Thousands of Child Sex Abuse Claims Could Cost Maryland

Introduction to the Issue

Arlando “Tray” Jones was a toddler when his dad was killed by Baltimore police during a robbery. His mom died several years later after battling alcoholism. His surviving relatives often struggled to provide for him. Sometimes the lights got turned off and the refrigerator was empty. Jones turned to a notorious neighborhood drug dealer, a sinister father figure whose lavish lifestyle demonstrated what could be achieved in the streets. Under the supervision of “Fat Larry,” Jones finally had stable housing and money in his pocket, but violence was all around him. He started carrying a gun and punishing anyone who crossed him. Barely a teenager, he was charged with attempted murder and sent to juvenile detention in the early 1980s.

The Abuse in Maryland’s Juvenile Detention Facilities

There, at the Maryland Training School for Boys, Jones says a staff member repeatedly sexually assaulted him while another kept watch. The guards would corner children in dark spaces and bribe them with extra snacks and other special treatment, according to a slew of recent lawsuits alleging widespread misconduct in Maryland’s juvenile detention facilities. “They broke me,” Jones said, recounting how his abusers beat him into submission. “Everything that connected me to my humanity was just gone.” Jones is among thousands of people seeking accountability under a new state law that eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims. It was passed in 2023 with the Catholic Church abuse scandal in mind. But now Maryland lawmakers are scrambling to address an unexpected onslaught of cases targeting the state’s juvenile justice system. They’re worried the state budget can’t support a potential payout.

Response from the Department of Juvenile Services

The Associated Press requested an interview with the state’s Department of Juvenile Services, but the department responded with a statement instead. “DJS takes allegations of sexual abuse of children in our care with utmost seriousness and we are working hard to provide decent, humane and rehabilitative environments for youth committed to the Department. We do not comment on pending litigation,” the agency said.

A Law with Unexpected Consequences

Background

Maryland lawmakers passed the Child Victims Act in the immediate aftermath of a scathing investigative report that revealed widespread abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Before its passage, victims couldn’t sue after they turned 38. The law change prompted the archdiocese to file for bankruptcy to protect its assets. But state leaders didn’t anticipate they’d be facing similar budgetary concerns. Lawmakers are now considering new legislation to shield the state financially.

Impact

An estimated 6,000 people have retained attorneys and new complaints are pouring in, according to lawyers involved. In addition to monetary damages, plaintiffs want mandated reform of Maryland’s juvenile justice system. The system has drawn serious criticism over the years. A 2004 Justice Department report found a “deeply disturbing degree of physical abuse” at the facility where Jones was detained, now called the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School. The state closed Hickey’s youth treatment program in 2005, but it’s still operating as a youth detention center.

Systemic Abuse All Over the State

Still, the Maryland lawsuits paint a particularly disturbing picture. It wasn’t just select facilities or a small group of abusive staff members, it was statewide and persisted for decades, attorneys say. The abuse was often a poorly kept secret, but the system repeatedly failed to stop it, the lawsuits say. In a complaint filed earlier this month, 69 people brought claims against the same abuser, a former housing supervisor at Hickey. One of the plaintiffs in that case, who asked to remain anonymous, said that as the abuse escalated, he started to avoid properly cleaning himself to become less desirable. He later spent decades struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

Pushed Over the Edge

A couple years after being released from Hickey, Jones was involved in a fight over drugs that escalated into gunshots, killing Joshua O’Neal. Jones was 16 when he was arrested and charged with murder. He was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison. He said the sexual abuse pushed him over the edge; if he was headed down a negative path before juvenile detention, that experience sent him hurtling toward the unchecked brutality of the drug game. In 2022, he was released from prison under a state law that allows sentence reductions for people convicted as children.

Conclusion

The cases of Arlando Jones, Nalisha Gibbs, and thousands of others highlight the need for drastic reform within Maryland’s juvenile justice system. The elimination of the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims has brought to light a decades-long history of systemic abuse. As the state grapples with the financial implications of these claims, it must also prioritize the well-being and safety of its most vulnerable residents. The journey towards healing and justice for these survivors will be long and challenging, but it is a necessary step towards creating a safer, more just society for all.

FAQs

1. What is the Child Victims Act?
   • The Child Victims Act is a law passed in Maryland that eliminates the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims, allowing victims to seek justice regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
2. How many people are seeking compensation under this law?
   • An estimated 6,000 people have retained attorneys to seek compensation and reform under this law.
3. What kind of abuse was reported in Maryland’s juvenile detention facilities?
   • The lawsuits allege widespread misconduct, including sexual abuse by staff members, physical abuse, and a failure by the system to stop the abuse despite it being a poorly kept secret.
4. What are the plaintiffs seeking besides monetary damages?
   • Besides monetary damages, plaintiffs are seeking mandated reform of Maryland’s juvenile justice system to prevent future abuse.
5. How has the state responded to these allegations?
   • The state’s Department of Juvenile Services has stated that it takes allegations of sexual abuse seriously and is working to provide decent, humane, and rehabilitative environments for youth. However, lawmakers are considering new legislation to shield the state financially from the potential payouts.