Levy Konigsberg, a law firm dedicated to fighting for justice on behalf of those who have survived childhood sexual abuse and exploitation.
Today announced that it has filed 168 new civil lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse perpetrated by employees at juvenile detention facilities in Brooklyn and the Bronx, totaling 425 lawsuits filed since April. Attorneys Jerome Block and Madeleine Skaller were joined by several plaintiff-survivors of sexual abuse, local elected leaders, and advocates today on the steps of City Hall to expose the egregious gender-motivated sexual abuse by staff members at New York City’s notorious juvenile detention facilities including Crossroads Juvenile Center, Spofford Juvenile Detention Center (also known as Bridges Juvenile Detention Center), Horizon Juvenile Center, and Rikers Island.
“The city must root out the evil in these facilities …”
“I was 16 years old when I was sent to Horizon Juvenile Center in the Bronx where I was abused by Natalie Medford. Those experiences marked me forever. Since then, I have struggled with mental health issues, but I am here today stronger than ever to demand justice, for myself and for the hundreds if not thousands of survivors who were preyed on as kids,” said Rashawn Jones. “This should have never happened to me or to any child regardless of their infraction that led them there. Our youth deserve better. The city must root out the evil in these facilities and end this sordid culture of abuse– it is time to do the right thing and stop these pedophiles from abusing our most vulnerable.”
“Today we are standing on the steps of City Hall with plaintiff-survivors of sexual abuse at juvenile detention centers to be heard, believed and most importantly to hold accountable institutions who let this egregious sexual abuse occur.” said Levy Konigsberg Partner Jerome Block. “Since April we have stood with elected officials, advocates, and members of the community to say enough is enough and something must be done. We have now filed over 400 cases from men and women who suffered sexual abuse in New York City juvenile detention centers. The City and its broken juvenile system must be held to account. This institutionalized sexual abuse and culture of secrecy has persisted for decades and there is no evidence that the City has done anything to fix its procedures to ensure the safety of children in the juvenile system. It’s outrageous and appalling that the perpetrators of this horrific sexual abuse are the very adult staff members that were supposed to keep children safe. Our clients want justice, accountability and for sexual abuse in New York City juvenile detentions centers to end.”
With over 400 cases already filed, it is now clear that many of these survivors were victimized by repeat perpetrators. The City of New York allowed these prolific abusers to sexually abuse children in the City’s care for years unabated. Natalie Medford, a former staff member at Horizon, is alleged to have abused at least 13 of the survivors with cases currently pending. Additionally, Tony “Tyson” Simmons, a registered sex offender who was imprisoned for sexually assaulting several young girls at New York City’s juvenile detention centers, has been named by seven additional survivors. As these cases continue to be filed, a culture of secrecy which protects the perpetrators at the expense of the victims has been discovered.
Since April, elected officials have come forward in support of survivors.
“Sexual abuse is unacceptable anywhere, and that certainly includes our juvenile detention facilities. That’s an important reason for my bill authorizing the Correctional Association of New York to inspect these facilities. CANY has monitored New York’s prisons and jails since the 1840s, shining light on their conditions, promoting public accountability, and helping make them safer and more humane. Extending that service to our young people is imperative, and doing so is within our grasp. Of course, monitoring alone isn’t enough,” said State Senator Julia Salazar. “We need better mechanisms for those victimized behind bars to seek legal recourse. That’s why I introduced a bill authorizing the State Inspector General to investigate sexual assault claims brought by incarcerated individuals, which the Senate passed this past session before stalling in the Assembly. It’s also why I’m carrying a bill tolling the statute of limitations for seeking damages for injuries sustained in prison until three years after the individual’s release. Our correctional system cannot fester in lawlessness and violence, not least at the expense of children. We all must step up to the plate and show real leadership, and I thank our partners in the legal community for theirs.”
“This is a critical moment for accountability and reform in our criminal legal system,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Systemic failures, including over incarceration and a lack of oversight and accountability in our juvenile detention centers, have allowed gender-motivated abuse to persist and proliferate, and it is our responsibility to create safer environments and stronger protections for those in our city’s care. I am proud to stand in solidarity with these courageous individuals, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to ensure that every survivor of sexual abuse has a pathway to true justice.”
“I am proud that these young survivors of atrocious abuse have bravely stepped forward to seek justice, shining a light on the pervasive issues within our juvenile detention facilities, and their courage demonstrates the reforms and strict accountability measures that must be implemented to protect our justice-involved youth,” said Council Member Farah N. Louis, District 45, Chair of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity. “However, the culture of sexual abuse at our facilities must be addressed to protect our vulnerable youth who are still at risk, and preventative measures must be enacted immediately to end this cycle of abuse.”
“So often, young people in the juvenile legal system don’t have anyone looking out for them, and institutions like Crossroads and Horizon are meant to be places of rehabilitation and healing. I stand with the survivors who bravely came forward today to denounce these youth detention centers that allowed atrocities to be inflicted on them when they were the most vulnerable and during their formative years as children.” said Council Member Carlina Rivera, District 2. “Young people deserve the opportunity to be connected to services and mentorship to help them get their lives on track and to pursue their dreams. Sexual trauma lives with a person their whole life and impacts every aspect of their identity. I proudly co-sponsored the law that created a two year look-back window to the gender-motivated violence act, and extended its statute of limitations, so that survivors can come forward and hold the institutions that wronged them accountable.”
“Survivors of gender-motivated violence need accountability and deserve to have their voices heard,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, District 31. “I am proud to be a co-sponsor of Local Law 21, which has empowered survivors to fight for justice. I strongly condemn any form of gender-motivated violence, and stand behind the survivors and the advocates who continue their pursuit of justice under the Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law.”
“It’s shameful our city has allowed such abuse to happen to the young people in our care,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés, District 38. “We must believe survivors and put an end to this horrific treatment. I’m committed to using the power of my office to uplift these stories and secure justice for survivors.”
“Survivors of gender-motivated violence deserve the time and opportunity to seek justice. I am proud to support legal advocates from Levy-Konigsberg that have utilized the council’s necessary reforms to obtain justice for their clients,” Council Member Shekar Krishnan, District 25. “It’s one of the first steps we must take to hold perpetrators accountable and end the gender-motivated violence in our city now.”
“Today’s milestone of an additional 100 lawsuits filed under our gender-motivated violence legislation is a powerful reminder that survivors deserve justice, no matter how much time has passed,” Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams, District 27. “The temporary lookback window the Council created has given survivors of horrific abuse, particularly those who suffered in New York City Juvenile Detention Centers, the opportunity to hold their abusers accountable and reclaim their voices. I commend the team at Levy-Konigsberg for their tireless work in representing these brave individuals. As we continue this fight, we are sending a clear message: gender-motivated violence will not go unpunished in our city.”
“The survivors’ courage brings to light the deep-rooted issues that have plagued our juvenile detention centers for far too long. As a representative of this city, I believe it is my duty not only to stand with survivors but also to demand accountability from the institutions responsible,” said Council Member Francisco Moya, District 21. “We must work tirelessly to build a system where the safety and dignity of every young person is the priority. I am committed to supporting the fight for justice and ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard.”
Advocates have also demonstrated their support for survivors of sexual abuse in youth centers.
“The trauma of sexual abuse, especially abuse that occurs at a young age, takes years to process before many are able to begin the process of reporting the harm done to them,” said Executive Director of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault Emily Miles. “For those who face the compounded trauma of abuse while incarcerated, the process can take even longer. Look back windows, like those offered through the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law and Child Victims Act, are frequently the only available pathway to justice for these survivors and are critical in ensuring the institutions who willfully allowed this violence to occur are held responsible. The Alliance is proud to stand with these survivors as they seek accountability for the trauma they experienced at the hands of those tasked with ensuring their care.”
“Safe Horizon stands in solidarity with this brave community of survivors seeking accountability from the staff members who assaulted them in juvenile detention centers and from the institution that allowed this abuse to happen,” Associate Vice President Child Advocacy Centers, Safe Horizon John Pickett. “We hope that every survivor, whether they’ve shared their story or not, is able to find a pathway to healing.”
“These abuse cases are particularly egregious because they happened to our most vulnerable community members, children, who were removed from their families and placed in the custody and care of city agents entrusted with their safety and wellbeing under parens patriae,” said Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School, former attorney for children and youth Cynthia Godsoe. “Giving these survivors an opportunity to seek justice and healing is so important, as is making systemic changes to the foster and juvenile legal systems in NYC to ensure that children are not victimized again.”
“… the City of New York has allowed a culture of sexual abuse and brutality to continue …”
Despite widespread reports, investigations, and campaigns to close or reform these juvenile detention facilities, the City of New York has allowed a culture of sexual abuse and brutality to continue unabated. The abuse endured by these plaintiffs stretches across decades. 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.
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