Baltimore
Juvenile Detention Abuse Lawyer

Suffering from the painful trauma of juvenile detention abuse in Baltimore is a terrifying and distressing experience that commonly leaves survivors battling with severe emotional anguish and physical pain. Survivors commonly feel unsafe in their environment and have a challenging time finding proper help.  

Most juveniles and their family members are left devastated by the events. They are often unsure of what to do to get the abuse to stop and who they can turn to for help. 

Working with a skilled juvenile detention abuse lawyer in Baltimore will help you and your loved ones put an end to this devastating and traumatic experience while seeking justice for the situation and protecting you and your loved ones’ rights. 

At TopDog Law, our network of lawyers can help you and your loved ones navigate this challenging time and attain the justice you deserve.

Contact TopDog Law today and let us connect you with a skilled and compassionate Baltimore juvenile detention abuse lawyer.

Get Your Free Case Review Today

If You Want Help... Call Us

It costs absolutely nothing to see if you have a case

Play Video

If You Want Help... Call Us

It costs absolutely nothing to see if you have a case

As Seen On

TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers James Helm Image
Play Video about TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers James Helm Image
TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers ABC Logo
TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers James Helm Image
Play Video about TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers James Helm Image
TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers CBS Logo
TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers Image
Play Video about TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers Image
TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers Billboards Near You Logo

Your Guide to Juvenile Detention Abuse in Baltimore

James Helm, Personal Injury Lawyer

Common Types of Juvenile Detention Abuse Injuries

Getting abused while in a juvenile detention facility is a devastating, traumatic, and painful experience that often leaves survivors suffering through various physical and emotional injuries.  

Common types of injuries caused by juvenile detention abuse include

  • Bruises and contusions 
  • Injuries to the face, skull, and neck
  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Fractured and shattered bones
  • Soft tissue damage, often in the form of strains or sprains to muscles, tendons, and ligaments
  • Herniated or ruptured discs in the back
  • Traumatic brain injuries, ranging from a mild concussion to more severe, long-term cognitive impairment
  • Internal bleeding and internal organ damage
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues, including anxiety and depression
  • Wrongful death

If you or your loved one has suffered from being abused in a juvenile detention facility, contact TopDog Law today, and we will connect you with a trusted juvenile detention abuse lawyer in Baltimore. 

What Is Juvenile Detention Abuse?

Being abused while being held in a juvenile detention center is often a scary, painful, and disheartening experience for people. Survivors often feel anxious, confused, and angry as they work to find a safe way out of their abuse while also feeling trapped in their environment. 

The National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) estimates that 696,620 juveniles were arrested in the United States in one recent year. With a vast number of juveniles going through the court system, the circumstances for abuse can be challenging to identify. 

Juvenile abuse, also known as child maltreatment, can come in various forms. The Children’s Bureau identifies four main categories of abuse:

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is considered to be any on-purpose physical injury imposed upon a youth, including kicking, burning, striking, biting, and excessive corporal punishment. 

Forms of physical abuse that often happen to a juvenile in detention are physical beatings, excessive use of force or restraints, and over or under-medicating. 

Psychological Abuse

Psychological abuse, also known as emotional abuse, is considered any action that causes harm to the emotional stability of a juvenile. 

Common examples of psychological juvenile detention abuse include verbal abuse, aggressive language, intimidation, nonverbal threats, insults, isolation, and excessive demands. 

Neglect

Neglect is the failure of a caretaker or caregiver to provide the juvenile with needed food, water, clothing, medical care, shelter, or adequate supervision to ensure the youth’s safety, health, and overall well-being without the threat of harm. 

In a juvenile detention facility, common forms of neglect include not adequately feeding the youth, withholding needed medical treatment, or not sufficiently supervising the youths to prevent youth-on-youth violence or altercations. 

Sexual Abuse and Trafficking

Sexual abuse and trafficking are other unfortunate types of abuse that occur to juveniles in detention. 

Sexual abuse is considered any sexual activity with a child that is provided for either the gratification or financial gain of the perpetrator. This includes molestation, pornography, statutory rape, prostitution, and any other sexual activities with the minor. 

If a juvenile is being recruited, transported, or harbored for the purpose of a commercial sex act, then sex trafficking has taken place. 

If you or your loved one has suffered from juvenile detention abuse, call TopDog Law today and let us connect you with a trusted and diligent juvenile detention abuse lawyer in Baltimore. 

Who Are the Perpetrators of Juvenile Detention Abuse?

Multiple groups of people can perpetrate abuse in a juvenile detention center. 

Staff Abuse

Adults commonly in positions of superiority or control over youths in a juvenile detention facility are found to be perpetrators of juvenile abuse. 

Staff abusers can range from medical staff, correctional officers, teachers, counselors, and other adults who have a responsibility to care for the youths. 

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’s Children’s Bureau reports that there were 32 instances of youth maltreatment, or abuse, in one recent year where the perpetrator was a staff member of a group home or residential facility, with 215 instances having a perpetrator that was classified as other, and two being listed as the perpetrator having a professional relationship with the juvenile. 

Youth-on-Youth Abuse

Juveniles are also commonly abused by other youths in the facility, whether in a physical, emotional, or sexual manner. 

Often, when a juvenile is experiencing youth-on-youth abuse in a juvenile detention center, a form of neglect is also taking place by the caretakers responsible for keeping the youth safe. 

Juvenile Abuse Laws in Baltimore

Maryland’s state legislation details the severity of crimes and punishments associated with the different types of juvenile abuse in the state. 

Physical Abuse

A person who is responsible for the permanent or temporary care or custody of a minor who abuses the minor and causes severe physical injury or death to the minor can be found guilty of a felony of child abuse in the first degree. This crime is punishable by imprisonment of up to 25 years for the first offense.

If the victim is at least 13 years of age and is killed as a result of the abuse, the punishment is increased to imprisonment of up to 40 years. If the victim is younger than 13 years of age and is killed as a result of the abuse, the term of imprisonment may be extended to up to a life sentence. 

A person who commits this felony more than once is then subject to imprisonment of up to 25 years for each additional charge or up to a life sentence if the abuse resulted in the death of the minor. 

Sexual Abuse

A person who is responsible for the care or custody of a minor in Maryland who commits an act of sexual abuse against the youth can be charged with a felony. This crime is punishable by imprisonment of up to 25 years. 

If a person is convicted of sexually trafficking a minor, that person can be charged with a felony that is subject to imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. 

Emotional Abuse

If a person commits a crime of violence where a minor is present within sight or hearing, even if the minor is not injured, the person can be charged with a crime that is punishable by up to five years imprisonment in addition to any penalties associated with the crime of violence itself. 

Neglect

Neglect of a minor by a person who has permanent or temporary care, custody, or responsibility for the youth is illegal in the state of Maryland. 

Child neglect is considered a misdemeanor and punishable by imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. 

If you believe you or your loved one have suffered from juvenile detention abuse, contact TopDog Law today, and let us connect you with a trusted juvenile detention abuse lawyer in Baltimore. 

Why Choose a Baltimore Juvenile Detention Abuse Lawyer

Being abused while in a juvenile detention facility commonly leaves people feeling terrified for their safety. Abuse survivors often struggle through physical pain and injuries while trying to overcome the emotional distress caused by the abuse. 

Juveniles abused in detention centers often have a challenging time getting the proper help and understanding for their difficult and painful situation. 

Working with a compassionate and diligent juvenile detention abuse lawyer in Baltimore will make this painful and complicated situation easier for you and your loved ones to manage. 

At Top Dog Law, our network of lawyers can help you and your loved ones get your life and health back on track. 

Your local lawyer will listen to you closely to thoroughly understand your painful and challenging situation. They will investigate all aspects of your abuse case and gather all the necessary evidence.

Your dedicated legal team will passionately advocate on your behalf to ensure your voice is heard and your instances of abuse are brought to an end. 

Contact TopDog Lawyers today, and let us connect you with a dependable and well-respected juvenile detention abuse lawyer in Baltimore. 

Personal Injury Lawyer

FAQs About Juvenile Detention Abuse

1. Can I Receive Compensation for Juvenile Detention Abuse?

Suffering from the painful and traumatizing experience of juvenile detention abuse commonly leaves survivors and their loved ones feeling overwhelmed, heartbroken, and frustrated after the experience. They often do not know what their options are and how to get help in seeking justice for their devastating situation. 

If you or your loved one has suffered from juvenile detention abuse, you can recover compensation for the damages incurred from the abuse. 

Recoverable damages include:

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Medical expenses for both current and future treatments, including mental health
  • Any resulting medical complications or health issues
  • Punitive damages

Working with a compassionate and assertive juvenile detention abuse lawyer in Baltimore will help you and your loved ones maximize your compensation recovered while protecting your rights in your fight for justice. 

Contact TopDog Law today, and let us connect you with a local juvenile detention abuse lawyer in Baltimore.

2. What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Juvenile Detention Abuse?

People often have difficulty determining if their loved one is experiencing juvenile detention abuse. Survivors usually do not want to discuss their trauma, so it is helpful to know what signs and symptoms to look for in your loved one. 

Signs and symptoms of abuse include:

  • Withdrawing from people or activities
  • Self-inflicted harm or known suicide attempts
  • Displaying changes in behavior, ranging from anger and aggression to depression, anxiety, and lowered self-esteem
  • Unexplained injuries, or injuries that do not line up with the explanation provided
  • Sexually transmitted infections or diseases
  • Avoidance of specific situations
  • A decrease in educational or other type of performance
  • Changes in or stunting of emotional development
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Sudden change in weight

3. What Do I Do After Discovering Juvenile Detention Abuse?

Finding out that either you or your loved one has suffered abuse in a juvenile detention facility is a terrifying and heartbreaking experience. 

It is crucial to take the proper steps to protect the juvenile’s health, safety, and rights during this challenging time. 

  • Seek Medical Care: Seek medical and psychological care for yourself or your loved one as soon as possible after the abuse. 

Follow all medical treatment plans provided to you by your trusted medical team.

  • Report the Abuse: Report the incident(s) of abuse to the officials right away. By reporting the abuse, you will be taking a vital step in attaining justice for yourself or your loved one, as well as helping to prevent this atrocity from being inflicted upon others. 

Call 911 to get the help of local law enforcement if there is a threat of immediate danger. 

Report the abuse to local Child Protection Services as soon as possible. 

  • Keep Documentation: Keep thorough documentation for as many items as possible associated with the abuse, including:
    • Photos or videos of physical injuries or mental anguish
    • A list of names of any witnesses of the abuse
    • A copy of the incident report(s), if available
    • Doctors’ notes and treatment plans
    • Medical bills and any other associated expenses
    • A journal of what you remember or what your loved one has shared with you regarding the abuse, as well as any pain or trauma that has appeared as a result
  • Contact an Attorney: It is essential to contact an attorney as soon as possible after identifying situations of juvenile detention abuse. 

Your trusted and reliable juvenile detention abuse lawyer will listen to you closely to thoroughly understand your painful and challenging situation, investigate all aspects of your abuse case, gather all the necessary evidence, and passionately advocate on your behalf to help ensure your voice is heard and your instances of abuse are brought to an end.

Work With an Experienced Juvenile Detention Abuse Attorney

Being abused in a juvenile detention center leaves survivors suffering through physical pain and emotional trauma. They often feel unsafe in their environment and have a challenging time getting proper help.  

If you or your loved one have suffered from this type of abuse, contact TopDog Law today at (443) 920-7661, and let us connect you with a local juvenile detention abuse lawyer in Baltimore.

James Helm with Phone and Cash Bag

TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers

Baltimore Office

1 South St, Suite 2125A
Baltimore, MD 21202

Translate »