Survivors Speak Out Against Alleged Abuse in Illinois Youth Detention Centers

In a heart-wrenching press conference held in Chicago on Tuesday, three men bravely shared their stories of alleged sexual abuse suffered while they were incarcerated in Illinois youth detention facilities. Calvin McDowell, 37, Jeffery Christian, 36, and Stephen Lucas, 36, are among the 95 plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed Monday that details disturbing allegations of systemic child abuse spanning from 1996 to 2017 at nine youth detention centers across the state.

5 Key Points

  • Three men shared their stories of alleged sexual abuse suffered while incarcerated in Illinois youth detention facilities.
  • The lawsuit, filed by 95 plaintiffs, details allegations of systemic child abuse from 1996 to 2017 at nine youth detention centers.
  • Plaintiffs allege abuse by corrections officers, sergeants, nurses, therapists, and a chaplain, including gang rape, forced oral sex, and beatings.
  • The lawsuit contends that Illinois failed to adequately address the abuse, allowing it to persist.
  • Survivors hope to find answers, hold abusers accountable, and prevent future instances of incarcerated abuse in Illinois youth detention facilities.

The lawsuit, filed in the Illinois Court of Claims, names the state of Illinois, its Department of Corrections, and Department of Juvenile Justice as defendants. It seeks damages of approximately $2 million per plaintiff, the maximum allowed under law. The complaint alleges that corrections officers, sergeants, nurses, therapists, and even a chaplain subjected the young detainees to gang rape, forced oral sex, and beatings. Many plaintiffs claim they were threatened or bribed to keep quiet about the abuse.

Survivors Share Their Stories

McDowell, who alleges he was abused by a chaplain at a suburban Chicago youth center as a teenager, shared his harrowing experience: “Instead of being cared for, I felt more alone than ever. I held my secret from the people I loved out of fear and embarrassment. I had nights where I wanted to give up on life.”

Christian, who says he was abused at two different Illinois Youth Centers, including by a counselor during counseling sessions, expressed his desire to expose the truth: “I want the world to know what happened to me and the rest of the survivors that are with me. I want to shine a light on these dark times I went through as a juvenile.”

Allegations of Systemic Failure

The lawsuit contends that Illinois failed to adequately supervise, discipline, remove, or investigate alleged abusers, allowing the abuse to persist. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs believe there are hundreds more former child detainees in Illinois who have suffered sexual abuse and anticipate filing additional lawsuits.

While spokespeople for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and the corrections agencies stated that the alleged incidents occurred under previous administrations and that staff misconduct allegations are thoroughly investigated, the plaintiffs’ attorneys remain skeptical of the state’s commitment to ensuring the safety of incarcerated youth.

Seeking Justice and Accountability

The brave survivors hope that by coming forward and taking legal action, they will find answers, hold their abusers accountable, and prevent future instances of incarcerated abuse in Illinois youth detention facilities. As the lawsuit progresses, it is expected to shed light on the alleged systemic failures that allowed such abuse to occur and persist for years.