Institutional Abuse in Group Homes and Minor Care Facilities
There has recently been a rise in awareness of group home abuse in Memphis, especially as it affects minors. From rehab facilities to orphanages and juvenile detention, these institutions owe us full accountability. And we owe our city’s children a chance at justice.
Recent allegations against one group home in Memphis help to underscore how dangerous and isolating these abuses can get. So here’s what’s happening and what to do if you or a loved one has experienced abuse in a Memphis group home or facility.
Unusually Vulnerable Circumstances
The children and others who live in group homes or rehab facilities are some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Even those with loving families, who pray and hope for their healing, often have limited access to the outside world.
But too many of these kids enter these facilities without parental support. Some children have lost their parents completely, depend on the foster system, and/or have run away from home.
As a result, the programs often lack oversight and adult accountability. Minors may feel powerless to speak up or not know how. And some who seek legal help may face punishment and further abuse. This serves to isolate abuse victims even further and make it hard to get justice.
How These Abuses Get Reported
However, there are still ways to report abuse in these facilities.
Often, our teachers serve as the first warning sign against serious abuses. This is true for children abused at home as well. Generally in those circumstances, they might report what they see to Child Protective Services (CPS). But if they know the minor’s living situation, they can also report the facility to a lawyer or try to get the minor connected with some form of legal help.
Similarly, foster parents, nonprofits partnering with the institution, and other adults may notice warning signs and try to help.
In addition, if the minor has access to the web, they may be able to contact an attorney on their own behalf. Due to the nature of some of these facilities (for example, juvenile detention), their internet use may be monitored. But that isn’t always the case.
Regardless, everyone has the right to an attorney – especially in cases of abuse or neglect. If you or someone you love needs help, it’s your right to seek a dedicated and trusted attorney who will fight for them.
Working with a Personal Injury Lawyer to Fight Group Home Abuse in Memphis
Because these are such vulnerable situations, it’s all the more important the justice system holds these institutions accountable.
No one should suffer in silence, and it’s up to all of us and the courts to help these minors find relief.
Depending on the nature of the abuse or neglect, criminal punishment may certainly be warranted. But beyond that, victims of institutionalized mistreatment can get justice through the civil courts.
This means your civil attorney would work to prove:
1) you have suffered harm, and
2) the group home, institution, or a specific individual was responsible for this harm.
Our attorneys have decades of experience representing victims of abuse. We’ve defended people’s rights and helped them get the justice they needed and the compensation they deserved. We’re big enough to have joined some of the biggest cases in the country and won, but we’re small enough to give you our personal attention and care.
That’s how we’ve won multiple awards for client satisfaction and top ratings on Google and Avvo. We won’t give up on you, and we don’t get paid a thing unless and until we win your case.
If you or someone you care about has experienced abuse in a group home, rehab facility, detention center, or similar, please don’t wait to get help. Contact us today or call us at 901-327-2100.