Skip to main content
Gould Grieco & Hensley logo
Were you abused at the Thomas J.S. Waxter Children's Center?

THOMAS J.S. WAXTER CHILDREN'S CENTER SEXUAL ABUSE LAWYERS

GGH Law represents survivors of sexual abuse at the Thomas J.S. Waxter Children's Center in Maryland. Talk to us about what happened. The consultation is free and confidential. SEE IF YOUR CASE QUALIFIES

Confidential • No fee unless we win

Introduction

Thomas J.S. Waxter Children’s Center is a detention facility for vulnerable youth. Established in the early 2000s, the facility was designed to provide a structured environment for at-risk youth with rehabilitation and other support services. It filled a void for a great number of young people struggling with a range of issues—from homelessness to substance abuse and behavior problems. In other words, the facility’s mission was to help at-risk youth to grow and to normalize, with emphasis on education and life skills—yet the very system that is in place to protect them has failed to do so. 

Reports of sexual abuse incidents have happened there for years. Sounding call after call that something needs to be done. Allegations of physical abuse by staff, commingling of girls convicted of serious crimes with those detained for minor offenses, inadequate physical facilities, and issues of overcrowding and understaffing were some conditions that contributed to the culture of abuse in the facility.

Legal Help For Survivors
WERE YOU
SEXUALLY ABUSED?
SEE IF YOUR CASE QUALIFIES

2006–2011

  • In 2006, an exposé in The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun revealed that abuse and systemic neglect had become standard practice at Maryland’s juvenile facilities. Something was clearly very wrong in the places run by the state that serves our most troubled or traumatized youth.
  • In 2007, many of the system’s palpable failures were so bad that Maryland’s Justice Monitoring Unit issued a Special Report demanding the closure of the facility. Why? It noted that the facility was not safe, decent, and rehabilitative.
  • In 2009, The Daily Record shared a shocking number of suicide attempts and mental health crises among youth in Waxter Center. The children who were being held there were dealing with significant mental health issues, and due to the high number of incidents, it appears that they were not receiving the attention they needed quickly enough. 
  • In 2016, The Baltimore Sun claims that female kids in Maryland were more likely to be brought before a judge for small transgressions like disobeying their parents, breaking curfew, or running away, and that they were disproportionately imprisoned for low-level offenses. Additionally, half of the 330 reported suicide attempts and suicide ideations that occurred in all of Maryland’s juvenile facilities in 2015 occurred at Waxter.

2017–2023

  • By 2022, the center was finally shuttered as policy and other discussions changed about how we should or might house—if at all—youth in the future.
  • In December 2023, lawsuits were filed on behalf of over 20 survivors who had experienced childhood sexual abuse at Thomas J.S. Waxter Children’s Center.

You never pay out of pocket.

WE WORK ON CONTINGENCY
NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN

You only pay if we secure compensation.

Contact Us

The legal journey in sexual abuse cases requires more than just expertise—it requires empathy, sensitivity, and an unwavering commitment to justice. At GGH, we understand the profound impact that sexual abuse has on survivors and their families. We stand firm in our belief that survivors of sexual abuse have the right to seek justice, hold perpetrators accountable, and begin the process of healing.

The GGH team is dedicated to ensuring that survivors' voices are heard and their stories respected. We are here to help you navigate the legal process with care and confidence, advocating for the justice and closure you deserve.

Contact GGH Today for a free consultation at (312) 728-7444 or contact us online.

ACCOUNTABLITY FOR SURVIVORS:
THE GGH ADVANDAGE
Gould Grieco & Hensley (GGH) is a prestigious, boutique national personal injury firm that serves as a relentless advocate for victims of abuse and catastrophic injuries. Recognized as "Innovators of Law," the firm combines world-class legal expertise with state-of-the-art technology—including agile project management and cutting-edge trial techniques—to secure unprecedented results against the world’s largest institutional defendants. With a proven track record that includes global settlements exceeding $2 billion and individual verdicts surpassing $550 million, their award-winning attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis to ensure justice is accessible without upfront costs. From the courtroom to features in The New York Times and Forbes, Gould Grieco and Hensley remains dedicated to turning strategic precision and aggressive litigation into life-changing outcomes for their clients.