Various Bronx elected officials joined survivors of abuse that allegedly occurred in various youth detention centers across The Bronx on Tuesday, April 30, to announce the filing of more than 150 civil lawsuits against The City of New York made possible by a law passed by the New York City Council in 2021, which extends the statute of limitations, granting survivors of gender-motivated violence an additional two years to pursue civil actions.

“As Chair of Children and Youth Services, I am deeply disturbed by the allegations of abuse at several juvenile detention centers across the city,” said City Council Member Althea Stevens (C.D. 16), who represents the Bronx neighborhoods of Morrisania, Claremont Village-Claremont (East), Concourse-Concourse Village, Highbridge, Mount Eden-Claremont (West), Yankee Stadium-Macombs Dam Park, Claremont Park, University Heights (South)-Morris Heights, and University Heights (North)-Fordham.

Earlier on Tuesday, Levy Konigsberg, a law firm dedicated to fighting for justice on behalf of those who have survived childhood sexual abuse and exploitation, filed all 150 civil lawsuits against the City of New York on behalf of the survivors of the alleged sexual abuse while they were under the care of the Administration of Children Services (ACS) at the various juvenile detention facilities.

Attorneys Jerome Block and Madeleine Skaller, representing the law firm, joined the group on the steps of Bronx County Court to uncover what they said was “the egregious, gender-motivated, sexual abuse perpetrated by staff members at notorious juvenile detention facilities located in The Bronx.” They said this included alleged abuse at the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center (also known as Bridges Juvenile Detention Center) in Hunts Point, Horizon Juvenile Center in the South Bronx, as reported by the New York Times, and Rikers Island.

For her part, Mary Soto, one of the survivors, said on Tuesday, “The sexual abuse I endured at Horizon Juvenile Detention Center impacted every aspect of my life, which is why I seek justice for the harm that was allowed to be done on me.” She added, “What happened to me should have never happened, especially while under the care of the City of New York. The system failed me and hundreds of others but I am here today to hold these institutions accountable.”

Meanwhile, Block, who is also a partner at the law firm, said, “New York City’s juvenile justice system is broken. The City’s juvenile detention center staff severely and systematically sexually abused our clients when they were children. The perpetrators of these heinous sex crimes were correctional officers, counselors, nurses, other staff members and even supervisors – the very people entrusted with our clients’ safety.”

The attorney continued, “Sexual abuse of this magnitude and severity simply cannot occur in the absence of negligence and, even worse, a culture of secrecy. Fortunately, the New York City Council has provided this 2-year window to address this type of sexual violence, recognizing that it often takes many years for survivors to come forward. Our clients are courageous people who are grateful that the City Council has allowed them to bring these cases forward after so many years to obtain some measure of justice, which will hopefully prevent future generations from being sexually preyed upon by similar acts of gender-motivated violence.”

State Sen. Nathalia Fernandez (S.D. 34), who represents much of the East Bronx, also weighed in, saying, “Today, we stand in solidarity with the courageous survivors who experienced sexual assault in our youth detention facilities. These individuals, in stepping forward to recount their harrowing experiences, show remarkable bravery and resilience.”

The senator continued, “These lawsuits represent a pivotal step forward in the reporting and prosecution of sexual assault cases, affirming that the bodily rights and autonomy of every individual — regardless of incarceration status — are valued and safeguarded by law, and it sends a strong message that our legal system supports survivors in their pursuit of justice.”

Attorneys for the survivors allege that despite widespread reports, investigations, and campaigns to close or reform the referenced juvenile detention facilities, the City of New York had allowed a culture of sexual abuse and brutality to continue unabated. They allege the abuse endured by the plaintiffs stretches across decades, and also allege that the sexual abuse of children at New York City’s juvenile detention facilities likely continues to this day.

The suits filed by Levy Konigsberg were brought under the recently amended Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law. Enacted in 2000, the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, provides legal pathways for victims of this type of sexual abuse to pursue damages from their abusers and from the institutions that enabled the abuse.

In 2022, The New York City Council passed a groundbreaking law to create a two year look back window for survivors to file civil suits against their perpetrators and the institutions that failed to protect them, even if it has been years or decades since the sexual abuse took place. This lookback window is open until March 1, 2025, and allows survivors a meaningful opportunity to seek justice.

In June 2022, New York City Mayor Eric Adams was on the former site of the Spofford Juvenile Detention Center to formally open 183 affordable housing units, in addition to a cultural arts center. According to City officials, it was the site where he was held at 15, and it was closed in 2011, after 54 years in operation with notoriously poor conditions for the youth detained there. Once complete, the full five-acre Peninsula housing development will include 740 affordable homes, an early childhood education center, a wellness center, a one-acre public plaza, and a supermarket.