Lawsuit Alleges Decades of Sexual Abuse in King County Juvenile Detention Centers

A lawsuit has been filed against King County by 36 former juvenile detainees, alleging decades of systemic sexual abuse and institutional negligence within county detention facilities. The suit claims that correctional officers, healthcare staff, educators, probation officers, and even a Superior Court judge either perpetrated or enabled abuse ranging from rape and molestation to grooming and threats of retaliation, dating back to the late 1960s. Plaintiffs, some as young as 11 at the time of the alleged abuse, assert that the county failed to implement effective preventive measures, ignored red flags, and did not adequately supervise or train staff, fostering a culture of impunity. The lawsuit includes claims against former Judge Gary Little, whose alleged misconduct prompted judicial reforms in the 1990s after his death by suicide. Plaintiffs seek damages for physical, emotional, and psychological trauma, and their legal team emphasizes the case is about accountability and ensuring such abuses do not recur. King County officials have responded by committing to thoroughly investigate the claims and maintain robust standards to protect youth in their care.