Lawsuit: Polinsky Children’s Center and Probation and of Child and Family Well-Being UPDATED

“Former foster children who say they were sexually abused while they stayed at a San Diego County emergency shelter for kids spoke out Friday morning.

During a news conference in Kearny Mesa, several people shared their stories, accusing staff members at the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky of abusing them while they were there as children.

The center, which is still up and running, operates as a temporary emergency shelter for children who must be separated from their families for safety reasons or if their parents can’t care for them.

“For 30 years I had to be quiet about this, and now I feel like my voice can be heard,” said Kimberly Dennis tearfully. “I want to share my experience regarding the abuse I endured and how it affected me. The abuse created an environment of fear and mistrust, making it so incredibly difficult for me to have healthy relationships, including with my own dad.”

Herman Law represents Dennis and the other plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit against the county. According to attorneys, there are now over 75 cases included in this lawsuit. They allege staff members sexually abused children over a span of nearly three decades. Victims who attempted to report the abuse were ignored, intimidated, or dismissed, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked, said attorneys.

A separate lawsuit was filed last year by a different law firm, alleging more than 100 children were abused at the center.

CBS 8 reached out to San Diego County for comment Friday morning.

They provided the following comment

The County is aware of the press conference and remains committed to the safety of all children provided temporary respite at Polinsky Children’s Center. The County has no comment on this pending litigation.”

Former foster children share abuse allegations against Polinsky staff
[CBS 8 4/4/25 by Kelly Hessedal]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: “Eight new plaintiffs have come forward with allegations that they were sexually abused by guards while being held in San Diego County juvenile detention facilities.

The abuse claims, which landed in San Diego federal court last week, come as the county departments of Probation and of Child and Family Well-Being already are confronting similar lawsuits from hundreds of other former residents of juvenile halls, temporary shelters and foster care facilities.

San Diego County “has clearly established sexual abuse and assault in jails, prisons and juvenile halls as an issue that must be addressed,” says the legal complaint, initially filed in superior court.

“It is a human rights issue that parties operating detention facilities can no longer turn a blind eye towards,” it adds.

The County Counsel’s Office, which oversees the defense of legal claims against San Diego County, successfully moved to transfer the state case into federal court. County officials declined to comment on the allegations, citing a policy of not discussing lawsuits outside court.

The case, which names eight new plaintiffs identified only as Jane and John Does, joins a litany of similar cases.

The allegations spelled out in the new federal lawsuit are similar to prior claims from former residents of the Kearny Mesa and East Mesa juvenile halls, the now-closed Camp Barrett in East County and the Polinsky Center.

Lawsuit after lawsuit allege that boys and girls as young as 11 were subjected to sexual abuse by guards or other county employees.

“The sexual abuse Jane D.L.9379 Doe suffered at the hands of (two officers) began when she was approximately 14 years old and continued until she was approximately 16 years old,” the newest legal complaint alleges.

“In or about 2004, Jane D.L.9379 Doe reported the abuse to a staff member at (Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility),” the suit adds. “Jane D.L.9379 Doe believes her verbal reports were disregarded by the staff.”

Other claims in the new lawsuit allege severe abuse, including rape. Lawyers for the victims say their clients continue to suffer mental anguish as a result of the claims.”

San Diego County confronts fresh round of sex-abuse claims by former youth
[The Spokesman-Review 7/19/26 by Jeff McDonald and Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune]