Illinois is currently in a legal and ethical crisis, with dozens of survivors suing and reporting decades of sexual abuse at the state’s juvenile detention centers. One of the lawsuits filed in May 2024 details abuse from 1996 to 2017. 95 survivors came forward with a 186-page complaint naming the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections as defendants.
The lawsuit alleged cases of gang rape, forced oral sex, and brutal beatings. The victims were mostly minors when assaulted, some only nine. The plaintiffs report that they were threatened with being put in isolation or bribed with snacks to keep quiet.
Sadly, despite how severe these allegations are, very few perpetrators have been arrested, and there has been little accountability by the institutions. Each plaintiff is asking for as much as $2 million in damages, the maximum allowed by Illinois law. Survivors of these sexual abuse cases should contact a River Valley Juvenile Detention Center sex abuse attorney to increase their chances of getting the maximum compensation.
In such a lawsuit, pain and suffering is the major focus of the claim. However, a victim is entitled to several other economic damages.
Types of Economic Damages Victims Can Recover
1. Medical and Psychological Treatment Costs
Most of the survivors continue to live with trauma like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. These disorders typically require therapy, which can be expensive. The victims can be compensated for the monthly sessions of psychotherapy they had to go through. Sometimes, inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations are required for severe cases, which adds to the costs.
Also, prescription costs for conditions related to mental disorders and other doctor bills due to injuries sustained after the incident can be recovered. The need for specialized treatment can extend for years or decades.
2. Inability to Earn Income and Lost Future Earning Capacity
The psychological impact of child sexual abuse can affect a survivor’s education and career development. Most victims report being unable to finish school or hold steady jobs due to the effects of their abuse. In these cases, economic losses that can be recovered include:
- Lost wages due to unemployment or underemployment
- Lost employment opportunities due to interrupted schooling
- Reduced earning capacity based on medical evaluations
These damages help guarantee that survivors are compensated for the loss of economic security and career potential as a result of the abuse.
3. Educational and Retraining Costs
Education is typically a casualty of institutional abuse. Survivors may end up dropping out of school or falling behind because of the emotional toll of their abuse. Years later, victims may turn to GED classes or community college to start over.
This means survivors have to incur extra educational and retraining costs that deserve to be compensated, such as:
- Tuition and fees for education or vocational school
- Tutoring, academic testing, or certification program costs
- Support services to assist with learning disability or mental health accommodations
4. Rehabilitation and Support Services
Some victims may require ongoing care and support for a good part of their lives. This can include life skills training, job re-entry, and housing assistance.
These services prove necessary for regaining independence and normalcy. These programs are costly and can be reimbursed as part of economic damages.
5. Legal and Court-Related Costs
Even though most attorneys involved in such cases charge on a contingency basis, the survivors might still end up with some legal expenditures, such as paying expert witness fees, undergoing medical examinations, and filing paperwork.
These expenses can often be included in a damages claim, ensuring survivors do not incur out-of-pocket expenses and are not financially burdened as they pursue justice.
Conclusion
For the hundreds of Illinois juvenile center survivors, receiving economic damages is a necessary step towards healing. Money cannot erase the past, but it can give a safer and more secure future.
