Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers Represents Mother in Lawsuit Against Wayne County Officials Over Alleged Rape of Son at Juvenile Detention Center

PMPBR attorney Cary McGehee recently filed a lawsuit in Detroit’s federal district court against Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center and state officials on behalf of the mother of a boy who was allegedly beaten and raped by five other youths while detained at the center. 

The plaintiff alleges that Wayne County, Warren Evans, and officials from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) violated her son's constitutional rights, including protections against cruel and unusual punishment. 

The boy, who was 12 at the time of the assault, was placed in a unit with older youths, including an 18-year-old and at least one other juvenile with a history of sexual offenses. The lawsuit points to systemic issues at the facility, such as overcrowding and understaffing, which have been well documented for years. These conditions created an environment ripe for abuse. 

In response to the incident, Evans declared a health emergency at the detention center, citing a shortage of long-term facilities for court-ordered youths. 

The lawsuit also states that officials had prior knowledge of the dangerous conditions at the facility: "Defendants had actual and constructive notice that the conditions...were such that...a sexually hostile prison environment would be created, and serious injury, including severe physical and sexual assaults, would occur." . 

Complaint 

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Detroit Free Press: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2024/07/12/wayne-county-juvenile-jail-lawsuit-rape/74366199007/