Los Angeles agrees to $4bn deal to settle thousands of sexual abuse claims
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LA County Agrees to $4B Sexual Abuse Settlement
Above: An unidentified person who alleges she was sexually assaulted as children at the former MacLaren Children's Center in Pasadena. Image copyright: Robert Gauthier/Contributor/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This settlement acknowledges past institutional failures and provides long-overdue justice to thousands of victims who suffered horrific abuse under county care for decades.
Establishment-critical narrative
While it represents a step forward, this settlement fails to tackle the pervasive culture of abuse that continues to undermine the nation's juvenile system — one that exploits vulnerable and troubled youth rather than safeguarding them. This case demands meaningful reforms within the agencies involved.