Maryland Juvenile Facility Abuse: Scope of the Allegations

Last updated: October 2026

Thousands of people now allege they were sexually abused as children while held in Maryland’s juvenile facilities, with claims reaching back to the 1960s. The lawsuits, made possible by Maryland’s Child Victims Act of 2023, name the state and its Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), among others. By April 2026, local reporting counted more than 12,000 child sexual abuse claims against Maryland state entities. If you are a survivor of Maryland juvenile facility abuse, or love someone who is, the sections below also explain practical next steps, records and recent law changes.

This article looks at what the Maryland sex abuse lawsuits allege, which facilities are involved, how large the claims have become and how courts are handling them. Everything below describes allegations made in lawsuits and news reports. The state has not been found liable.

If this topic brings up difficult feelings, you can reach RAINN’s free, confidential hotline 24/7 at 800-656-4673 or at rainn.org.

How the Maryland sex abuse lawsuit wave began

For decades, many people who were abused as children could not sue once a time limit passed. Maryland’s Child Victims Act of 2023 changed that. It removed the statute of limitations for civil child sexual abuse claims and took effect in October 2023.

Lawsuits against the state followed almost at once. The Baltimore Banner reported that one suit was filed the same day the law took effect, and more came within weeks. In February 2025, the Supreme Court of Maryland upheld the law in a 4-3 decision, clearing the way for cases to proceed.

Which facilities are named

The lawsuits name many state-run youth facilities. Some have since closed. Facilities mentioned in coverage include:

• Charles H. Hickey Jr. School in Baltimore County, formerly the Maryland Training School for Boys
• Thomas J.S. Waxter Children’s Center in Laurel
• Cheltenham Youth Detention Center in Prince George’s County

One law firm’s filings alone covered 12 juvenile facilities and allegations from the 1970s through 2018. Stateline reported that more than 500 people alleged abuse at the Hickey School in at least two lawsuits, with allegations from the mid-1960s through at least 2019.

What the lawsuits allege

The complaints describe patterns that plaintiffs say repeated across facilities and decades. In general terms, they allege that:

• Staff members sexually abused young people in their care
• Staff used privileges, snacks or threats of punishment to pressure or silence children
• Abuse happened in isolated areas away from other staff
• Complaints were ignored or not investigated
• The state failed to screen, train and supervise employees

The Associated Press reported that concerns about the Hickey School were not new. A 2004 U.S. Justice Department report found a “deeply disturbing degree of physical abuse” there, and its youth treatment program closed in 2005.

Why so many claims surfaced only now

Many people ask why so much is coming out decades later. Survivors of childhood abuse often wait years, or a lifetime, before telling anyone. In a locked facility, the reasons can be even stronger:

• The people accused often controlled daily life, food, visits and discipline
• Young people feared punishment, isolation or longer stays if they spoke up
• Many had no trusted adult to tell, or were not believed when they did
• Shame and self-blame can last long after a child is released

Before 2023, legal time limits also meant many adults could no longer sue even when they were ready. Removing that limit gave people a path they did not have before. Delayed reporting is common and is not a sign that an account is untrue.

How many people have come forward

The scope has grown quickly, and different sources count different things. Here is how the numbers have been reported over time:

• Early 2025: A state legislative analysis found 45 lawsuits with 1,586 plaintiffs filed against the state, with about 4,000 more people seeking damages.
• March 2025: The AP reported that about 6,000 people had hired lawyers, according to attorneys involved. Stateline reported more than 3,500 people suing state agencies.
• April 2025: One firm said it had filed about 650 lawsuits involving DJS facilities.
• April 2026: Fox Baltimore’s Spotlight on Maryland reported 12,305 child sexual abuse claims against Maryland state entities.

Not all of these involve juvenile detention. Claims against the state also involve schools and other programs. But youth facilities make up a large share of the cases in the news.

What the state has said

DJS has said it takes allegations of sexual abuse of children in its care “with utmost seriousness” and is committed to safe, humane and rehabilitative settings. The department has said it reviews the lawsuits with the Office of the Attorney General.

The state has not announced any settlement. Lawmakers have focused on the cost. The legislature’s analysis estimated possible liability of $3.5 billion to $34 billion before new caps took effect. In April 2026, a state senator warned the figure could be far higher if survivors can recover for multiple incidents. How damage caps apply is still being argued.

How the courts are handling the cases

The wave of filings has been hard for the courts. The Daily Record reported that Baltimore City Circuit Court paused child sexual abuse cases in June 2025 to plan how to manage them. When cases resumed in October 2025, more than 1,400 were pending in that court alone.

The court split the cases into nine groups based on the type of defendant. Each group has a judge and a small steering committee of plaintiff and defense lawyers to coordinate discovery. The state, including DJS and its successor agencies, is one of the main defendants.

What courts will look at

As the cases move forward, both sides will gather records. That may include staffing and personnel files, incident reports, past complaints, internal investigations and outside reviews like the 2004 federal report. These records can show what the state knew and when. Each survivor’s claim will still depend on its own facts.

Maryland also changed the rules for new claims in 2025. You can read about current options in our guide to survivors’ legal options in 2026.

How a Maryland Juvenile Facility Abuse Claim Works in Practice

Reading about thousands of lawsuits can make it hard to picture your own path. Each survivor’s claim is separate, even when cases are grouped in court. Here is how a Maryland juvenile facility abuse claim often moves from a first call to the courtroom.

Step 1: A private first conversation

A participating law firm may start with a confidential call. You can share as much or as little as you want, such as the facility name, the years you were there and the kind of harm you experienced. You can pause at any time.

Many survivors find it easier to start with simple facts, like dates and places. The more personal details can come later, when you feel ready.

Step 2: Confirming where and when you were held

Next, the firm works to confirm your placement. That may include the facility, your unit or cottage, and the general dates. Records of your placement are often the backbone of a Maryland juvenile facility abuse claim, because they tie you to a specific place and time. This also matters because different defendants, such as the state, a county or a private operator, may have run a facility at different times.

Step 3: Identifying who may be responsible

In a Maryland juvenile facility abuse case, the claim may name the state and its juvenile services agency, a local government, a private company or individual staff members. The firm looks at who was in charge, who hired and supervised staff, and who received complaints.

Step 4: Filing and court management

If you decide to move forward, the firm files your claim. As the article explains, many cases are grouped for pretrial management so that records and schedules can be handled in one place. Your claim still keeps its own facts.

Step 5: Discovery and resolution

Both sides then exchange records and may take sworn interviews. Some claims may settle, and some may go to trial. No one can promise a result or a timeline, and you decide whether to accept any offer.

Common worries survivors raise

Many people who were held as young people worry that their past will be used against them. Here are some concerns survivors often raise, and general points to keep in mind.

• **”I had a juvenile record.”** Being placed in a facility does not mean you gave up the right to be safe there. A firm can explain how your history may come up and how it is handled.
• **”I have a criminal record as an adult.”** Many survivors do. It does not by itself rule out a Maryland juvenile facility abuse claim.
• **”The facility closed years ago.”** As the article notes, claims can involve facilities that no longer operate.
• **”The staff member may have died.”** Claims against an agency or operator may still be possible, depending on the facts.
• **”I do not remember everything.”** Gaps in memory are common after trauma. Share what you can, and let the firm work on the rest.

Records That May Help Show Where and When You Were Held

Many survivors were placed in facilities decades ago and have few papers from that time. That is common, and it does not stop you from asking questions. Still, some records and memories can help a law firm review a Maryland juvenile facility abuse claim.

What you may already have

• Court papers from a juvenile case, such as hearing notices or orders.
• Letters you sent or received while you were in the facility.
• Release papers, school transcripts or program certificates.
• Photos taken during visits, or notes from family members.
• Medical or counseling records from the time, or from later years.

Records held by agencies

The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services handles public information requests through its media and public information page. The department notes that juvenile records are among the records exempt from public disclosure.

That means your own file may not be available through a regular public request. A law firm may be able to seek records through the court process instead. Ask the firm before you send any requests on your own, so that records tied to your Maryland juvenile facility abuse claim are gathered in the right way.

Memories that can fill the gaps

If papers are missing, your memories still matter. Try to write down:

• The facility name and roughly how old you were.
• The names or nicknames of staff, and their roles.
• Other young people who were there and might remember you.
• Anyone you told at the time, such as a caseworker, teacher or parent.
• Any punishment, isolation or threats after you spoke up.

You do not need to write about the abuse itself unless you want to. Dates, places and names are often enough to begin a review. If writing brings up strong feelings, take breaks and come back to the list another day.

What the 2025 Law Change Means for Maryland Juvenile Facility Abuse Claims

The Child Victims Act of 2023 removed the time limit for civil child sexual abuse claims. In 2025, Maryland lawmakers passed House Bill 1378, which changed how much money claimants can recover in many of these cases. It did not bring back a filing deadline.

Lower damage caps for claims filed on or after June 1, 2025

According to the Department of Legislative Services fiscal note, the law took effect June 1, 2025. For previously time-barred claims filed on or after that date:

• Claims against the state, local governments and local school boards are capped at $400,000 for a single claimant, down from $890,000.
• Noneconomic damages against private entities are capped at $700,000 for a single claimant against a single defendant, down from $1.5 million.

“Per claim” instead of “per occurrence”

The law also replaced references to separate “incidents or occurrences” with “claims.” In plain terms, this limits the ability to seek separate caps for separate incidents of abuse. As the article notes, how caps apply is still being argued.

What this may mean for you

For a Maryland juvenile facility abuse survivor, the change may affect the value of a new claim, but it does not close the door to filing. WTOP reported that many firms rushed to file before the June 1, 2025 date. If you were not part of that rush, you may still qualify to bring a claim, and a law firm can explain how the caps may apply to your facts.

Talking With Family and Caring for Yourself

Coming forward about Maryland juvenile facility abuse can bring up memories you have worked hard to set aside. Some survivors also carry shame about why they were placed in a facility. Whatever led to your placement, you did not deserve to be harmed there.

If you decide to tell someone

• Start with one person you trust, rather than a large group.
• Decide ahead of time how much you want to share.
• It is okay to say you are not ready to answer a question.
• Remember that their reaction is not a measure of whether your story is true.

If someone tells you

If a family member shares that they experienced Maryland juvenile facility abuse, listen without pushing for details. Tell them you believe them and that it was not their fault. Let them choose whether to report, seek counseling or talk to a law firm.

Finding steady support

Talking about Maryland juvenile facility abuse with a counselor can help you process memories at a pace that feels safe. Some survivors look for a therapist who has worked with people who were in foster care, group homes or detention, because those settings share some patterns.

Support can also come from peer groups, faith communities or trusted friends. If speaking about it brings up thoughts of self-harm, you can call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at any time.

Questions to ask a law firm

• Who ran the facility during the years I was there, and does that change my claim?
• How do the 2025 caps apply to my situation?
• Can I use initials or a pseudonym in court papers?
• What records will you try to get, and how long might that take?
• How are fees and costs handled, and can I see the agreement in writing?

Taking these steps at your own pace can help you understand your options. Support for survivors of Maryland juvenile facility abuse is available whenever you are ready.

Maryland juvenile facility abuse: frequently asked questions

How Direct2Attorney can help

Direct2Attorney connects survivors with participating law firms that handle institutional abuse claims. If you were abused in a Maryland juvenile facility, you may qualify for a free, confidential case review. You decide what to share. Visit our juvenile detention abuse lawsuit page to learn more.

The Maryland sex abuse lawsuit wave shows how many people carried these experiences for years. Support is available, at your own pace, whenever you are ready.

Direct2Attorney is a legal marketing and referral service, not a law firm. This article is general information, not legal advice. Submitting information does not create an attorney-client relationship.