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Full Answer
What is the history of Maclaren Hall?
What is MacLaren Hall? MacLaren Children's Center (MacLaren Hall) opened in the 1940s in Los Angeles, California as a place for non-delinquent minors to be housed separate and apart from those youths who were guilty of crimes.
What happened to the records of abuse at MacLaren Hall?
Many of the juvenile records that described the abuse at MacLaren Hall were said to have been either destroyed or lost. It is hard to imagine a system with this much corruption existed for so long in Los Angeles. The County failed these children, and then refuses to take responsibility.
How many children were in MacLaren Hall?
MacLaren Hall housed roughly 4,000 children a year during the 1960s. Over the next six decades, MacLaren Hall would be home to tens of thousands of children. The poorly staffed and underfunded facility quickly became overcrowded.
What is MacLaren children's center?
MacLaren Children's Center (MacLaren Hall) opened in the 1940s in Los Angeles, California as a place for non-delinquent minors to be housed separate and apart from those youths who were guilty of crimes. Over almost 4 decades, MacLaren Hall housed tens of thousands of children who were waiting for placement with foster families.
When did MacLaren Hall Close?
2003MacLaren Hall, also called Mac Hall, was an institution for children. In 2003, it closed in disgrace, and some of its former inhabitants began speaking out about sexual abuse at the facility.
Is Mclaren Hall still open?
MacLaren Hall was closed in 2003 as part of a class-action settlement headed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.
Why did MacLaren Hall Close?
MacLaren finally shut its doors in June of 2003 after a class action lawsuit was filed by a resident. There were claims that MacLaren Hall staff injured and violently restrained children, and staff denied basic needs such as food and water. The number of sexual abuse claims was staggering.
Why did MacLaren Hall close?
The facility finally shut it's doors in June of 2003 after a class action lawsuit was filed by a resident. There were claims that MacLaren Hall staff injured numerous children, violently restrained children, and staff denied basic needs such as food and water. The number of sexual abuse claims was staggering. The county denied the allegations claiming the children were injuring staff. Many of the juvenile records that described the abuse at MacLaren Hall were said to have been either destroyed or lost. It is hard to imagine a system with this much corruption existed for so long in Los Angeles. The County failed these children, and then refuses to take responsibility. Children who were taken from their homes, many who had already suffered some form of abuse, were then re-abused, by the one who was supposed to protect them. Children were taken from their homes, stripped of their possessions, and forgotten about. Essentially, these children were robbed of their childhoods and for many never given a chance.
What happened to children in MacLaren Hall?
Children released from probation facilities without a place to go ended up at MacLaren Hall, where they were housed with children coming in from psychiatric hospitals, and those who were suicidal and developmentally delayed. There are reports of staff dragging small children and infants around by their hair, legs, arms, or ears. Babies and small children could be heard screaming and crying throughout the night. MacLaren Hall had become a dumping ground for the most undeserving. Many of the children would AWOL from the facility, only to be found and brought back. The majority of the children were classified as “hard to place”, or “unadoptable”.
How many acres is Maclaren Hall?
Maclaren Hall sat on 10 acres. The facility consisted of a campus, school, infirmary, administrative offices and cottages. Maclaren Hall was overcrowded and poorly staffed, leading to a constant increase in violent outbursts and chaos. Housing emotionally disturbed, suicidal, and violent children with children in general population shows the deliberate lack of concern and inadequate training of the staff.
