Gilbert Street Juvenile Hall Lawsuit & Investigations
Learn more about the investigations into sexual abuse and staff misconduct at Aurora Gilbert Street Juvenile Hall of San Bernardino, or contact the legal team at Kayla’s Survivors today to discuss your case and start your claim.
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Gilbert Street Juvenile Hall (also known as the Central Valley Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center) in San Bernardino, California, faces ongoing lawsuits alleging widespread sexual abuse of detained minors by staff, including probation officers, with accusations of inappropriate touching, sexual battery, coercion, and exploitation dating back to the 1970s but persisting into recent years. These claims highlight systemic failures by the San Bernardino County Probation Department, such as inadequate supervision and underreporting of incidents, despite annual Prison Rape Elimination Act audits showing limited substantiated cases.
The attorneys at Kayla’s Survivors are pursuing claims against Gilbert Street Juvenile Hall. If you or a loved one has suffered sexual abuse, assault, or misconduct as a result of the programs and staff of Gilbert Hall, you may be eligible to recover compensation and hold the institution accountable. Get started with your case by calling (800) 509-9747 or tell us what happened online – always 100% free and confidential.
Together, We Can Hold Abusers Accountable…
Lawsuit Overview
Lawsuits against San Bernardino County juvenile facilities, including Gilbert Street/Central Valley, allege systemic failures by the Probation Department, such as inadequate supervision, failure to report abuse, and a culture that enabled predators.
Status: Lawsuits are active and ongoing as of 2025, with law firms reporting increased filings due to legal reforms. Compensation may cover emotional distress, therapy costs, and lost opportunities, with most cases settling in 1-3 years.
Allegations: Survivors report inappropriate touching, sexual battery, verbal harassment, and coerced acts by guards, counselors, or other staff. Any sexual contact with minors is classified as abuse under California law, as youth cannot consent. Abuse has been reported as far back as the 1970s, with some survivors claiming it occurred when they were as young as 10.
Specific Cases:
- In December 2023, at least four survivors filed lawsuits, including one detailing abuse by a probation officer at the Central Valley Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center (CVJDAC).
- Recent filings in 2025 continue to emerge, with law firms actively recruiting plaintiffs for claims against Gilbert Street and other county facilities like High Desert Juvenile Detention Center. One notable example involves allegations of years-long misconduct, with survivors describing a “profound betrayal of trust.”
Who Can File: Survivors who suffered abuse at Gilbert Street Juvenile Hall may may be eligible to pursue legal action. Class actions are possible for multiple survivors. California’s statute of limitations allows filings until age 40 (or later under the “discovery rule” within 5 years of realizing psychological harm), and post-2024 abuse has no time limit.
Talk in Confidence. We’ll listen…
Lawsuit Timeline & Info
| Date/Period | Event/Details |
|---|---|
| August 2025 (Current) | Lawsuits remain active with no full resolution; potential for class actions. PREA audits continue annually, but survivor-led probes via law firms drive scrutiny. |
| June–July 2025 | Updated reports on ongoing lawsuits; class action discussions emerge for San Bernardino facilities. New claims continue, focusing on two main centers including CVJDAC. |
| April–May 2025 | Law firms report securing settlements in related CA juvenile abuse cases (e.g., $54 million referenced broadly); actively recruiting plaintiffs for Gilbert Street claims. Ongoing filings noted. |
| December 2023–2024 | New state laws extend filing windows for abuse claims, growing even more in 2024; prompts additional lawsuits. |
| December 2023 | Four survivors file lawsuits against San Bernardino County Probation Department, alleging sexual abuse at CVJDAC/Gilbert Street. One plaintiff was abused at age 10 by a probation officer; others describe years of misconduct. |
| 2023 | PREA Annual Report for CVJDAC: 2 allegations of youth-on-youth nonconsensual contact; no substantiated staff misconduct. |
| 2023 | Transition of juvenile justice responsibility from state to county control in California, amid ongoing abuse reports. |
| 2021 | PREA Annual Report for CVJDAC: 3 allegations (2 youth-on-youth harassment, 1 staff harassment); all unfounded. Department emphasizes zero-tolerance policy but lawsuits suggest underreporting. |
| May 28, 2020 | Jovon Antwon Jenkins charged with sexual assault crimes involving a juvenile at a San Bernardino County facility. |
| 2000–2015 | Widespread sexual abuse reported in state-funded youth correctional facilities across the U.S., including California; Gilbert Street implicated in similar patterns of staff misconduct and neglect. |
| 1970s–Present | Allegations of sexual abuse in California juvenile facilities, including San Bernardino County halls like Gilbert Street/CVJDAC, uncovered through lawsuits and investigations. Survivors report staff-on-youth misconduct, including assault, harassment, and coercion, often involving probation officers. |
Get Help From The Attorneys at Kayla’s Survivors
If you or a loved one has suffered sexual abuse or assault as a result of Gilbert Street Juvenile Hall and its staff members, call (800) 509-9747 or tell us what happened online. Our legal team is here to listen and provide support – 100% free and confidential.
The sexual abuse team at Kayla’s Survivors have helped recover over $1 billion for our clients, and have held countless organizations and juvenile detention centers accountable.
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