Hundreds more survivors file lawsuits alleging decades of abuse in Illinois juvenile facilities

ILLINOIS - A staggering number of new lawsuits were filed Monday adding to the hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse within Illinois' juvenile detention system. 

The lawsuits, brought on behalf of 272 survivors – 40 females and 232 males – detail experiences at state-operated Illinois Youth Centers and the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center between 1996 and 2021.

This brings the total number of lawsuits filed against Illinois juvenile detention centers for child sexual abuse to 667 since May 2024.

Attorneys representing the survivors, Todd Mathews of Bailey & Glasser LLP and Jerome Block of Levy & Konigsberg LLP, held a news conference on Tuesday to discuss the lawsuits.

"Hundreds of people sexually abused in government-operated facilities, and we've heard nothing of substance from the governor and the attorney general? Our clients want to know that their voices are being heard," said Block. 

"The employees of the Cook County beat me, threatened me and sexually abused me. I wouldn't wish my situation on anybody. I hope that justice is granted for the pain and suffering we all went through as kids," said Michael Moss, one of the plaintiffs.

The lawsuits named dozens of staff members – men and women – with some being named by multiple survivors.

Many of the survivors were under 16 years old at the time of the alleged abuse. Survivors and their attorneys will speak about the physical and emotional injuries suffered as a result of the abuse.