 fireIYC Warrenville abuse claims
PEACE Center (former IYC St. Charles)5,8IDJJSt. CharlesOpenIYC St. Charles abuse claims
Monarch Youth Center9IDJJLincolnOpened 2025IDJJ youth centers
Cook County JTDC (Audy Home)10Office of the Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook CountyChicagoOpenCook County JTDC (Audy Home) abuse claims
River Valley Justice Center2,11,12County (Will County)JolietOur attorneys are investigatingRiver Valley Justice Center
Hulse Juvenile Detention Center2,11,13County (Lake County)Vernon HillsOur attorneys are investigatingHulse Juvenile Detention Center
Mary Davis Home2,14County (Knox County)GalesburgOur attorneys are investigatingMary Davis Home
IYC Joliet15State of IllinoisJolietClosed February 2013
IYC Murphysboro16State of IllinoisMurphysboroClosed January 2013
IYC Kewanee17State of IllinoisKewaneeClosed July 2016
IYC Valley View1,18State of IllinoisSt. CharlesNot on IDJJ's current list

These are allegations. General information only, not legal advice. Attorney Advertising.

IDJJ's current youth centers

IDJJ serves youth in six secure facilities: IYC Chicago, IYC Harrisburg, IYC Pere Marquette, IYC Warrenville, the Monarch Youth Center in Lincoln and the PEACE Center in St. Charles.1,5

Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (the Audy Home)

The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) in Chicago, formerly known as the Arthur J. Audy Home, is not an IDJJ youth center.2,3 The Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County oversees its administration; before 2008, the Cook County Board did.10 State inspection reports call it the largest detention center in Illinois.19 It was under federal-court oversight from 2007 to 2015 in a case about conditions of confinement.10

How Illinois juvenile detention abuse claims work

These are civil lawsuits for money damages, separate from any criminal case. Claims against the State of Illinois over state-run youth centers are brought in the Illinois Court of Claims.20 For the Cook County JTDC, claims against the State proceed in the Court of Claims and claims against county defendants proceed in the circuit court.21,22 Read how Illinois juvenile detention abuse claims work, step by step, and what the Illinois Court of Claims is.

Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center

Chicago, IL (Cook County)

Were you detained at Cook County JTDC (Audy Home)?

File a ClaimLearn more about Cook County JTDC (Audy Home)

Illinois Youth Center - Chicago

Chicago, IL (Cook County)

Were you detained at IYC Chicago?

File a ClaimLearn more about IYC Chicago

Illinois Youth Center - Harrisburg

Harrisburg, IL (Saline County)

Were you detained at IYC Harrisburg?

File a ClaimLearn more about IYC Harrisburg

Illinois Youth Center - St. Charles

St. Charles, IL (Kane County)

Were you detained at IYC St. Charles?

File a ClaimLearn more about IYC St. Charles

Illinois Youth Center - Warrenville

Warrenville, IL (DuPage County)

Were you detained at IYC Warrenville?

File a ClaimLearn more about IYC Warrenville

Illinois Youth Center - Pere Marquette

Grafton, IL (Jersey County)

Were you detained at IYC Pere Marquette?

File a ClaimLearn more about IYC Pere Marquette

River Valley Justice Center

Joliet, IL (Will County)

County-operated juvenile detention center in Joliet. Our attorneys are investigating claims of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct by staff at this facility.

Investigation Focus Areas:

  • Sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by staff

Were you detained at River Valley?

File a ClaimLearn more about River Valley

Hulse Juvenile Detention Center

Vernon Hills, IL (Lake County)

County-operated juvenile detention center in Vernon Hills. Our attorneys are investigating claims of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct by staff at this facility.

Investigation Focus Areas:

  • Sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by staff

Were you detained at Hulse?

File a ClaimLearn more about Hulse

Mary Davis Home

Galesburg, IL (Knox County)

County-operated juvenile detention center in Galesburg. Our attorneys are investigating claims of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct by staff at this facility.

Investigation Focus Areas:

  • Sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by staff

Were you detained at Mary Davis Home?

File a ClaimLearn more about Mary Davis Home

Don't See Your Facility Listed?

We are investigating sexual abuse by staff at juvenile detention facilities throughout Illinois. If you experienced sexual abuse by staff at a facility not listed here, please contact us. Your case may still qualify.

Report Another Facility

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this confidential?+

Yes. Your consultation is free and completely confidential. Many survivors choose to proceed using a pseudonym, and contacting us does not make anything public. You decide what to share and when.

Do I need a police report?+

No. You do not need a police report — or any documentation — to speak with us. Many survivors never reported what happened, and that does not affect your ability to come forward now.

What if I don't remember exact dates?+

That's completely okay. Memories of trauma are rarely tidy. You do not need precise dates — our team can help reconstruct a timeline from records and other information.

Does contacting you start a lawsuit?+

No. Reaching out simply starts a confidential conversation with our intake team. There is no obligation, and you remain in control of every decision about whether and how to move forward.

What juvenile detention centers are in Illinois?+

Six youth centers run by IDJJ, plus the Cook County JTDC and county detention centers, which IDJJ does not run.1,2

Which Illinois youth centers are named in the abuse lawsuits?+

Capitol News Illinois reported that a May 2024 complaint alleges sexual abuse by staff at all nine state youth centers open between 1996 and 2017.23 WTTW reported that a June 2024 lawsuit lists St. Charles, Harrisburg, Chicago, Joliet, Kewanee, Warrenville, Murphysboro and Valley View.24 These are allegations.

Was IYC Joliet part of the lawsuits?+

Capitol News Illinois reported that many of the sexual abuse incidents alleged in the May 2024 complaint took place at the Joliet facility, which closed in 2013.23 These are allegations.

Who runs the Cook County JTDC?+

The Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County oversees its administration.10

What is the Illinois Court of Claims?+

It is the court that hears claims for money damages against the State of Illinois.20 Our guide to the Illinois Court of Claims explains who decides cases there.

Sources & authorities (24)+
  1. 1.IDJJ Youth Centers — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  2. 2.County Detention Centers — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  3. 3.Nearly 200 people allege decades of 'systematic' abuse at youth jail in Chicago — Capitol News Illinois, July 24, 2024 (accessed October 22, 2026) ↩
  4. 4.735 ILCS 5/13-202.2 (childhood sexual abuse limitations) — Illinois General Assembly (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  5. 5.IDJJ Director's Quarterly Report — July 2026PDF — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (filed with the Illinois General Assembly) (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  6. 6.Illinois Youth Center - Pere Marquette — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  7. 7.Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice responds to fire at Illinois Youth Center in WarrenvillePDF — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, July 15, 2024 (accessed October 22, 2026)Official release ↩
  8. 8.Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice to serve high school graduates at newly repurposed career centerPDF — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, March 27, 2024 (accessed October 22, 2026)Official release ↩
  9. 9.Monarch Youth Center at Lincoln — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  10. 10.Juvenile Temporary Detention Program — Circuit Court of Cook County (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  11. 11.Juvenile Detention Contacts — Illinois Courts, Probation Services (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  12. 12.2026 Will County Juvenile Detention Center Inspection ReportPDF — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  13. 13.2026 Lake County Juvenile Detention Center Inspection ReportPDF — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  14. 14.2025 Knox County Juvenile Detention Center Inspection ReportPDF — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  15. 15.Illinois Youth Center at Joliet (facility closure record) — Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Illinois General Assembly (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  16. 16.Illinois Youth Center at Murphysboro (facility closure record) — Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Illinois General Assembly (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  17. 17.Illinois Youth Center at Kewanee (facility closure record) — Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Illinois General Assembly (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  18. 18.Section 850.230, Juvenile Correctional Facilities (Illinois Administrative Code, Title 2, Part 850) — Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Illinois General Assembly (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  19. 19.2025 Cook County Temporary Detention Center Inspection ReportPDF — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  20. 20.Court of Claims Act (705 ILCS 505) — Illinois General Assembly (accessed October 22, 2026)Official .gov source ↩
  21. 21.Hundreds sue over alleged sexual abuse at Illinois youth detention centers — Associated Press (via NBC Chicago), September 24, 2024 (accessed October 22, 2026) ↩
  22. 22.Survivors of child abuse at Illinois youth detention centers file more lawsuits in hopes of change — Associated Press (via KSAT), February 11, 2025 (accessed October 22, 2026) ↩
  23. 23.Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers — Capitol News Illinois, May 7, 2024 (accessed October 22, 2026) ↩
  24. 24.New Lawsuit Details More Allegations of Sex Abuse in Illinois Youth Centers Over 2 Decades — WTTW News, June 3, 2024 (accessed October 22, 2026) ↩

You Are Not Alone. We're Here to Help.

Survivors from across Illinois are coming forward. Your story matters, and speaking with us is free and confidential.

See If You QualifyCall 516-914-5118

Do You Qualify?

Tell us what happened. Your review is free and confidential, and we'll tell you honestly whether you may have a claim.

Free Case Evaluation

Were you born after July 24, 1983? *

Free Confidential No fee unless we win

The use of this form does not establish an attorney-client relationship.