Troubled Teen Industry Sexual Abuse

Deep-seated problems within the Troubled Teen Industry have come to light in recent years, painting a very concerning picture. Ostensibly dedicated to saving teens from issues like depression, defiance, eating disorders and self-harm, some troubled teen residential programs cause more harm than healing. Sexual abuse is particularly rampant in the troubled teen industry, enabled by many of aspects of the industry’s design and lack of government oversight.

The experience of sexual abuse in a troubled teen program is deeply harmful to both teens and their loved ones. Our team of attorneys representing families is troubled teen sexual abuse cases understand the sensitive nature of these claims and bring our full support and empathy to our work. This page contains detailed information on sexual abuse in the Troubled Teen Industry.

The Troubled Teen Industry

The troubled teen industry is a division of private residential programming aimed at addressing a range of behavioral and emotional issues faced by adolescents. Teen therapeutic programs vary in their approach and intensity, but they all provide therapeutic interventions in congregate care settings. Programming types within the Troubled Teen Industry include wilderness therapy programs, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, and boot camps.

Wilderness therapy programs immerse teens in outdoor settings to learn survival skills and develop self-confidence
Therapeutic boarding schools provide a structured academic and therapeutic environment
Residential treatment centers offer intensive therapy and treatment for teens with severe behavioral or emotional problems
Boot camps focus on discipline and physical training to instill discipline and address behavioral issues.

Operated by non-profits, private companies, and religious institutions, troubled teen treatment programs purport to help teens turn around from defiant behaviors, anxiety, lack of motivation, eating disorders, and addiction; others claim to address gender identity and sexual orientation.

Critics say teen therapeutic programs vary widely in quality and effectiveness. Unlike other congregate care settings and childcare settings, teen therapeutic programs are largely unregulated. This lack of oversight can lead to instances of abuse or neglect within some facilities, as well as the use of potentially harmful treatment methods. Far from providing effective treatment, a shocking number of reports of sexual abuse in troubled teen programs have emerged over the past decade.

Teen Congregate Care Sexual Abuse

Teen therapeutic programs are typically structured to remove adolescents from their home environments for a period of time. While this approach may provide reprieve from everyday stressors and an opportunity for developing new perspectives, isolation from their support network also puts teens at risk.

Troubled teen programs are typically located in remote areas, far away from urban centers. Limited or no cell phone reception and restricted access to electronic devices create isolation. Additionally, troubled teen programs often enforce strict rules and regulations, including limited or no contact with family and friends.

While isolating participants from their typical social connections is a purposeful part of the structure of troubled teen programs, this isolation creates an environment that is rife for sexual abuse. Troubled teens often come into a program with a lack of self-confidence and facing disapproval from their parents. They become highly dependent on the adult leaders in their program, leading to an unsafe power dynamic.

In some cases, adult leaders in troubled teen programs may manipulate underage participants by developing inappropriately close relationships with them. Regardless of how a teen feels about the attention, no type of sexual relationship is legal between an adult and a minor. This type of relationship is one way sexual abuse may play out in a troubled teen program. It can be particularly confusing for the teenager, who may feel a sense of loyalty to the abuser or feel they are to blame for what occurred.

Types of Sexual Abuse in Troubled Teen Programs

Sexual abuse in troubled teen programs may include:

Any sexual contact between staff and student
Grooming for emotional or sexual relationships
Recounting of sexual experiences between staff and student

Other cases of sexual abuse may seem more obvious, but also can be incredibly difficult for a teen to face and report. This is a type that is done with force and maliciousness. The following also constitute reports of sexual abuse in troubled teen programs:

Sexual assault, or any forced sexual contact
The cruel and unusual use of strip searches and cavity searches
Forced pelvic exams / virginity checks
Forced sexualized behavior, reenactments of sexual assault and sexual shaming
Viewing, photographing or filming nude teens; or showing pornographic images to youth
Any methods used for the sole purpose of "conversion therapy" of LGBTQ+ youth

If you or your teen is feeling reluctant to report troubled teen sexual abuse, know that you are not alone. Due to the complicated power dynamics of rape and sexual abuse, these crimes are notoriously difficult to report. Survivors of sexual violence may feel they are to blame for the harm, or worry about how others may view them. Many survivors report feeling fearful that the perpetrator will retaliate, sometimes because of direct threats. Survivors also worry that reporting the abuse will result in further trauma, having to relive the details of the abuse or face authorities, family members or friends who question the legitimacy of the report. Young victims of troubled teen industry sexual abuse face added layers of difficulty in reporting, due to the isolating nature of the programs, parent relationships that may already be tenuous or strained, and the power dynamic that results from an older perpetrator and younger victim.

File a Claim for Troubled Teen Industry Sexual Abuse

If you or a young person in your life experienced sexual abuse while enrolled in a troubled teen program, you may be eligible for significant compensation for the trauma, pain, and suffering caused by this experience. Our attorneys handling troubled teen sexual abuse cases are on call and ready to provide the support and guidance you need to seek justice. Parents and guardians entrust troubled teen programs with the safety and well-being of their teen child; these programs must be held accountable when a young person’s rights are violated through sexual abuse.

If you or your teen is feeling reluctant to report troubled teen sexual abuse, know that you are not alone.

Troubled teen residential programs in the United States suffer from a troubling lack of regulation and oversight. State agencies, which are responsible for investigating and monitoring these programs, often lack the necessary resources and authority to effectively carry out their oversight duties. This lack of regulatory power allows residential treatment facilities to continue operating despite reports of abuse and neglect. This lack of accountability and oversight puts the well-being and safety of tens of thousands of teens at risk. Filing a claim is the best and only means families have to obtain needed compensation and hold troubled teen programs accountable for sexual abuse.

Let Our Troubled Teen Industry Sexual Abuse Lawyers Help You

Our attorneys specialize in pursuing justice on behalf of our clients against large institutions, no matter how complex the case. Through settlements and winning verdicts, our attorneys have obtained millions for our clients. Let us help you today.