San Diego County has been named in a series of civil lawsuits on behalf of more than a hundred people, alleging a pattern of widespread abuse against children at the A.B. and Jesse Polinsky Children’s Center.
The Polinsky Children’s Center is a county-run emergency shelter in Kearny Mesa for children who cannot remain with their families because of widespread abuse or neglect.
According to the complaint, which was filed by Slater Slater Schulman LLP, the center had a culture of “pervasive abuse” exacerbated by a lack of supervision of the children living there and the employees taking care of them.
“Specifically, Polinsky’s operational practices left in isolated and vulnerable situations where predators employed by Polinsky could abuse and harm children with impunity,” noted a court filing.
“There was an institutional failure to adequately staff the facility and monitor employees so that children would not be left alone in circumstances that invited sexual abuse.”
A spokesperson for the county said that they were unable to comment on pending litigation.
