Los Angeles County Launches 24/7 Hotline to Report Child Sexual Abuse by County Personnel

The Imprint’s Jeremy Loudenback reported yesterday that Los Angeles County has launched a new 24/7 hotline for reporting suspected child sexual abuse involving county employees, contractors, volunteers, or government-run facilities. The system, accessed through 211 or an online reporting form, offers a confidential, multilingual and trauma-informed process for survivors, families, and witnesses. County leaders say the goal is to provide a clear pathway for reporting concerns and ensuring allegations receive prompt attention. Chair of the Board of Supervisors Hilda Solis stated that the hotline is intended to help identify and intervene in situations where children may be at risk.

The hotline is part of a broader effort by Los Angeles County to strengthen safeguards for children following a series of large settlements involving abuse in county-run institutions. The county has recently updated its Zero Tolerance policy, implemented mandatory sexual abuse prevention training for all county workers, and begun planning reforms to civil service rules dealing with serious misconduct. Acting Chief Executive Officer Joe Nicchitta said the hotline was designed by the county rather than based on another jurisdiction’s model. He added that using an independent third party to manage the system was intended to give callers greater confidence that their reports would remain confidential and be handled appropriately.

These initiatives follow decades of allegations involving abuse at county-run juvenile detention centers and a former foster care shelter. In April 2024, the county announced a $4 billion settlement with nearly 7,000 survivors who reported abuse spanning 1959 to 2023. In October, the county reached another settlement for approximately $828 million with a separate group of about 400 survivors. LAist has reported that roughly 2,500 cases remain unresolved, and additional filings are expected.

Many of these claims became possible after the passage of Assembly Bill 218, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault in California and allowed survivors to file claims until age 40. Several other states enacted similar legislation, leading to large increases in filings nationwide.

The rollout of the county’s response plan has occurred alongside an ongoing investigation into fraudulent claims. An October Los Angeles Times report identified individuals who said they were paid to fabricate allegations within the first settlement group.

County officials say the new 211 hotline is part of their long-term effort to ensure that reports of abuse are received, assessed, and routed to investigators quickly. According to a county statement, all new allegations submitted through the hotline will be flagged for a senior oversight team responsible for reviewing claims and coordinating investigations. Individuals can report suspected abuse by calling 211 or submitting a form at 211la.org/report-childsexualabuse.