Dozens allege child sexual abuse in Maryland treatment program under newly filed lawsuits
Dozens allege child sexual abuse in Maryland treatment program under newly filed lawsuits ABC News
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More than three dozen people allege sexual abuse at Maryland residential program for youths
BALTIMORE — More than three dozen people allege in two lawsuits filed Tuesday that they were sexually abused as children at a Maryland residential program for youths that closed in 2017 following similar allegations.
Background
The program in question is the Good Shepherd Services behavioral health treatment center, which was founded in 1864 by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, a Catholic religious order focused on helping women and girls. It started in Baltimore and later moved to its most recent campus just outside the city.
Allegations of Abuse
The lawsuits detail decades of alleged abuse of children by staff members at the Good Shepherd Services. The victims, mostly women, reported being injected with sedatives to make it harder for them to resist the abuse. Some claimed that their abusers, including nuns and priests employed by the center, used bribes or threats of violence to manipulate them.
Lawsuits and Defendants
The lawsuits were filed against the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and Department of Human Services, which had contracted with Good Shepherd and referred children to the program. The state Department of Health, responsible for overseeing residential facilities, was also named in the lawsuits. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd religious order was not named as a defendant.
Response from State Agencies
The Maryland Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Juvenile Services issued a joint statement expressing their commitment to the safety and well-being of children in their care. They emphasized that they take allegations of sexual abuse seriously but stated that they had not yet been served with the court papers.
Vulnerable Children in State Care
Many of the children referred to Good Shepherd were in foster care or involved in the state’s juvenile justice system. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs argue that the state failed to protect these vulnerable children.
Closure of Good Shepherd Services
Good Shepherd Services closed in 2017 after state agencies decided to withdraw children from the program. The closure followed an incident where one patient reported being sexually assaulted and others showed signs of overdose after taking stolen medicine. The program had previously been cited for not providing proper supervision.
Impact of Law Change
Since the elimination of the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases in Maryland, there has been an increase in lawsuits alleging abuse of incarcerated youth. The change in the law was prompted by the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal and aimed to address the problem within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. However, it has also shed light on issues within the state’s juvenile justice system.
Future Challenges
While more complaints are expected to be filed under the new law, a constitutional challenge is anticipated, which could delay the progress of these cases. A Prince George’s County Circuit judge recently ruled that the law is constitutional in response to a challenge filed by the Archdiocese of Washington, but an appeal is expected.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The article discusses allegations of sexual abuse at a residential program for youths, which relates to the issues of health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
- SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
- SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
Based on the article’s content, the targets related to these SDGs can be identified as ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health services (SDG 3.7), eliminating violence against women and girls (SDG 5.2), promoting social inclusion (SDG 10.2), and ending abuse and violence against children (SDG 16.2).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of individuals accessing sexual and reproductive health-care services
- Number of reported cases of violence against women and girls
- Level of social, economic, and political inclusion of vulnerable groups
- Number of reported cases of abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence against children
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, but the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators would require data collection and reporting on the number of individuals accessing sexual and reproductive health-care services, the number of reported cases of violence against women and girls, the level of social inclusion for vulnerable groups, and the number of reported cases of abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence against children.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs. | Number of individuals accessing sexual and reproductive health-care services |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | Number of reported cases of violence against women and girls |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | Level of social, economic, and political inclusion of vulnerable groups |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Number of reported cases of abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence against children |
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Source: abcnews.go.com
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