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Photo: The Sacramento County Courthouse; via Wikipedia.
Seventeen plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against Sacramento County, claiming that the county’s Department of Child, Family and Adult Services failed to protect foster youth from a wide range of harms, including drug use, violence, statutory rape, and sex trafficking, The Sacramento Bee reported.
The civil suit, filed in Sacramento Superior Court, involves allegations from youth who were housed at the Warren E. Thornton (WET) Center and county office buildings between 2020 and 2022.
The WET Center, a former juvenile detention facility in Rosemont, was used by the county to temporarily house foster children awaiting long-term placements. The practice drew criticism from state agencies and ended in 2023 when the California Department of Social Services ordered the county to stop using the facility, citing licensing violations and concerns over its “jail-like” conditions.
Severe Allegations Against County-Run Facilities
The plaintiffs, listed anonymously as John and Jane Does, are former foster youth or their guardians. Their lawsuit paints a disturbing picture of what life was like inside the facilities during their stays. The alleged misconduct includes:
- Regular alcohol and drug use by all 17 plaintiffs, with 13 reportedly using substances daily.
- Sexual activity between minors resulting in at least one pregnancy, which under California law is considered statutory rape.
- Routine attempts to run away, with many teens going missing overnight and returning in the early morning.
- One boy allegedly forced into “cage fights” watched by paying adults.
- A county employee accused of sending inappropriate images and physically assaulting a youth who reported the misconduct.
- Separate incidents of sexual assault by county employees against both male and female teens.
- Eight teenage girls allegedly trafficked for sex, with pimps operating both outside and inside the facilities.
- Reports that law enforcement returned trafficked girls to the same facility, notifying staff of their abuse, yet no intervention occurred.
- One girl allegedly developed alcohol poisoning and attempted suicide.
- A teenage boy reportedly went malnourished and resorted to theft for food.
Ongoing Safety Concerns and Official Response
These revelations follow a 2023 grand jury report (PDF) that confirmed the presence of violence, substance abuse, and trafficking at the WET Center. The report also raised concerns about the county’s current foster homes, which are now used in place of the WET Center. It cited the presence of weapons and continued vulnerabilities.
In response, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors stated that while serious threats persist, Child Protective Services alone cannot be expected to eliminate such risks. Their plan includes collaboration with nonprofits that specialize in addiction and exploitation, as well as increased screening measures like bag checks.
A plaintiff’s attorney stated that the lawsuit is a necessary step to hold the county accountable for placing children in environments unfit for their safety and development.
State Oversight and Legislative Efforts
In 2022, the state’s Foster Care ombudsperson expressed concern that the WET Center could retraumatize foster youth. According to a letter from the California Department of Social Services, the facility’s physical environment, including small, cell-like rooms, thin mattresses, and metal toilets, was inappropriate for vulnerable minors.
These findings spurred California State Senator Angelique Ashby to introduce a bill aimed at helping counties develop better housing alternatives for foster children awaiting placement. The bill did not pass the Assembly and failed to become law.
Sacramento County has since transitioned to using two single-family homes for temporary placement of foster youth. These homes are provisionally licensed and intended to provide a safer, more normalized environment.
If you or someone you know endured abuse while in a county-run foster care facility, you may have legal options. Survivors often say the greatest outcome isn’t just a financial settlement. It’s about finally being heard, recognized, and empowered to reclaim your story. Learn your legal rights against institutions or expedite the free case process by filling out the form below.
