Survivor of State-Run Detention Center Abuse in Pennsylvania Speaks Out After a Decade

‘I'm Scared of Therapists’: Pennsylvania Woman Breaks Silence on Abuse in Juvenile Detention Center

A Pennsylvania woman is shedding light on the trauma she endured while housed in a state-run juvenile detention facility as a teenager—recounting years of physical and sexual abuse by a therapist entrusted with her care.

Her story, which she shared anonymously in an interview nearly ten years after the incidents occurred, echoes the pain of hundreds of others who have come forward in lawsuits targeting juvenile detention centers across Pennsylvania.

She entered the child welfare system at just five years old after her mother’s parental rights were terminated. Over the years, she was shuffled through foster homes—none offering the stability she desperately needed. At the age of 12, after a suicide attempt, she was placed in juvenile detention, not because of a criminal offense, but simply because she had nowhere else to go.

“I had been in one institution, and they said they didn’t want me anymore,” she recalled. “So I had to go to a new one because no other foster homes wanted me either.”

Abuse Inside North Central Secure Treatment Center

When she was around 15, she was transferred to North Central Secure Treatment Center, a facility operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). There, she experienced the trauma that still haunts her today—sexual and physical abuse by her assigned therapist.

“He was my therapist for probably over a year,” she said. “We would do things in our therapy sessions, and it came to a point that I realized he didn’t look at me the same way.”

Initially, she believed she was in a consensual relationship with the therapist—a common psychological response among young victims of authority figure abuse. Over time, it became painfully clear to her that what was happening was neither normal nor acceptable.

“I know I still need therapy,” she said tearfully, “but I’m scared of therapists. Like, how do I go get therapy when my therapist sexually abused me?”

Seeking Justice Through Civil Lawsuits

The survivor is now among more than 200 plaintiffs participating in ongoing lawsuits against Pennsylvania juvenile detention centers and DHS. These suits allege rampant abuse—sexual, physical, and emotional—across multiple facilities, both public and privately operated.

While not all victims were placed in state-run centers, this woman was, and she strongly believes the state failed in its duty of care.

“The state could’ve actually looked into everyone’s claims of abuse and not just taken the staff’s word for it,” she said. “They need to do a better job of who they’re hiring. They need to do mental evaluations on people.”

Her hope isn’t solely financial compensation. She wants acknowledgment.

“An acknowledgment would be better than anything—that yes, we did wrong. We didn’t do our job good enough to protect these kids.”

DHS Responds to Allegations

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has declined to comment on pending litigation but maintains that it has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse and harassment. A statement from the agency reads:

“We take seriously our responsibility to protect the health and safety of children at licensed facilities.”

But for survivors like the woman who shared her story, words alone are not enough.

Survivors Deserve More Than Silence

This heartbreaking testimony reflects a broader failure in institutional care across Pennsylvania. Vulnerable children, many of whom have already experienced trauma, are being further harmed in environments meant to rehabilitate and protect.

At Survivors of Abuse PA, attorney Ashley DiLiberto, Esq. and her legal team are committed to standing up for survivors of institutional abuse, including those harmed within the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. No survivor should feel silenced or afraid to seek help, especially after being violated by someone in a position of trust.

Our firm helps clients pursue justice through civil lawsuits, fighting for compensation and accountability from the state agencies and private facilities responsible for their suffering.

If You or a Loved One Was Abused in a Juvenile Facility in Pennsylvania

Don’t wait to speak up. Whether your abuse occurred recently or decades ago, you may still have legal options. Contact Ashley DiLiberto, Esq. at Survivors of Abuse PA today for a confidential and compassionate consultation. Let us help you take the first step toward healing and justice.

Source:

Local21 News