Over 400 survivors of sex abuse file civil lawsuits vs staff at NYC juvenile detention centers

Law firm Levy Konigsberg announced on October 2 that it has filed 168 civil lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse perpetrated by employees at juvenile detention facilities in Brooklyn and the Bronx, totaling 425 lawsuits filed since April. 

Attorneys Jerome Block and Madeleine Skaller were joined by several plaintiff-survivors of sexual abuse, local elected leaders, and advocates on the steps of City Hall to expose the egregious gender-motivated sexual abuse by staff members at New York City’s notorious juvenile detention facilities including Crossroads Juvenile Center, Spofford Juvenile Detention Center (also known as Bridges Juvenile Detention Center), Horizon Juvenile Center, and Rikers Island. Some of the accused were identified by name.

“I was 16 years old when I was sent to Horizon Juvenile Center in the Bronx where I was abused by Natalie Medford. Those experiences marked me forever. Since then, I have struggled with mental health issues, but I am here today stronger than ever to demand justice, for myself and for the hundreds if not thousands of survivors who were preyed on as kids,” said Rashawn Jones. “This should have never happened to me or to any child regardless of their infraction that led them there. Our youth deserve better. The city must root out the evil in these facilities and end this sordid culture of abuse– it is time to do the right thing and stop these pedophiles from abusing our most vulnerable.”

“Today we are standing on the steps of City Hall with plaintiff-survivors of sexual abuse at juvenile detention centers to be heard, believed and most importantly to hold accountable institutions who let this egregious sexual abuse occur.” said Levy Konigsberg partner Jerome Block. “Since April we have stood with elected officials, advocates, and members of the community to say enough is enough and something must be done. We have now filed over 400 cases from men and women who suffered sexual abuse in New York City juvenile detention centers. The city and its broken juvenile system must be held to account. This institutionalized sexual abuse and culture of secrecy has persisted for decades and there is no evidence that the city has done anything to fix its procedures to ensure the safety of children in the juvenile system.”

With over 400 cases already filed, it is now clear that many of these survivors were victimized by repeat perpetrators. The City of New York allowed these prolific abusers to sexually abuse children in the city’s care for years unabated. Natalie Medford, a former staff member at Horizon, is alleged to have abused at least 13 of the survivors with cases currently pending. Additionally, Tony “Tyson” Simmons, a registered sex offender who was imprisoned for sexually assaulting several young girls at New York City’s juvenile detention centers, has been named by seven additional survivors. As these cases continue to be filed, a culture of secrecy which protects the perpetrators at the expense of the victims has been discovered.

“Sexual abuse is unacceptable anywhere, and that certainly includes our juvenile detention facilities,” said State Senator Julia Salazar. 

She has filed a bill authorizing the Correctional Association of New York to inspect detention facilities. CANY has monitored New York’s prisons and jails since the 1840s, shining light on their conditions, promoting public accountability, and helping make them safer and more humane. She also introduced a bill authorizing the State Inspector General to investigate sexual assault claims brought by incarcerated individuals, which the Senate passed this past session before stalling in the Assembly.

“We need better mechanisms for those victimized behind bars to seek legal recourse…Our correctional system cannot fester in lawlessness and violence, not least at the expense of children. We all must step up to the plate and show real leadership, and I thank our partners in the legal community for theirs,” she said.

“This is a critical moment for accountability and reform in our criminal legal system,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Systemic failures, including over incarceration and a lack of oversight and accountability in our juvenile detention centers, have allowed gender-motivated abuse to persist and proliferate, and it is our responsibility to create safer environments and stronger protections for those in our city’s care.”

“It’s shameful our city has allowed such abuse to happen to the young people in our care,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés, District 38. “We must believe survivors and put an end to this horrific treatment.”

“The trauma of sexual abuse, especially abuse that occurs at a young age, takes years to process before many are able to begin the process of reporting the harm done to them,” said Executive Director of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault Emily Miles. “For those who face the compounded trauma of abuse while incarcerated, the process can take even longer. Look back windows, like those offered through the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law and Child Victims Act, are frequently the only available pathway to justice for these survivors and are critical in ensuring the institutions who willfully allowed this violence to occur are held responsible. The Alliance is proud to stand with these survivors as they seek accountability for the trauma they experienced at the hands of those tasked with ensuring their care.”

“Safe Horizon stands in solidarity with this brave community of survivors seeking accountability from the staff members who assaulted them in juvenile detention centers and from the institution that allowed this abuse to happen,” said Associate Vice President Child Advocacy Centers, Safe Horizon’s John Pickett. “We hope that every survivor, whether they’ve shared their story or not, is able to find a pathway to healing.”