Youth detention facilities face increased scrutiny amid a wave of abuse lawsuits
A new lawsuit alleges widespread sexual abuse of juveniles took place over decades at Illinois youth detention facilities. Similar lawsuits have been filed this year in other states.
Editor's Note: This story contains descriptions of sexual abuse allegations.
As a teenager almost 20 years ago, Jeffery Christian was sent to a juvenile detention center in southern Illinois. He says he expected to use his time there to grow and change, with the support of the staff around him.
"Instead I was sexually abused and neglected," Christian said at a recent press conference. "I learned at too young of an age that the system wasn't going to make me a better man,
