Snohomish County sued over alleged past sexual abuse at Denney Juvenile Center

A dozen formerly incarcerated youth filed a federal lawsuit against Snohomish County, alleging decades of sexual abuse at the Denney Youth Center and Denney Juvenile Justice Center. The suit, submitted to the U. S. District Court for Western Washington, names 20 unidentified individuals accused of facilitating or engaging in the abuse that occurred between 1986 and 2007. Victims reported suffering violent sexual assaults and threats from staff to dissuade them from reporting the incidents.

The lawsuit asserts that the county failed to train and supervise its employees, allowing invasive practices such as strip searches and staff monitoring during showers. Attorneys from Hagens Berman claim that staff groomed youth with gifts and unsupervised access in hidden areas of the facility. The lawsuit describes the abuse as an institutional failure, highlighting Snohomish County's disregard for the safety of vulnerable children. This case may prompt scrutiny of juvenile facilities and policies regarding the treatment of incarcerated youth in Washington. County representatives did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.