Skip to content
Photo: Denney Juvenile Justice Center, Snohomish County, WA; courtesy of DJC.com.
A report yesterday in the Seattle Times says a new federal lawsuit claims that multiple children were sexually abused while detained at a Snohomish County juvenile facility during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the complaint accuses Snohomish County of negligence and failing to protect minors held at the Denney Juvenile Justice Center in Everett, formerly known as the Denney Youth Center.
Survivors Describe Systemic Abuse and Neglect
Eight plaintiffs are listed in the complaint, each alleging severe abuse while in county custody. Attorneys representing the survivors claim that county staff and officials showed a “willful disregard” for the safety of the children under their supervision. The youngest survivor was only 10 years old when the alleged abuse occurred.
According to the filing, the facility allowed staff to perform invasive strip searches, observe minors while they showered, and interact with them alone without oversight. Attorneys argue that Snohomish County failed to implement proper safeguards or meet federal standards established under the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
One survivor reported the abuse to a probation officer, yet “Snohomish County took no further action,” the lawsuit alleges. Others described physical assaults by multiple correctional officers and being threatened or placed in solitary confinement to silence them.
County Response
A spokesperson for the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office, Bridget Casey, stated that the county is “reviewing the allegations and will respond in court at the appropriate time.”
The case comes amid a wave of litigation involving abuse in Washington’s juvenile and foster care systems. In the last fiscal year, state payouts for such cases reached over $506 million, a record high. The state’s largest juvenile detention center, Green Hill School in Chehalis, has also faced recent lawsuits and criminal charges involving staff misconduct.
Advocates say these lawsuits reveal long-standing systemic failures within Washington’s youth justice system, where children placed in government care were left vulnerable to abuse instead of being protected.
Take Action If You or a Loved One Was Harmed in a Juvenile Facility
SurvivorsRights.com may help connect survivors of institutional sexual abuse with compassionate legal advocates who understand the lasting trauma caused by these environments.
All consultations are confidential and no-obligation. You may still have time to pursue justice. Learn more about filing an institutional lawsuit with our GUIDE and see if your case qualifies for possible compensation by completing the form, below.
