EVERETT — A Seattle law firm filed a federal lawsuit Thursday on behalf of eight formerly incarcerated minors alleging systemic sexual abuse, rape and degradation at Denney Youth Center and Denney Juvenile Justice Center in Everett.
Lawyers from Hagens Berman filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court in Seattle against Snohomish County and up to 20 unnamed individuals who are alleged to be responsible, according to a press release. The complaint alleges jailhouse guards and staff members repeatedly sexually abused the minors in their care, with victims as young as 10 years old.
“Our community should be shocked and appalled at what the county of Snohomish allowed to happen under its care and supervision,” said Steve Berman, Hagens Berman’s founder and managing partner, in the release. “Snohomish County had an obligation to protect those in its custody, including youth in detention, and we cannot imagine a more shameful failure of that duty.”
The lawsuit claims the county violated state negligence laws and federal law, including Monell claims, which pertain to the county’s maintenance and implementation of unconstitutional policies, practices and customs by sexually abusing inmates, failing to screen or train staff members, under staffing and other safety and human rights issues, the release said.
According to court documents, Snohomish County allegedly did not adequately supervise employees or properly train them regarding sexual abuse prevention and related laws. The complaint alleges the county authorized staff to conduct invasive strip searches, monitor the plaintiffs while they showered, employ grooming methods like gift giving and have unsupervised one-on-one time with the plaintiffs in their cells and “blind spots” inside the jail, court documents said.
“The county is aware a complaint was filed today and is currently reviewing the complaint and will respond in court at the appropriate time,” said Bridget Casey, the chief civil deputy prosecuting attorney for Snohomish County Prosecutors’ Office, on Thursday.
The complaint cites multiple incidents among the eight plaintiffs while they were minors, occurring from 1986 to 2006. One incident includes a guard bringing a 1o-year-old victim comic books to gain his trust, court documents said. The victim thought the guard was “the coolest guy ever” before he allegedly sexually abused him, court documents said.
In 1999, the Washington legislature enacted House Bill 1177, which addressed custodial sexual misconduct against incarcerated individuals when the victim is in the custody of law enforcement or believes the perpetrator could influence the terms and conditions of their incarceration or correctional supervision. The bill made first-degree counts a class C felony and second-degree counts a gross misdemeanor.
The complaint alleges that, despite the legislation, Snohomish County failed to educate detained minors about their rights and routinely threatened victims that they could influence the terms of their incarceration, court documents said.
In 2003, the Prison Rape Elimination Act was passed, which intended to stop prisoner rape in correctional facilities across the country. The act prohibits sexual contact between staff and inmates as well as undue familiarity and fraternization, which could be a precursor to custodial sexual abuse, court documents said.
The complaint requests relief in the form of awards for compensatory, general, punitive and special damages, the plaintiff’s legal fees and prejudgment interest alongside other relief that may be appropriate, court documents said.
“We intend to fight for their rights to retribution under the full extent of the law,” Berman said in the release.
Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan
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