Concerns have arisen regarding the emergency shelter for children in San Diego County, specifically at the Polinsky Children's Center.

Chronic understaffing and a lack of staff support have led to a sense of insecurity among the workforce.

Current and former staff members, speaking anonymously due to fear of reprisal, have also expressed concerns.

When asked whether the County of San Diego is doing enough to ensure the safety of staff and children, the consensus is straightforward: "No, they don’t."

They mentioned instances where teenage boys and girls were housed in the same unit, the presence of drugs and alcohol on campus, and an increasing number of incidents where children leave the center without permission.

According to data from the San Diego Police Department, over the past three years and several months, there have been more than 2,000 service calls to the Polinsky Center. These calls ranged from disturbances to threats with weapons and runaway juveniles.

In addition, two staff members have been terminated from their positions at the Polinsky Children's Center.

State social workers deemed there was an "immediate risk" to the safety of the children under care at the center.

Incidents include:

• staff allegedly dragging a child by their legs at the center;
• a video recording from inside the facility shows a staff member grabbing the child's arm, causing them to drop a microphone;
• a child ran towards staff members, who then restrained them on the gym floor; and,
• An investigation reveals three safety violations, including inadequate supervision and an incident where a child was left in a dark closet, crying upon release.

This incident adds to a series of Polinsky Children's Center issues. Previous state investigations resulted in seven type A citations, the most serious violations, and 10 type B violations, which could pose a danger if not addressed.

We believe all victims who have experienced sexual abuse sexual abuse at Polinsky Children's Center in San Diego County should receive justice and potential compensation, beginning with a free, private case review with our experienced legal team.