Men who say they were abused at Illinois youth detention centers come forward

(7 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chicago - 7 May 2024
++STARTS ON SOUNDBITE++
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerome Block, attorney:
"Sexual abuse at Illinois youth centers has been going on for decades. In these 95 cases, the cases spanned from 1996 all the way to 2017, more than 20 years. The sexual abuse at Illinois youth centers has been going on for far too long."
++BLACK FRAMES++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Todd Matthews, attorney:
"These acts of abuse were carried out by guards, administrators, staff and other employees of the State of Illinois. The incidents involve all types of horrific sexual abuse."
++BLACK FRAMES++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffery Christian, plaintiff:
"I wish I could have used my time in a system to grow and change and become a better man through the discipline and support of the staff around me. Instead, I was sexually abused and neglected. I learned at a too young of age that the system wasn't going to make me a better man. It just hurt me."
++BLACK FRAMES++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffery Christian, plaintiff:
"The survivors standing with me today, and the team that made this all happen, that made this lawsuit possible, they're pretty much my power and courage. I want the world to know what happened to me and the rest of the survivors that's with me standing today."
++BLACK FRAMES++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Calvin McDowell, plaintiff:
"I truly believed that I would be helped, cared for and pushed in the right direction. Unfortunately, I was sadly mistaken. Upon my arrival, I met a predator, a chaplain employed in a youth center who said I could trust him. I was victimized, sexually abused, which led to decades of mental anguish and confusion."
++BLACK FRAMES++
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephen Lucas, plaintiff:
"I survived and continue to survive the sexual and emotional abuse that I faced as a child in the very justice system that was supposed to help correct me. I was preyed upon by a dangerous man who held a position of power over me during my time at IYC (Illinois Youth Center) Harrisburg."
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Three men who say they were sexually abused as children while incarcerated at Illinois juvenile detention centers have stepped forward with their stories as part of a lawsuit chronicling decades of disturbing allegations of systemic child abuse.

The legal complaint alleges widespread abuse from 1996 to 2017 at nine youth detention centers, including gang rape and beatings of children by corrections officers, sergeants, nurses, therapists and others.

Many of the 95 plaintiffs say they were threatened or rewarded to keep quiet.

Ten of the 95 men and women who brought the Illinois complaint appeared at the news conference.

One plaintiff, Calvin McDowell, says he felt alone for many years because of what he experienced but that he hopes his coming forward will help others. 

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they were sexually assaulted unless they consent to being identified or decide to tell their stories publicly, as McDowell and two other men who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit have.

The lawsuit follows similar complaints of abuse at youth detention centers in New Jersey, California, Maryland and elsewhere.

The lawsuit contends Illinois failed to supervise, discipline, remove or investigate alleged abusers, enabling abuse to continue.

The complaint alleges the abuse happened at youth centers in locations all over the state, including Chicago, St. Charles and Harrisburg. Several detention center locations have since closed.
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