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 Colorado. Minors placed in detention centers, group homes, residential treatment facilities, and youth justice institutions often face abuse, neglect, and inadequate supervision that can lead to serious physical and emotional harm.
If your child was harmed in a juvenile facility in Denver or anywhere in Colorado, you may be facing medical bills, emotional distress, and uncertainty about your child’s recovery and future. You should not have to shoulder those burdens alone.
At Frenkel & Frenkel, our Denver 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. We work to recover the maximum compensation available under Colorado 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.
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN
1,300+ Five-Star Reviews
$1B+
RECOVERED
30+
YEARS EXPERIENCE
90+
YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE
FREE
CONSULTATION
*Client may be responsible for certain costs and expenses regardless of outcome.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Quick Answer
Do I need a lawyer if my child was harmed in a juvenile facility in Denver?
Yes — and time matters. Many Denver-area juvenile facilities are operated or overseen by the Colorado Division of Youth Services (DYS). Government-run facilities trigger the 182-day CGIA notice requirement (C.R.S. sec. 24-10-109), which shortens the window to act. Frenkel & Frenkel investigates the facility, preserves incident reports and surveillance footage, identifies every liable party, and handles the claims process. You pay nothing unless we win.
Call (720) 807-3985 — Free Consultation"*" indicates required fields
There are a few things to consider.
Was your child assaulted by staff or other residents?
Were there prior incidents of abuse or violence at the facility?
Did staff ignore warning signs or fail to provide adequate supervision?
Was medical care delayed or denied?
Get medical care right away, even if the injury seems minor.
Document everything: photos of injuries, incident reports, medical records, staff notes, any communications with facility staff.
Report to: the Colorado Division of Youth Services (DYS), the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), local law enforcement, or the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman.
Contact an attorney promptly. If the facility is government-run, you may have only 182 days to file a CGIA notice of claim (C.R.S. sec. 24-10-109). Other claims carry a two-year deadline, but acting early protects evidence.
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, and the county or state agency — can open up multiple sources of recovery that a single-defendant case would not. This is one of the most important reasons to hire an attorney who investigates the full picture, not just the facility.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.
Get a Free Case Review — (720) 807-3985
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.
Our attorneys have spent decades fighting for children harmed in juvenile facilities. We have the knowledge and resources to take on even the most complex cases against government agencies and private operators.
Our founding attorneys used to defend insurance companies. Now, they use that inside knowledge to fight for injured people like you. We know the tactics companies use, and we know how to counter them.
We have recovered over $1 Billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients.* For 16 straight years, our attorneys have been named among the Best Lawyers in Denver .
Settlement - Catastrophic Injury Case
Verdict - Commercial Vehicle Collision
Settlement - Trucking Accident Case
Settlement - Serious Motor Vehicle Wreck
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.
Including Colorado Division of Youth Services (DYS) secure youth centers and county-run facilities.
Addressing neglect, malnutrition, and improper supervision at CDHS-contracted placements.
Handling cases of improper medication and denial of therapy.
Addressing physical punishment and medical neglect.
Pursuing claims against DYS and CDHS for failure to monitor or maintain safe conditions.
Holding private operators accountable for cost-cutting that compromises safety.
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. Colorado 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 Colorado 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.
