Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Available 24/7 (214) 333-3333
Juvenile facilities are supposed to protect and rehabilitate young people, but they can also be some of the most dangerous places for vulnerable children in Texas. Minors placed in detention centers, group homes, residential treatment facilities, and juvenile justice institutions often face abuse, neglect, and inadequate supervision that can lead to serious physical and emotional harm. Assaults by staff or other residents, medical neglect, isolation abuse, sexual abuse, and self-harm often leave children with lasting trauma.
If your child was harmed in a juvenile facility in Fort Worth or Tarrant County, you may be facing medical bills, emotional distress, and uncertainty about your child’s recovery and future. These injuries can affect every part of a young person’s life, including their mental health, education, and ability to trust others. You should not have to shoulder those burdens alone.
At Frenkel & Frenkel, our Fort Worth juvenile facility harm lawyers help injured children and their families pursue the compensation they deserve. We investigate what happened, identify every responsible party, and pursue claims against negligent facility operators, staff members, private companies, and government agencies — including Tarrant County Juvenile Services and state agencies. Many juvenile facility harm cases involve claims against county or state entities, and we work to recover the maximum compensation available under Texas law.
We offer free consultations and handle juvenile facility harm cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
Quick Answer
Do I need a lawyer if my child was harmed in a juvenile facility in Fort Worth?
Yes — and time matters. Facility operators and government agencies work quickly to limit their liability after abuse or neglect incidents. You need an attorney who moves just as fast. Frenkel & Frenkel investigates the facility, preserves incident reports and surveillance footage, identifies every liable party, and handles the claims process -- so you can focus on your child's recovery. You pay nothing unless we win.
Call (817) 333-3333 — Free Consultation"*" indicates required fields
Seek Medical Care: Get them medical care right away, even if the injury seems minor. Some injuries, especially psychological trauma, take time to show up.
Document Everything: Take photos of any visible injuries. Request copies of all facility incident reports, medical records, and staff notes. Save any communications with facility staff. Write down your child’s account of events while it is fresh.
Report the Abuse: Report the abuse or neglect to the proper authorities — including Tarrant County Juvenile Services, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, local law enforcement, or Child Protective Services.
Contact an Attorney: Talk to a Fort Worth juvenile facility harm lawyer as soon as possible. In most cases, you have two years from the date you discovered the harm to file a claim in Tarrant County.
Every case is different. Some cases settle in a few months. Others may take a year or more, depending on how complex they are.
A few things can affect the timeline. How serious is the harm? Are government agencies involved? Is there clear documentation of the abuse or neglect, or does it require witness interviews and expert testimony? These factors all play a role.
Our team works to move cases forward as quickly as possible. At the same time, we do not rush into a settlement that may not be fair to your child’s future needs. We keep you updated along the way so you always know where things stand.
At Frenkel & Frenkel, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront. We only collect a fee if we recover money for you.*
There is no charge for your first consultation. You can call us, tell us what happened, and we will let you know if we think we can help. There is no pressure and no obligation.
Yes, in many cases you can. Texas law does not require you to have been the person who placed your child in the juvenile facility. If your child was harmed due to abuse, neglect, or inadequate supervision, you may have a claim as a parent or legal guardian. This is true even if the placement was court-ordered or made by a state agency.
What matters most is that the facility failed in its duty to protect your child and that this failure caused harm. A lawyer can look at the facts of your case and help you figure out the best path forward.
Quick Answer
Can I recover more compensation if multiple parties failed to protect my child?
Potentially yes. Each liable party may carry their own insurance policy or assets. Identifying multiple defendants -- such as the facility operator, individual staff members, Tarrant County Juvenile Services, and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department -- can open up multiple sources of recovery.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
Get a Free Case Review — (817) 333-3333
Act immediately. First, get your child medical attention if they show signs of injury. Document any visible marks, bruises, or behavioral changes with photos and written notes.
Second, report the abuse to local law enforcement and Child Protective Services. This creates an official record and may protect other children at the facility. Ask for a case number and keep all documentation.
Third, contact a juvenile facility harm attorney right away. Time matters — evidence can disappear, and there are strict deadlines for filing claims. An attorney can help you preserve evidence, obtain records from the facility, and hold those responsible accountable.
Do not delay. The faster you act, the stronger your case.
We have the knowledge and resources to take on complex cases against government agencies and private operators throughout Tarrant County.
Our founding attorneys used to defend insurance companies. Now, they use that inside knowledge to fight for your rights.
We have recovered over $1 Billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
Settlement - Catastrophic Injury Case
Verdict - Commercial Vehicle Collision
Settlement - Trucking Accident Case
Settlement - Serious Motor Vehicle Wreck
Over 80% of juvenile facility harm cases settle before going to trial when liability is clear.
Tarrant County’s primary secure juvenile facility, located at 2701 Kimbo Road, Fort Worth, TX 76111, with a capacity of 120-128 beds, overseen by Tarrant County Juvenile Services.
Staff Abuse and Misconduct
Some of the most serious harm comes from the people who are supposed to protect children. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, and inappropriate relationships with residents are never acceptable. When facilities fail to screen, train, or supervise staff properly, children pay the price.
Inadequate Supervision
Juvenile facilities have a duty to watch over residents at all times. When staff ratios are too low, when employees are distracted, or when supervision policies are ignored, dangerous situations develop. Lack of supervision allows assaults, self-harm, and escapes to occur.
Failure to Protect from Other Residents
Children in juvenile facilities are often placed together despite different risk levels. When staff fail to separate violent residents from vulnerable ones, attacks happen. Facilities that ignore known dangers between residents put everyone at risk.
Medical Neglect
Juveniles in custody have the right to proper medical and mental health care. When facilities delay treatment, deny medication, ignore injuries, or fail to respond to medical emergencies, the results can be devastating. Some children suffer permanent harm because staff did not take their complaints seriously.
Excessive Use of Restraints and Isolation
Restraints and isolation should only be used as a last resort and for short periods. When staff use these methods as punishment, apply them incorrectly, or leave children restrained for hours or days, serious physical and psychological harm results. Some children have died from improper restraint use.
Dangerous Facility Conditions
Broken equipment, unsanitary conditions, fire hazards, and inadequate security create risks for everyone. When facilities cut corners on maintenance and safety, children suffer. Dangerous conditions can lead to injuries, illness, and opportunities for assault or escape.
Physical abuse, sexual assault, and excessive force by staff or other residents are common in juvenile detention facilities. Poor supervision, inadequate security, and failure to separate violent offenders from low-risk youth create dangerous conditions. If your child was harmed in detention, you may have a claim.
Group homes are supposed to provide a safe, structured environment for vulnerable youth. When staff abuse residents, fail to supervise properly, or allow dangerous conditions to exist, children suffer. Neglect, malnutrition, and inadequate medical care are issues we see.
These facilities promise mental health treatment and rehabilitation. When they deliver abuse instead of care, families have legal options. Improper medication, isolation abuse, denial of therapy, and staff misconduct may give rise to claims.
Military-style boot camps and wilderness therapy programs have a history of abuse and even deaths. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, physical punishment, and inadequate medical response can cause serious harm. These programs often operate with minimal oversight.
Texas Youth Commission facilities and other state-run institutions have a duty to protect children in their custody. When government agencies fail to maintain safe conditions, hire qualified staff, or respond to complaints, they can be held accountable under state and federal law.
Many counties and states contract with private companies to house juveniles. These facilities may cut costs at the expense of safety. Understaffing, poor training, and inadequate security put children at risk. Private operators can be sued for negligence.
Juvenile facility harm occurs when a child is injured, abused, or neglected while in the custody of a detention center, group home, or residential facility. You may have a claim if your child suffered physical abuse, sexual abuse, medical neglect, excessive force, or harm due to inadequate supervision. Texas law requires facilities to protect children in their care from foreseeable dangers.
The main types are staff abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional), failure to protect from other residents, medical neglect, excessive use of restraints or isolation, inadequate supervision, and dangerous facility conditions. All of these involve a facility failing in its duty to keep children safe while in custody.
We handle cases against all types of juvenile facilities, including detention centers, group homes, residential treatment facilities, boot camps, wilderness programs, state-run institutions, and privately contracted facilities. If your child was harmed in any type of juvenile custody setting, we can help.
Yes. State-run facilities can be sued under Texas law and federal civil rights laws when they fail to protect children. Government immunity has exceptions for cases involving abuse, neglect, and constitutional violations. We have experience pursuing claims against both state and county facilities.
Liable parties can include the facility operator, individual staff members who committed abuse, the management company, government agencies responsible for oversight, and medical providers who denied care. In some cases, multiple parties share responsibility. We investigate to identify everyone whose negligence contributed to your child's harm.
