Illinois Youth Center - Pere Marquette
Illinois Youth Center Pere Marquette is a treatment facility for juvenile males located in Grafton, Illinois. The facility was included in the Department of Justice's National Survey of Youth in Custody that found Illinois among the worst states for juvenile detention abuse. If you were abused at this facility, you may be entitled to compensation.
Important: Time limits apply to filing claims. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
About IYC Pere Marquette
Illinois Youth Center Pere Marquette is a treatment facility for juvenile males operated by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ). Located in Grafton, Illinois—a remote area in Jersey County along the Mississippi River—the facility provides specialized treatment programs for male youth offenders.
The facility was formerly operated as a boot camp-style program with punitive treatment approaches. Its isolated location, similar to IYC Harrisburg, created barriers to oversight and family visitation that allowed abuse to persist.
IYC Pere Marquette was one of seven Illinois Youth Center facilities examined by the DOJ's Bureau of Justice Statistics in its 2012 National Survey of Youth in Custody, published in June 2013. BJS identified Illinois as one of four states with high rates of reported sexual victimization in juvenile facilities.
In that survey, 15.4% of youth in Illinois state custody reported experiencing sexual victimization — about 60% above the 9.5% national average. The federal investigation raised concerns about retaliation against youth who reported abuse, further discouraging victims from coming forward.
Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice - Official
IYC Pere Marquette is a treatment facility for juvenile males. The facility was selected as the 2023 winner of the PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen Award for work in family engagement.
Source: IDJJ Official Website
DOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics (2013)
The DOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics' 2012 National Survey of Youth in Custody (published June 2013) examined conditions at seven Illinois Youth Center facilities, including Pere Marquette. BJS identified Illinois as one of four states with high rates of reported sexual victimization: 15.4% of Illinois youth in state custody reported sexual victimization versus a 9.5% national average, and 13.7% reported staff sexual misconduct versus 7.7% nationally.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
Types of Abuse Reported
Sexual Abuse by Staff
Sexual assault and misconduct by staff members in positions of authority.
Physical Abuse
Excessive force and punitive treatment, particularly during the boot camp era.
Isolation from Support
Remote location created barriers to family visits and external oversight.
Failure to Investigate
Complaints ignored and systemic failure to hold abusers accountable.
Your Legal Options
If you were abused at IYC Pere Marquette, you may be entitled to compensation. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202.2, survivors of childhood sexual abuse born on or after July 24, 1983 may generally file at any time.
For survivors born earlier, eligibility depends on narrower, fact-specific exceptions.
Because IYC Pere Marquette was State-operated, separate and often shorter deadlines can apply — these claims are especially time-sensitive.
There is no cost to file a claim. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case.
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We are currently reviewing claims involving sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by staff in Illinois juvenile facilities.