New Hampshire jury finds state liable for abuse at youth detention center and awards victim $38M

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire jury awarded $38 million to the man who blew the lid off abuse allegations at the state’s youth detention center Friday, finding in a landmark case that the state’s negligence allowed him to be beaten, raped and held in solitary confinement as a teen. ...

New Hampshire jury finds state liable for youth detention center abuse and awards victim $38 million in landmark trial

Father of former youth detention center resident testifies against him in New Hampshire trial

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — The father of a man who says he was regularly raped and beaten as a teen at New Hampshire’s youth detention center briefly testified Tuesday, saying his son had a reputation for dishonesty. Daniel Meehan was the first witness called by the state, which is...

Former teacher at New Hampshire youth detention center testifies about bruised teens

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — A former teacher at New Hampshire’s youth detention center testified Monday that she reported suspicious bruises on at least half a dozen teenage boys in the 1990s, including the former resident who filed a landmark lawsuit against the state. Brenda...

Former resident of New Hampshire youth center describes difficult aftermath of abuse

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — A man who says he was beaten and raped as a teen at New Hampshire's youth detention center testified Friday that he both tried to take his own life and plotted to kill his abusers years later before speaking up. David Meehan, who spent three years at the...

Ex-youth center resident testifies that counselor went from trusted father figure to horrific abuser

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — The man who blew the lid off decades of abuse allegations at New Hampshire’s youth detention center continued testifying at his civil trial Thursday, describing being treated for gonorrhea after being raped at age 15. But the real turning point, he said,...

A former youth detention center resident testifies about 'hit squad' attack

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — A former resident of New Hampshire’s youth detention center testified Tuesday that his house leader and another staffer restrained him in a stairwell while two other workers sexually assaulted him. The four members of what he and other teens called “the...

Ex-youth center worker testifies that top bosses would never take kids' word over staff

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — A man who oversaw staff training and investigations at New Hampshire’s youth detention center testified Monday that top-level administrators sided with staff against residents, while lower-level workers wanted to punish kids for speaking up. Virgil Bossom...

Los Angeles County's troubled juvenile halls get reprieve, can remain open after improvements

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County’s troubled juvenile detention facilities, on the verge of shutting down over safety issues and other problems, can remain open, state regulators decided Thursday. The Board of State and Community Corrections voted to lift its...

Lawyers defending youth center against abuse allegations highlight former resident's misbehavior

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — Attorneys defending the state of New Hampshire on Thursday began highlighting the past misdeeds of man who says he suffered horrific physical and sexual abuse as a teenager at the state’s youth detention center. Eleven former state workers have been...