Waxter Center Closed After Decades of Documented Abuse

The Thomas J.S. Waxter Children's Center in Laurel, Maryland was finally closed in January 2022 after decades of documented abuse, mistreatment, and repeated calls for closure. Now, survivors are filing civil lawsuits under the Maryland Child Victims Act.

A Facility That Should Have Been Closed Long Ago

The Waxter Center operated as a juvenile detention facility for girls in Laurel, Maryland. For years, juvenile justice monitoring reports documented serious problems:

• A 2011 monitoring report stated clearly: "The Waxter detention facility should be closed."
• It took 11 more years - until January 2022 - before the facility finally closed
• During that decade-plus, countless more girls were subjected to abuse

Pattern of Abuse

Survivors of the Waxter Center describe a culture of abuse and neglect:

Sexual Abuse:

• Staff members sexually assaulted detained girls
• The power imbalance between guards and detainees enabled exploitation
• Reporting abuse was difficult or impossible for vulnerable youth

Physical Abuse:

• Excessive force used against girls
• Physical discipline that crossed into abuse
• Violence by staff members

Neglect and Mistreatment:

• Inadequate supervision
• Failure to provide basic care
• Mental health needs ignored

The Maryland Child Victims Act

On October 1, 2023, Maryland's Child Victims Act went into effect. This landmark legislation:

• Eliminates the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims
• Creates an unlimited lookback period for past abuse
• Allows survivors to sue both individual abusers and the institutions that failed to protect them

For Waxter Center survivors, this means there is now no deadline to file a lawsuit - even for abuse that occurred decades ago.

Lawsuits Filed

A large number of women who were sexually abused as inmates at Waxter have filed civil lawsuits against the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS). These lawsuits seek to hold the state accountable for:

• Failing to protect detained youth from sexual predators
• Ignoring warning signs and red flags
• Allowing a culture of abuse to persist for decades
• Continuing to operate a facility that should have been closed

Why Girls in Detention Are Especially Vulnerable

Girls in the juvenile justice system often have histories of trauma and abuse before they ever enter detention. Studies show:

• High rates of prior sexual abuse among detained girls
• Many are runaways or system-involved due to exploitation
• They are particularly vulnerable to further victimization
• Staff who prey on detained girls cause additional layers of trauma

The Long Path to Closure

The Waxter Center's closure in 2022 came after years of advocacy:

• Multiple monitoring reports documented problems
• Advocates repeatedly called for closure
• State officials delayed action
• Girls continued to be placed at the facility despite known risks

The 11-year gap between the 2011 call for closure and the 2022 closure represents countless preventable incidents of abuse.

Impact on Survivors

Women who were abused at Waxter as girls carry the trauma into adulthood:

• PTSD and anxiety disorders
• Depression and mental health challenges
• Difficulty trusting authority figures
• Challenges with relationships
• Economic impacts from trauma-related struggles

Seeking Justice

If you were detained at the Waxter Center and experienced abuse:

• The Child Victims Act allows you to file a lawsuit regardless of when the abuse occurred
• You can sue both the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and individual abusers
• Civil cases are separate from any criminal proceedings
• Consultations with abuse attorneys are typically confidential and free

The closure of Waxter came too late for many survivors. But the courts remain open for those seeking accountability and compensation.