SPOKANE, Wash. — Bradley Burdett, now living in Spokane, describes his experiences with the juvenile justice system as deeply traumatic. Before the age of 12, Burdett faced felony charges and spent time in juvenile facilities, including Echo Glen Children’s Center in Western Washington.
At 13, Burdett alleges he was sexually assaulted by both a male and a female counselor at Echo Glen.
“I wasn’t sentenced for this to happen. I was sent to be rehabilitated. Instead, I was victimized,” Burdett said. He described feeling dehumanized by the abuse.
Court documents filed recently by 188 plaintiffs allege that abuse occurred not only at Echo Glen but across multiple facilities in Washington State over the past 60 years. The lawsuit names over 100 people and includes claims of rape, forced oral sex and grooming. The plaintiffs’ ages ranged from 8 to 17 at the time of the alleged incidents.
The lawsuit is directed at the State of Washington and several of its agencies, including the Department of Children, Youth, and Family, the Department of Social and Health Services, and the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration. The plaintiffs argue that these agencies failed to protect them while they were in state custody.
Vanessa Oslund, a partner at Bergman Oslund Udo Little PLLC representing the plaintiffs, argued that the state did not meet its legal obligation to protect the children in its care.
“The law is very clear; the state owed these kids protections while they were locked up, and they didn’t provide that,” Oslund said.
Recent developments, such as the arrest of counselors at Green Hill for similar allegations, have raised concerns about ongoing issues within the system. Oslund suggests that these incidents highlight a broader problem with transparency and accountability in the juvenile justice system.
Burdett hopes that the lawsuit will lead to systemic changes and prevent future abuse.
“I’ve had this vision that I’m not a nobody—I’m a somebody and I’m going to help people,” Burdett said.
As the case continues, the plaintiffs seek justice and reform to ensure the safety and protection of children in juvenile facilities.
