Mother Sues Officials After Son Allegedly Assaulted at Wayne County Juvenile Jail

In an alarming report from Wayne County, the mother of a boy who was allegedly sexually and physically assaulted at the county’s juvenile detention center last year has filed a lawsuit against county and state officials. She claims that they fostered a “sexually hostile detention environment where the predictable but preventable happened.”

Lawsuit Filed in Federal District Court

The lawsuit, filed in the Federal District Court in Detroit, accuses Wayne County, its Executive Warren Evans, and officials of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services of violating the young boy’s constitutional rights. These rights include protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

The mother, whose identity is being protected to safeguard the boy’s identity, is seeking damages exceeding $1 million. Her son was 12 years old at the time of the alleged incident.

Details of the Alleged Incident

According to the mother’s complaint, her son was placed in a unit with older youths, including an 18-year-old and at least one other juvenile with a history of criminal sexual conduct. The boy reported to the police that he was assaulted in separate incidents over several hours, including being punched, stomped in the head, and raped.

Delayed Action by County and State Officials

The lawsuit states that county and state officials had ample warning and resources to mitigate the crisis long before the heinous incident occurred. They were aware of the unfavorable conditions within the facility and therefore, could have predicted the potential for abuse against detained youths.

The lawsuit alleges that despite knowing the risks, officials did not take necessary action resulting in a hostile prison environment, serious injury, and severe physical and sexual assaults.

The Role of MDHHS and Wayne County

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) stated that they could not comment on the ongoing litigation. It is significant to mention, however, that the state officials had authority, access to resources, and power to closely monitor the detention center to ensure provision of proper care to detainees.

A History of Negligence

The Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center has long been criticized for its inhumane conditions, including overcrowding and understaffing. Allegations have been made that the facility’s residents were kept in their rooms for extended periods without necessary supervision, deprived of basic care, and allowed to stay in each other’s rooms freely, raising the risk of sexual inappropriate behavior and assaults.

Investigation by Michigan State Police

An official from the Michigan State Police confirmed that investigations of the March assault incident are ongoing and could lead to criminal charges against the youths who allegedly assaulted the boy.

Previous Allegations and Action Taken

Previous allegations of sexual assault at the facility have led to action by the state. Earlier this year, an employee was arrested following allegations of sexual assault against a male resident. In addition, a former county employee was charged with sexually assaulting two teenage boys within the facility. These cases emphasize the urgent need for improvements in the facility.

In response, the county made significant improvements, including providing more in-house mental health treatment, hiring approximately 100 new workers, and increasing wages by 35%. This is funded by a $10 million budget increase. However, for the mother who filed the lawsuit, these changes came too late for her son.