foster care sexual abuse lawyer Archives -

Our client, at the young age of 13 years old, entered the corridors of Montrose School in 1987. He experienced the worst kind of betrayal and child sexual abuse within a system designed to protect vulnerable youth.

Enduring unspeakable horrors at the hands of those entrusted with his care and rehabilitation, our client’s story is not an isolated incident. It reflects pervasive neglect and misconduct within facilities governed by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS).

Today, The Yost Legal Group stands firm in its commitment to represent survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. We bring justice against those who turned their backs on innocent children and allowed such abuses to occur.

If you are a victim of child sexual abuse, contact an institutional sexual abuse lawyer at The Yost Legal Group. Our legal group is here to support and guide you through filing a claim against the state of Maryland. Our experienced attorneys work closely with survivors of sexual abuse and sex crimes.

Seeking Justice for Survivors of Montrose School Abuse

The Montrose School was established to nurture troubled youth through rehabilitation and education. It was supposed to be a haven where the young could be redirected towards brighter futures.

However, for many individuals like our client, it became a place where nightmares were lived out daily.

Mr. Bowman, an authority figure meant to provide guidance and protection, instead preyed on our client, a vulnerable youth at Montrose. He committed sexual acts so abhorrent that they left lasting scars on many vulnerable youths.

When our client confided in Ms. Hawkins, a staff member at Montrose, about these sexual assaults, what should have been a turning point toward safety instead spiraled into another chapter of exploitation.

Ms. Hawkins abused this trust by starting her own harmful sexual relationship with our client. This worsened his trauma.

These actions show serious problems in institutions meant to protect minors. The Yost Legal Group aims to address these issues by holding these institutions accountable.

Protecting children from sexual predators must always be at the forefront of juvenile detention centers and all children’s organizations.

Maryland Abuse Survivors, Take the First Step

We are helping survivors of Maryland who suffered abuse in an institutional environment fight back.

– Rape in juvenile detention centers

– Sexual abuse in schools

– Catholic church molestation

– Sexual abuse by teachers

– Sexual abuse in public schools

– Sexual abuse in hospitals

– Rape in foster care

Your Voice Matters: Fight Against Abuse in Juvenile Detention Centers

The DJS bears responsibility in this narrative. As a child-serving agency, it has strong authority over juvenile welfare centers like Montrose School. It looks after these children’s lives, including their education, rehabilitation, safety, and well-being.

Yet beneath this umbrella of state-sanctioned control lay opportunities for child sexual abuse that went unchecked until brave survivors stepped forward.

Empowering survivors is crucial for individual healing and systemic change. Each voice raised exposes cracks in institutional armor that must be addressed to reform juvenile justice systems across Maryland—and beyond.

Empowering Maryland Survivors to Claim Justice

By representing child sexual abuse claims against state entities involved in these abuses alongside other government agencies complicit through negligence or active participation—The Yost Legal Group aims to seek justice.

Even though promises were made, children sent to Montrose discovered a deteriorating, overcrowded, and understaffed facility.

They were molested and exposed to a long history of abuse by both staff and other residents, leaving them deeply traumatized. Many suffer to this day from depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Montrose’s institutional failures were notorious well before the Maryland State Legislature closed it in 1988.

Known as an overcrowded holding facility for juveniles, its excessive use of solitary confinement was particularly notorious.

Maryland Juvenile Detention Center Abuse Lawyers

Numerous victims allege they reported the abuse, yet facility administrators took no action. Beyond correctional officers, accusations also involve nurses, teachers, and counselors.

Some juvenile offenders in Montrose reported their abusers coerced them into sexual acts by promising extra food, phone calls, outdoor time, and other incentives. Others described facing threats of violence, solitary confinement, extended sentences, and transfers to more severe facilities.

Montrose School closed in 1988 due to severe issues, including incidents of suicide, self-harm, and both physical and sexual abuse involving staff and students.

Hundreds of Maryland youth at the Montrose School under state care suffered sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Individuals in positions of trust and authority misused their roles to commit appalling acts of abuse against youth.

Because of the new Child Victims Act, the statute of limitations for sexual assault in Maryland is removed for many. Regardless of how long ago your abuse occurred, we may be able to seek justice and compensation for you.

A Broken Jail System Leads to Years of Trauma

Maryland’s juvenile detention centers have been a breeding ground for abuse rather than rehabilitation. The very institutions meant to protect and reform troubled youth became harbors for predators exploiting vulnerable children.

These facilities were meant to be places of correction and hope. Instead, they continued cycles of victimization. This left deep psychological scars on many young people.

The impact of child molestation extends far beyond the immediate physical violations endured by victims. For many survivors, the psychological ramifications are profound and debilitating.

Trust issues become deeply ingrained, relationships suffer, and self-worth diminishes. Understandably, this has led some victims into lives defined by criminal behavior or even suicide.

Counseling services are available and accessible for those to begin processing their trauma in a safe environment.

In addition to emotional healing resources, legal recourse is pivotal in addressing past wrongs while preventing future incidents. Survivors deserve justice—a validation that what they suffered was wrong.

Justice for Montrose School Abuse Survivors – Free Legal Consultation

If you or a loved one were at the Montrose facility in Maryland and suffered sexual abuse, contact The Yost Legal Group. Our child sexual abuse lawyers will fight to hold your abusers and the failing Maryland juvenile detention system accountable.

Our sexual assault lawyers will work to seek financial compensation for the trauma and abuse you suffered under state care. We will file a lawsuit, provide legal representation to you, and explain the legal process.

If you are a sexual assault survivor and suffered molestation and child sexual abuse in a Maryland juvenile detention center, contact our law office for help and guidance. We offer a 100% free consultation.

Contact us at 1-800-967-8529 or fill out the form, and we will contact you shortly. If someone sexually victimized you, that was not your fault. We will file a child sexual abuse case on your behalf.

The Yost Legal Group Does Not Charge Anything Upfront.

Our child abuse lawyers will listen to your story and represent you without you having to pay anything in advance. We get paid after we settle your case. If there is no recovery, no legal fees or expenses are due.

Sexual Abuse Lawyer – Child Sexual Abuse Attorney – Sex Abuse Lawyer

Grooming involves using persuasion and manipulation. If you’re experiencing the pain of child sexual abuse, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. There are many reasons why these experiences often go unnoticed or unspoken. Please consider reaching out to a trauma-informed therapist who can offer you a safe space to process your feelings and begin your healing journey.

It is important to remember that those who harm children are often individuals familiar with and trusted by them, like healthcare professionals, teachers, school bus drivers, or clergy members.

These individuals may not always resort to physical force. Instead, they might use methods such as play, deception, threats, or other forms of manipulation to involve children and keep them from speaking out.

Our focus should be on creating safer environments and supporting any child who may find themselves in such a difficult situation.

What is Grooming? Key Warning Signs Explained

Grooming is a deliberate and methodical process where an abuser builds trust with a child—and often their family—to facilitate sexual exploitation. It frequently begins with identifying susceptible children who may have certain vulnerabilities, such as low self-esteem, loneliness, or lack of attention at home.

It can include giving gifts or planning special activities to confuse the child. Abusers might also try to make inappropriate touching seem normal or isolate the child from family and friends.

This slowly breaks down any barriers the child might have against inappropriate behavior.

How Grooming Works and How to Recognize It

One of the most insidious aspects of grooming is how normal it can appear to outsiders. Abusers are adept at presenting themselves as caring figures in the child’s life—sometimes even acting as mentors or friends.

They may integrate themselves into community groups such as schools or sports teams where they have easy access to potential victims. By creating an environment that appears supportive and safe, they effectively mask their true intentions not only from their victims but also from those around them.

As grooming progresses, abusers often escalate their tactics in subtle ways that might not initially raise red flags. This could include introducing sexual content in conversations under the guise of education or jokingly testing boundaries with a physical touch that’s framed as accidental or playful.

These actions gradually desensitize a child to inappropriate behavior while simultaneously conditioning them to maintain secrecy about these interactions.

Child Abuse Statistics Every Parent Should Know

Retrospective research shows that 1 out of 6 boys will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2005)

Approximately 90% of children are abused by someone known to them, usually someone they know and trust.

Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement (2000)

African American children have almost twice the risk of sexual abuse than white children.

Sedlak. Supplementary Analyses of Race Differences in Child Maltreatment Rates in the NIS–4. (2010)

Only about 38% of child sexual abuse incidents/cases are identified, and even fewer are reported.

London, et al. Disclosure of child sexual abuse: What does the research tell us about the ways that children tell? (2003)

Male adult child sexual abuse victims are 2.6 times more likely to report substance use problems (65% versus 25% in the general population).

Simpson, T.L. & Miller, W.R. (2002)

80% of children who have been sexually abused have some PTSD symptoms (post-traumatic stress disorder).

Shanta R. Dube, et al. Long-Term Consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse by Gender of Victim. (2005)

It’s Not Your Fault—Support for Survivors

Survivors of child sexual abuse often find themselves feeling isolated and withdrawn from the people around them. It’s important to know that there are allies who understand, believe in your story, and are here to support you on your healing journey.

It’s not uncommon for survivors to feel guilty or blame themselves for what happened. However, you must remember that the abuse was never your fault. Those in positions of authority, such as church leaders, failed to protect you, and holding them accountable is crucial.

Legally, you have rights and options. A child sexual abuse attorney can act as a powerful advocate, offering protection and legal recourse against abusers. If the abuse happened in a place like a school, church, or detention center, it’s essential to share your story.

A sexual assault lawyer works closely with sexual assault survivors, providing gentle care and support. If you experienced abuse under the age of 18 in an institution or government facility, we can help you seek justice.

You’re Not Alone—The Yost Legal Group Can Help

The Yost Legal Group is committed to helping you seek justice. Our child sexual abuse lawyers in Baltimore, Maryland, are here to help you file a lawsuit. The Child Victims Act of 2023 protects survivors. It allows them to come forward no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.

Were you raped in a juvenile jail in the state of Maryland? Did you suffer child sexual abuse in a school or camp program? Were you molested in an institution or hospital? We can help you file a civil case.

Remember, you deserve to be heard, to receive justice, and to secure financial compensation. Contact The Yost Legal Group at 800-967-8529 for compassionate and confidential legal assistance. We’re here to listen and stand with you when you’re ready to talk.

Tag: foster care sexual abuse lawyer

Helping Survivors of Montrose School Child Sexual Abuse