Lawsuit against Delco juvenile detention center for alleged sexual abuse

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Three former residents of the Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center (DCJDC) filed a lawsuit against the county Wednesday night, alleging that DCJDC staff sexually abused them.

Anna Kull, a New York-based survivors’ rights attorney who represents the three people, said the problems are systemic.

“The county must be held accountable for what happened here, because without accountability we will not see real change,” said Kull, partner at Levy Konigsberg.

A district spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit filed in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas seeks to hold the county liable for misconduct at the problem facility.

“Civil law allows these victims to come forward, file suit and seek financial compensation for the lifelong pain and suffering they endured as a result of sexual abuse as minors,” Kull said.

The DCJDC was a juvenile correctional facility in Lima, Pennsylvania, for children and adolescents ages 10 to 18. The facility was operated by the district court—until it was forced to vacate its halls several years ago.

Delaware County Judge Kevin Kelly closed the center in March 2021 after the public defender’s office sent an urgent letter to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

The letter detailed allegations of “physical, sexual and psychological abuse by staff.” These complaints drew increased attention to the state’s juvenile justice system, which has been marred by a series of abuse scandals across the state.

“You really have to think about why it was this way for so long – why and how it became so widespread,” Kull said.

In the latest lawsuit, Kull and her colleagues focused on the county’s disregard and inaction regarding complaints against the facility and staff prior to 2021.

A grand jury later investigated conduct at DCJDC. Although the jury uncovered a culture of violence, silence and “sexually inappropriate behavior” by staff, they voted against recommending charges.

“Despite numerous publicly documented cases of abuse by DCJDC staff dating back decades and reported to both county and state authorities and staff, not once have meaningful steps been taken to protect juveniles at DCJDC,” the complaint states.