Juvenile detention centers, also known as juvenile halls, provide structure and discipline for children who have been charged with various offenses, ranging from minor violations to serious crimes. Juvenile facilities can also be used for the housing of foster care children until they can be placed in a home environment.
Because of the population they serve, juvenile hall administrators and employees must be focused on creating a safe and nurturing environment. Sadly, it’s no secret that many youth detention centers fail in their duty of care to juvenile inmates, especially when it comes to adequate supervision. As a result, the rate of deaths and injury from overdoses in juvenile hall is higher than ever.
Are you the parents of a minor who passed away at a juvenile detention center from an overdose? If negligence or misconduct is the reason your child overdosed on drugs, you are entitled to justice from a wrongful death lawsuit. Though money cannot replace the one you lost, you deserve compensation for funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and other monetary losses that were caused by someone else. To discuss the possibility of filing a drug overdose in juvenile detention centers lawsuit, contact our law firm as soon as possible.
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Drug Overdose: A Juvenile Hall Epidemic
In both adult prisons and juvenile halls, drug abuse is one the leading causes of unexpected deaths and severe injuries. The overdose rate among the incarcerated has skyrocketed within the past 10 years, particularly overdosing caused by Fentanyl. Other commonly abused drugs in juvenile halls are synthetic drugs like K2 and methamphetamines.
Failure by the juvenile justice system to protect children from drugs is evident in the recent death of an 18-year-old inmate at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall. We know for a fact that there were at least 3 overdose incidents at Barry J. Nidorf in 2023, and all of these cases were linked to Fentanyl that were found in the inmates’ rooms. This is a common situation in many juvenile facilities throughout California, and many of them have been closed down within the past few years due to the high rate of drug overdoses and other violations
We agree that negligent youth detention centers must be closed in order to protect boys and girls from irreparable harm. But what about the families who have already lost a loved one to a drug overdose? What about the victims who ended up with permanent health complications from overdosing on drugs at a juvenile hall or camp? These people deserve justice, and we will not rest until the individuals that are in charge of these places pay for the suffering they caused.
Can I Sue for an Overdose at a Juvenile Detention Center?
Yes, you can sue a juvenile hall if you or a loved one suffered injuries from a drug overdose due to acts of negligence or misconduct. If your child died from overdosing on drugs due to lack of supervision, safety protocols or another breach in the duty of care to a juvenile inmate, you can file a lawsuit for wrongful death.
Frankly, these are extremely complicated lawsuits, as there are many people that play a role in keeping children safe at a youth detention facility. First, there are the staff members, which include a wide variety of people such as counselors, probation officers, and nurses. You also have administrators, who are in charge of the employees and assume other high-level duties like setting policies and allocating funds. Above that, you have the county or state agency that oversees the facility, like the Los Angeles County Probation Department.
Normally, juvenile hall drug overdose lawsuits are filed against multiple entities, but who you should go after will vary from one case to another. Thus, you will need to work with a law firm that can investigate what happened and who is legally liable for the death or injury of a child that’s staying at a juvenile detention center.
Average Value of a Juvenile Hall Drug Overdose Lawsuit
You can receive $150,000 to $5,000,000 for a drug overdose lawsuit against a juvenile detention center. However, some cases are settled for lower amounts based on the degree of injury to the victim. Generally, wrongful death lawsuits are worth anywhere from $1,500,000 to $5,000,000 when the decedent is a minor (under 18 years old). But the actual amount depends on many factors that are unique to your family and the losses you have suffered due to your loved one’s passing.
As the value of a juvenile hall drug overdose claim is a personal matter, we invite you to speak with one of our legal experts, who can help you figure out the amount you are entitled to.
What is the Amount of Time to Settle a Juvenile Inmate Overdose Lawsuit?
Claims for wrongful death of a juvenile inmate can take 1 to 2 years to settle on average. But some cases will take longer, while others are settled within 6 months. Nevertheless, it should be noted that negligent death claims are very complex legal actions, and as a result, many of these cases take 12 months or longer. If you have severe and/or permanent injuries from overdosing at a juvenile detention center, we also anticipate a timeline of 1 to 2 years to settle a lawsuit.
At the end of the day, the actual timeline to settle a juvenile hall neglect or abuse claim ranges from just a few months to over 2 years. There are many issues that affect the amount of time to settle a drug overdose at a juvenile detention center lawsuit, which you can learn about from one of our attorneys.
How Long Do I have to Sue a Juvenile Detention Center?
As we mentioned before, juvenile facilities in California are managed by government entities, usually at the county level. That means you are suing a government entity as opposed to a private business or individual. Lawsuits against the government have very tight deadlines, whether you are filing for wrongful death or personal injury.
Normally, you would have 2 years to file a lawsuit for negligence, but claims against juvenile halls must be filed within 6 months – either from the date of injury or the date of death. Upon receiving your claim, the appropriate agency has 45 days to respond in writing. If your claim is rejected, you must file a lawsuit with the applicable court system within 6 months. If, on the other hand, you receive nothing from the agency in 45 days after your claim is received, you have 2 years from the date of passing or date of injury to file a lawsuit.
Due to the restrictions and complex procedures that are involved, it’s recommended that you seek help from a lawyer with experience in lawsuits against government agencies.
Contact a Drug Overdose in Juvenile Detention Centers Attorney
Losing a child to a drug overdose is tragic enough on its own, but it’s even worse if the incident could have been prevented. That’s precisely why juvenile detention centers must be held accountable if they neglect their duties or engage in willful misconduct that causes injury or death to a child.
By choosing our law firm to represent you, there’s no out of pocket cost to you at any point. We have a Zero Fee Guarantee policy for all clients, so it’s the other party that pays for legal fees, not you. Since we only get paid by winning your case, you owe us nothing if we don’t recover your payment.
The juvenile hall drug overdose lawyers of Normandie are here to advise you of your rights and legal options, so call us right away to schedule a free case evaluation.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Overdose at a Juvenile Detention Center Lawsuit Attorney
Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Sexual Abuse Attorney
Yuba/Sutter Juvenile Hall Sexual Abuse Attorney
