For decades, children placed at the New Hampshire Youth Development Center (YDC) suffered sexual and physical abuse while in state custody. Today, hundreds of survivors are pursuing civil lawsuits or seeking compensation through the state settlement fund. [1] [2] There was even a criminal probe that led to several charges. However, the legal process for civil claims has been slow and complex, and the settlement fund has encountered payout challenges.[2]
If youโre a survivor of NH Youth Development Center abuse, you deserve clear information about what is happening and what your options are. As your case moves forward, pre-settlement funding, also known as lawsuit loans, can help you manage financial pressure while you wait for justice.
Key Takeaways
- Survivors have reported sexual and physical abuse at the New Hampshire Youth Development Center dating back to the 1960s.[1]
- Eleven former workers at the detention center have been charged with crimes related to sexual assault.[1]
- The State of New Hampshire created a $100 million settlement fund to compensate victims, though many survivors have filed civil lawsuits instead.[2]
- Civil cases related to the abuse are still ongoing, and the legal process may take years to resolve.
- YDC lawsuit loans can provide upfront financial support while you wait for your claim to move forward.
What Happened at the NH Youth Development Center?
The New Hampshire Youth Development Center, now called the Sununu Youth Services Center, is a state-run juvenile detention facility in Manchester, New Hampshire. It has operated for decades as a place where courts sent young people aged 13 to 17 who were awaiting hearings or serving sentences and is the only youth detention center in the state. [3] [4]
The scandal at YDC began in 2019, when two former workers were arrested and charged with abusing a former resident. The first civil lawsuit was filed in 2020, and after an ongoing investigation, nine more workers were charged in 2021.[1] An increasing number of former residents began reporting sexual abuse, physical violence, and mistreatment by staff members.
By March 2021, more than 150 staffers had been accused in claims involving more than 230 children. More than half of the claims were sexual abuse cases, while others recount โfight clubs,โ broken bones, and cigarette burns.[5]
A complaint filed in October of 2022 alleged that residents were beaten regularly, dragged by the hair, given cocaine, sexually assaulted, and forced to strip naked and sexually abuse other child residents as punishment. Multiple plaintiffs say they reported the abuse to Manchester District Court judges, who did nothing.[6]
Now, more than 1,100 former residents have come forward with claims of abuse connected to the New Hampshire Youth Development Center.[1] Not all claims are against the facility. David Meehan sued the state of New Hampshire in 2020, claiming the stateโs negligence allowed the abuse. A jury agreed, awarding him a landmark $38 million in 2024.[8]
What Is the YDC Settlement Fund?
In response to the growing number of claims, New Hampshire lawmakers created a state compensation fund in 2022 to allow victims to seek financial recovery outside of traditional civil lawsuits. Lawmakers initially set aside $100 million for the fund, then added $60 million more.[8]
In May 2023, the state resolved the first claim at the maximum amount of $1.5 million.[9] As of January 2026, 425 cases had been resolved at a total of $239 million. There were still 1,700 pending claims that could amount to up to $1.8 billion. However, the fund has been plagued by delays and political wrangling.[8]
Because thereโs a chance of higher payout, many survivors choose to file a civil lawsuit instead of using the settlement fund.[2] If youโre one of them and still waiting for your day in court, a YDC lawsuit loan could provide financial support in the meantime.
YDC Lawsuit Loans Can Help Abuse Survivors
Juvenile facilities lawsuits can take years to resolve. Thereโs also the possibility of new lawsuits being filed: In New Hampshire, those who were sexually assaulted as children can bring a case until they turn 40 years old, rather than the usual six-year statute of limitations for felonies.[1]
Large-scale institutional abuse lawsuits often involve extensive discovery, expert testimony, and negotiations, which can extend timelines. In other words, even if your case is strong, the legal process does not move quickly. That delay can create serious financial stress while you wait for justice.
If youโve filed a lawsuit related to abuse at the New Hampshire Youth Development Center, you may feel stuck between fighting for justice and trying to pay your bills. That is where pre-settlement funding, often called a lawsuit loan, may help.
A YDC lawsuit loan provides you money upfront in exchange for a portion of a future settlement. Unlike a traditional loan, lawsuit loans are nonrecourse, meaning you only pay them back if you win your case. [10]
USClaims has provided pre-settlement funding to plaintiffs nationwide for decades. We focus on helping people with strong cases who need financial breathing room while their lawsuits move forward.
Hereโs what you can expect from the pre-settlement process:
- You need to be working with an attorney on a contingency basis to apply.
- Funds are often delivered within 24 business hours after approval.*
- We offer a straightforward approval process with no credit checks.
- Our funding is nonrecourse, so you only repay if you recover compensation.
- We use simple, non-compounding rates.
- In many cases, we apply a 2X cap, which means you never repay more than twice the amount you receive.**
When youโre dealing with the emotional weight of past abuse, the financial demands of real life, and a pending lawsuit, the last thing you need is more stress. A YDC lawsuit loan can give you room to focus on your case and your recovery instead of worrying about rent, utilities, or medical bills.
If you have an active New Hampshire Youth Development Center abuse lawsuit and are working with an attorney, you may qualify. Apply online or call 1-877-USCLAIMS today to see if pre-settlement funding is right for you.
Sources
[1] AP News, โHundreds alleged assault by youth detention workers.โ https://apnews.com/article/new-hampshire-youth-center-abuse-bc8c4f89ec90e61cd1eb4356d2e1c731
[2] WMUR.com, โNew data shows state has agreed to pay YDC settlement fund claimants $239 million.โ https://www.wmur.com/article/new-data-youth-development-center-settlement-fund/70051773
[3] New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, โSununu Youth Services Center.โ https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/about-dhhs/locations-facilities/sununu-youth-services-center
[4] The Concord Monitor, โLife inside the Sununu Center.โ https://www.concordmonitor.com/2023/06/06/inside-the-sununu-youth-center-51087904/
[5] AP News, โHundreds claim decades of abuse by 150 youth center staffers.โ https://apnews.com/article/hundreds-claim-abuse-by-youth-center-staff-c7d7e348269a1c80fa3c902818df0399
[6] NHPR, โ8 more lawsuits allege sexual and physical abuse at YDC.โ https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2022-10-05/8-more-lawsuits-allege-sexual-and-physical-abuse-at-nh-ydc-and-contracted-facilities
[7] AP News, โNew Hampshire jury finds state liable for abuse at youth detention center.โ https://apnews.com/article/youth-detention-center-trial-new-hampshire-1cacb2f57f4eccaeb776e712d016cd8e
[8] NHPR, โState runs short on money for YDC victims.โ https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-03-17/as-state-runs-short-on-money-for-ydc-victims-nh-attorney-general-opposes-spending-more-now
[9] New Hampshire Department of Justice, โStatement on YDC Claims Administration.โ https://www.doj.nh.gov/news-and-media/statement-ydc-claims-administration-and-settlement-fund
[10] Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. โLawsuit Settlement Advances.โ https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-lawsuit-settlement-advance-en-1801/
*Funding subject to approval. We typically fund within 24 business-day hours after we receive a fully-executed contract. Additional restrictions may apply. Contact for details.
**2X CAP may not be applicable for all types of cases and/or jurisdictions.
Disclaimer
Throughout this website, the term “loan” may be used for convenience to describe pre-settlement funding. However, such transactions are not loans in the legal sense. Repayment is strictly contingent upon the successful resolution of your case. If your case is unsuccessful, no repayment is required. Common terms like “lawsuit loan” are used colloquially but misrepresent the nonrecourse nature of pre-settlement funding.
