Recently, three men have come forward with allegations of being sexually abused as children while incarcerated at Illinois juvenile detention centers. These disturbing claims are part of a lawsuit that sheds light on decades of systemic child abuse within the state.
One of the men, Calvin McDowell, shared his harrowing experience of abuse by a chaplain at a suburban Chicago youth center during his teenage years. McDowell expressed his desire to prevent others from enduring the same suffering he endured for years, emphasizing the feelings of isolation and fear that plagued him.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, details widespread abuse spanning from 1996 to 2017 at nine youth detention centers across Illinois. The allegations include instances of gang rape, forced oral sex, and physical assaults by various individuals within the facilities. Many of the 95 plaintiffs in the lawsuit recounted being coerced into silence through threats or rewards.
During a news conference in Chicago, ten of the survivors shared their stories, highlighting the lack of accountability and responsiveness from authorities when the abuse was reported. Jeffery Christian, another survivor, spoke about being abused at two different Illinois Youth Centers and the counselor who assaulted him during counseling sessions.
The lawsuit accuses the state of Illinois of failing to supervise, discipline, or investigate the alleged abusers, allowing the abuse to persist unchecked. It seeks damages of approximately $2 million per plaintiff, the maximum amount permitted by law.
While spokespeople for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and the state's corrections agencies have stated that the alleged incidents occurred under previous administrations, attorneys representing the survivors remain skeptical of any significant changes in the system. They anticipate filing more lawsuits on behalf of other former child detainees who have similar allegations of abuse.
Survivors who have come forward expressed hope that legal action will provide them with answers and potentially reveal the identities of their abusers. By sharing their stories and seeking justice through the lawsuit, these individuals aim to reclaim a sense of empowerment and shed light on the dark chapter of abuse they endured as juveniles.
