Alabama Troubled Teen Industry Attorneys

Lawsuits for Abuse in Youth Behavioral Modification Centers

Did you send your rebellious teenager to a behavioral correction facility? Were you shocked to find that your child was not learning life skills and discipline but instead was being subjected to painful abuse and neglect? You are not alone. With every year that passes, the number of troubling reports of abuse within the troubled teen industry increases nationwide.

At Morris Haynes Attorneys at Law, we are here to stand up for abused teens and their parents who were misled by the institutions that promised to help them both. Our Alabama troubled teen industry abuse lawyers are backed by more than 250 years of combined legal experience and vast resources, allowing us to handle cases against even the state’s largest teen behavioral correction centers and corporations. If you sent your teenage child to a behavioral institution and they were abused, then please let us represent your family during this difficult time.

Talk to an Alabama teen behavioral correction facility abuse attorney now. Dial (205) 973-6915.

What is the Troubled Teen Industry in Alabama?

Teenagers will always have rebellious phases, but some can get into much more trouble than others. Teenagers who abuse drugs and alcohol may need additional attention and specialized counseling. The same is true of teenagers who intentionally engage in risky activities like enacting crimes, completing dangerous stunts, or engaging in unsafe sexual behaviors. Parents who struggle to connect with their teenage children and explain to them why their decisions are not safe or acceptable may turn to the troubled teen industry for help.

The troubled teen industry is comprised of different businesses and centers, such as:

• Boarding schools
• Juvenile boot camps
• Behavioral modification centers
• Emotional growth camps

Boarding a teenager at a specialized school, camp, or facility to learn corrective behaviors and engage in behavioral therapies is not inherently an issue, which is why so many parents send their children to such centers and programs each year. Problems arise, however, when these centers and camps do not provide adequate care and put the teenagers there at risk of abuse and neglect. The problems are amplified when considering that an abused or neglected teenager is all the more likely to lash out and develop problematic behaviors.

Abuse & Neglect at a Teen Behavioral Correction Facility

There is no such thing as an acceptable form of abuse or neglect at a teen behavioral correction center. Even the slightest form of neglect is inexcusable and could have serious repercussions that wear down a teenager’s self-esteem and happiness.

Abuse and neglect at teen behavioral correction facilities can vary, including:

• Not enough staff at a time to properly supervise the teenage residents.
• Providing teenage residents with insufficient nutrition and hydration.
• Forcing the teenage residents to live in dirty, unhygienic conditions.
• Failing to protect teenage residents from bullying from other residents.
• Isolating teenage residents and not letting them talk to their parents.
• Intentionally assaulting or verbally abusing teenage residents.
• Failing to provide proper medical care after a teenage resident is injured.
• Allowing teenage residents to engage in unsafe behaviors like smoking or drinking.
• Making teenage residents use medication to sedate or control them.
• Using physical restraints when not needed or in a way that causes injury.

Signs of Abuse in Teenagers

The warning signs of abuse in a troubled teen center might not be obvious at first. Teenagers who are abused or neglected by staff members may grow to distrust all adults, so they won’t want to tell their parents that something is wrong. You will need to stay attentive for signs that something is wrong when you check in with your teenage child. If you aren’t allowed to check in with them or the staff makes it difficult to talk to them, then that could be the first sign that the center is neglectful or abusive.

Common signs of abuse or neglect in the troubled teen industry are:

• Uncharacteristic mood swings or behavior changes
• Unexplained physical injuries like cuts and bruises
• Suicidal ideation
• Dramatic weight loss or weight gain
• Disinterest in previously enjoyed activities
• Fear around another resident or a staff member

If you are worried that your teenager is being abused or neglected at a behavioral correction center or school that was supposed to help them, then please call(205) 973-6915 to tell our attorneys about what is going on. If you fear that your child could be in immediate danger of physical abuse, then please call the local authorities first.

Get Legal Help from Compassionate Attorneys

Our Alabama troubled teen industry attorneys understand the hardships you and your family are going through after finding out that a behavioral therapy facility for your teenager hurt them instead of helping them. We’ve teamed up with several other prominent law firms in Alabama to create a strong team of attorneys and trial lawyers who are all dedicated to protecting the rights of at-risk youths. We are here to help you understand your legal options and represent you through all steps of the claims process. While we get to work on your case and fight for full compensation and justice, you can focus on healing your family and moving toward a brighter future together.

Call (205) 973-6915 to schedule an initial consultation with Morris Haynes Attorneys at Law.