Advocacy organization Justice for YDC Victims calls on State House to fully support the YDC Settlement Fund in the budget
CONCORD – Today, survivors of decades of abuse while in the care of the state-run Youth Development Center (YDC) system joined with allies to launch Justice for YDC Victims, an advocacy organization focused on elevating the voices of victims and fighting for their needs, including encouraging New Hampshire lawmakers to uphold the commitments the state has made to the YDC Settlement Fund.
Recognizing the legitimate claims of sexual and other abuse suffered by hundreds of children under YDC care, the General Court created the Youth Development Center Claims Administration and Settlement Fund in 2022 to provide a trauma-informed, victim-centered alternative to litigation for the efficient and fair resolution of those claims. In 2024, the legislature worked with victim advocates to enact legislation improving the fund and targeting $75 million per year to cover settlements.
However, the budget passed by the House of Representatives includes only $10 million per year, falling short of what is needed to cover over 1,100 claims submitted to date, with more expected to be filed before the deadline of July 1, 2025.
“As a survivor of unimaginable abuse in the YDC system, I had hope when the settlement fund was created that maybe, finally, people are ready to stand up and take responsibility,” said Chuck Miles, a YDC victim whose claim is pending before the fund. “For the state to walk away from that promise now would re-open our wounds all over again. YDC victims want to see that the fund is a legitimate path to find justice, and that means people in Concord need to meet their commitments.”
“Survivors like me have been through hell and back from the abuse suffered in the YDC system,” said Solomon Sanchez, a YDC victim who has participated in the settlement fund. “After pushing us to enter the fund and set aside our right to a jury trial, the state changing the terms now would be a breach of the agreements they made, raising doubts that we will ever see justice.”
Lawmakers also established the fund to provide additional predictability for state finances by encouraging participation in the settlement fund instead of litigation. Some victims have already taken the state to court, with total awards or settlements reaching $52.5 million for three cases thus far, compared to an average settlement of approximately $528,000 via the settlement fund, highlighting the financial risk to the state if victims are discouraged from pursuing their claims through the fund.
“We understand the legislature is dealing with a difficult budget dynamic, but there are strong advocates for YDC abuse survivors in the legislature, including Senate President Carson, who helped put the settlement fund into place,” said Marc Goldberg, Justice for YDC Victims spokesperson. “YDC victims hope these allies can help ensure the final budget holds true to the fair resolution process in law and provides a clear pathway to the targeted funding level.”
About Justice for YDC Victims
Justice for YDC Victims is a non-profit issue advocacy organization created by survivors and their allies in order to elevate the voices of victims who experienced decades of abuse while in the care of New Hampshire’s state-run Youth Development Center (YDC) system. The organization’s mission is to fight for justice for YDC abuse survivors and to ensure their needs are heard in the State House, including by encouraging New Hampshire lawmakers to uphold the commitments the state has made to the YDC Settlement Fund.
