The shocking revelation of abuse at New Hampshire’s state-run youth detention center, now known as the Sununu Youth Services Center, has sparked an unprecedented criminal investigation and a wave of lawsuits from former residents alleging decades of mistreatment.
It all began with David Meehan’s brave disclosure to his wife seven years ago, when he uttered three haunting words: “They raped me.” Meehan’s individual lawsuit, the first to go to trial, is set to begin this week, with jury selection underway in Rockingham County Superior Court.
Meehan, who was just 14 when he was sent to the facility in 1995, claims he endured horrific abuse, including beatings, rape, and solitary confinement over the course of three years. His lawsuit seeks significant compensation for the trauma he suffered, alleging that the state failed in its duty to protect him and enabled the abuse by neglecting to properly train and supervise employees.
The trial is expected to last weeks and will shed light on the disturbing allegations of abuse that have plagued the center for decades. The case is further complicated by the fact that the state attorney general’s office is simultaneously prosecuting perpetrators in criminal trials while defending the state against civil lawsuits.
Despite the state’s denials and arguments that Meehan waited too long to come forward, the trial represents a pivotal moment in the quest for justice for the victims of abuse at the youth detention center. With dozens of lawsuits pending and more trials on the horizon, the legal battle to hold those responsible for the abuse to account is far from over.
As Meehan prepares to face his abusers in court, his courage in speaking out has empowered others to come forward and seek justice for the trauma they endured. The trial will serve as a public reckoning for the atrocities that took place behind the walls of the Sununu Youth Services Center, and a crucial step towards healing for the survivors of abuse.
