New Jersey Faces 30 New Lawsuits Over Juvenile Detention Abuse

The legal action centers on decades of alleged misconduct, with some claims dating back to the 1980s. Many survivors remained silent for years until the 2019 Child Sexual Abuse Act expanded the statute of limitations, finally providing a legal pathway for these individuals to seek accountability. Attorneys Jerome Block and Clark Binkley, who spearhead the litigation, argue that the state’s juvenile system has long been marred by horrific conditions, specifically citing the New Jersey Training School at Jamesburg.

In response to the mounting caseload, the Supreme Court of New Jersey established a multicounty litigation program based in Middlesex County. This centralized venue handles the hundreds of ongoing claims against the state. Jerome Block emphasized that these filings serve as a demand for government responsibility, noting that clients are no longer willing to endure the silence that previously shielded state and local authorities from the consequences of the abuse enabled within these facilities.