讀後心得

Los Angeles County officials announced on the 4th that they have reached a $4 billion settlement agreement covering over 6,800 sexual abuse allegations, some of which date back to the 1950s. This settlement will become the most expensive settlement in Los Angeles County history and may impact future budgets. The agreement awaits approval from the Los Angeles County Claims Board on the 7th. Most of the allegations stem from the now-closed McLaren Children's Center, where plaintiffs suffered abuse and sexual assault. Attorneys stated that this settlement reflects restorative justice for the victims and proposes safeguards to prevent future incidents of abuse. Los Angeles County is implementing various reform plans to address issues within the child protection system.

On the 4th, Los Angeles County officials released a statement announcing that the county has reached a preliminary settlement agreement worth $4 billion, covering more than 6,800 allegations of sexual abuse, some of which date back to the 1950s. The statement noted that this substantial settlement will become the most expensive in Los Angeles County's history and may impact the budget in the coming years. The agreement must be reviewed by the Los Angeles County Complaints Commission, which is expected to conduct the review on the 7th and has scheduled a vote for the 29th. Most of the settlements are based on AB 218, the "Child Victims Act," which eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases, allowing victims three years to file claims. Los Angeles County has an independent team reviewing all cases, with allegations primarily occurring between the 1980s and 2000s, mainly involving facilities of the Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Department and the MacLaren Children's Center located in El Monte. The center was permanently closed in 2003 and plans to be transformed into affordable housing, medical clinics, and parks, with demolition scheduled to begin in May of this year.

The CEO of Los Angeles County expressed sincere apologies to all victims who have suffered abhorrent acts, emphasizing that this historic settlement demonstrates a commitment to assisting victims in healing and rebuilding their lives. The MacLaren Center, also known as the MacLaren Hall, served as an emergency shelter facility for Los Angeles County from 1961 to 2003, specifically for children removed from their homes, with approximately 4,000 children having been housed there. Many of the sexual abuse lawsuits against Los Angeles County stem from this facility. Numerous victimized children were originally removed due to abuse but became victims again under county care. In 2002, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County, alleging sexual abuse and neglect issues at the facility, followed by many subsequent cases being filed in court.

In December 2002, a law firm represented 1,200 anonymous plaintiffs and filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County, claiming the plaintiffs were abused and sexually assaulted while in the county's juvenile probation facilities. The complaint also stated that county employees exploited their authority to sexually assault minors and threatened to extend detention time. Related allegations date back to the 1960s. Attorneys emphasized that this landmark settlement represents restorative justice for victims, societal acknowledgment of terrible wrongs, and compensation. Some plaintiff attorneys noted that the agreement will also introduce safety measures to prevent future failures in the child care system and includes a five-year installment payment plan.

The county government has implemented several improvement measures in recent years to address sexual abuse issues and continues to develop further reform proposals. Although MacLaren Hall has long been closed, significant problems remain within the probation facilities. In March of this year, unsealed indictments revealed that 30 probation department employees were charged for allowing or even encouraging fighting incidents that occurred between June and December 2023, involving 143 juveniles. The probation department has yet to respond to media inquiries, but the county government has outlined several improvement proposals, including establishing a dedicated hotline for reporting child sexual abuse by county employees and creating a rapid investigation mechanism to reinforce the county's "zero tolerance" policy.