Attorney for the Glen Mills School Physical Abuse Victims

Reform centers for juveniles are supposed to provide a nurturing environment and rich academic support. Until recently, the Glen Mills School was considered a premiere reform center where students could receive such support. However, recent news reports have raised serious alarms about the potential physical abuses occurring at the Glen Mills School. Glen Mills students and their families should look into their legal options considering the vast number of violations reported in the news. These victims likely have a right to seek compensation for losses and harm.

If you or your loved one attended or attends the Glen Mills School, you should contact the Law Office of Andrew Shubin. Andrew Shubin leads a legal team that is experienced in handling complex cases of institutional abuse and has a proven track record of protecting vulnerable students against unconstitutional abuses. To talk to one of our experienced physical abuse attorneys, call (814) 826-3586.

Overview of the Physical Abuse at the Glen Mills School in Delaware County, PA

Until recently, the Glen Mills School had a reputation as one of the best juvenile reform centers in the United States. However, news outlets have recently been reporting on a shockingly normalized culture of violence for boys enrolled at the Glen Mills School. The reports include systematic beatings and assaults on students combined with a culture of denial.

The news suggests that counselors contributed to creating and perpetuating the culture of bullying and violence. The school concealed a culture of ongoing physical and emotional abuse coming from all sides, both among peers and at the hands of counselors. There are some accounts that there was a code, even amongst the counselors, for covering up whenever a student was physically abused – the term “keeping it gangster.”

There are multiple ongoing investigations about the events that have been reported in the news. Since these investigations will reveal more information about the existing problems, it is not always necessary that you wait for the completion of any of these investigations to pursue your legal rights. There are no guarantees that any of these state-sponsored investigations will give your child the much-needed financial recovery they need as well as the justice they deserve.

Recently Reported Information

• All Delaware County students were removed from the Glen Mills School on March 25, 2019, by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services during an investigation. The investigation began after multiple reports of abuse were published in local papers.
• The state Department of Human Services (DHS), which licenses and oversees Glen Mills, concluded its investigation in March, finding evidence of gross incompetence, mistreatment, and abuse.
• The current consensus is that the reports of abuse at Glen Mills are credible and indicate the consistent physical and emotional abuse of children.

Laws Reportedly Violated at the Glen Mills School

You should talk to an attorney about the possible causes of actions for the failures reported in other lawsuits and investigations. The administrators of the Glen Mills School have a duty to maintain a safe environment. If physically abused students were threatened into not speaking out, multiple criminal charges may be filed by the government after their investigations are completed. There are also serious civil rights violations that only you or your child can bring to recover damages or losses. A civil case rests on the initiative of the victim and his loved ones.

Moreover, in civil cases, you will receive compensation. By taking into consideration that there is evidence beyond the physical abuse to also showing educational rights were denied, you can pursue your rights to the fullest extent of the law.

Below are some of the laws allegedly violated at the Glen Mills School:

Constitutional Violations

• Constitutional violations include cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
• Violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
• Denial of Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

Education and Disability Civil Rights

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Education Amendment of 1972 (“Title IX”)

Negligence Law

• Negligent supervision
• Reckless indifference
• Negligent infliction of emotional distress

Seeking Compensation for Child Abuse at Glen Mills School

The term “damages” is the generic legal term used to refer to the financial losses as a matter of law. These losses are calculated depending on the severity of the crime and the causes of action that pertain to your case. Your attorney can explain at greater length the level of financial compensation you can seek.

Call Your Committed Glen Mills Attorney for Physical Abuse Victims

Cases of institutionalized abuse are heart-wrenching. Proving these cases requires skill and experience because there is usually conflicting evidence, and victims’ memories can be muddled by trauma as well as potential cognitive and behavioral problems. These are the cases that Andrew Shubin is used to handling, and with which he has established a strong track record of success.

Depending on the time when the injuries occurred at the Glen Mills School, you may only have a short window in Pennsylvania to pursue some relevant legal claims. Your child may end up facing a lifelong battle with the physical and emotional scars of having attended the Glen Mills School in Pennsylvania. Having legal counsel with the experience and skill of attorney Andrew Shubin can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. To schedule a free consultation, call us at (814) 826-3586.