讀後心得

Los Angeles County officials announced that a $4 billion settlement has been reached involving over 6,800 sexual abuse allegations, some of which date back to the 1950s. This settlement will become the most expensive in Los Angeles County history and may impact future budgets. The agreement is pending review and approval, primarily based on the "Child Victims Act," which extended the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. Many of the allegations come from the now-closed McLaren Children’s Center, which housed approximately 4,000 children placed there due to abuse and experienced multiple instances of mistreatment. Attorneys stated that this settlement reflects restorative justice for victims while introducing safety measures to prevent future abuses. Los Angeles County has launched several improvement initiatives, but issues of abuse still persist.

According to reports, county officials in Los Angeles announced on the 4th that the county has reached a preliminary settlement agreement totaling $4 billion, which covers more than 6,800 sexual abuse allegations, some of which date back to the 1950s. The statement noted that this astronomical settlement amount will become the most expensive in Los Angeles County's history and could affect the budget for years or even decades to come. The agreement still needs to be reviewed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and is scheduled for a vote on the 29th of this month. This agreement is primarily based on AB 218, the "Child Victims Act," which eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases and gave victims three years to file their claims. Los Angeles County has an independent team responsible for reviewing all cases, with most allegations occurring in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, mainly involving the county's juvenile department and the McLaren Children's Center located in El Monte. The center permanently closed in 2003 and is being transformed into affordable housing, medical clinics, and parks, with plans to begin demolishing the old buildings this May.

The CEO of Los Angeles County expressed apologies to all victims who have suffered these heinous acts and emphasized that this historic settlement demonstrates a commitment to helping victims heal and rebuild their lives.

Regarding the McLaren Center, the facility acted as an emergency shelter from 1961 to 2003, housing approximately 4,000 children who were taken from their homes due to abuse. However, these children, who originally sought protection, became victims again under the county's care. Since 2002, issues of sexual abuse and neglect at the facility have garnered the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union, leading to lawsuits against authorities.

Some lawyers for the plaintiffs stated that the agreement will also introduce safety measures to prevent future failures in the child welfare system, including a five-year installment payment plan. They pointed out that the main challenge lies in designing a payment system that does not lead the county to bankruptcy.

While the McLaren Center has been closed, many issues still exist within the juvenile facilities. An indictment from March revealed that 30 staff members were charged for allowing and even encouraging fighting behavior at the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. The related incidents involved 143 youths aged 12 to 18 years old. The county government has proposed several improvement measures, including establishing a hotline specifically for reporting child sexual abuse allegations against employees, creating a fast investigation mechanism, and strengthening the "zero tolerance" policy to ensure that any substantiated sexual abuse will result in the harshest legal penalties.