San Diego County Foster Care Scandal: 75 Former Children Allege Sexual Abuse at Polinsky Children’s Center
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Former foster children are now publicly accusing staff at Polinsky Children’s Center, San Diego County’s emergency shelter for removed children, of widespread sexual abuse spanning decades, according to a rapidly expanding civil lawsuit.
Attorneys representing the survivors say at least 75 former foster children have come forward with abuse allegations against Polinsky staff — and that number may still grow.
The allegations strike at the core of San Diego County’s child welfare system, raising urgent questions about oversight, accountability, and whether children placed in government custody were ever truly protected.
“For 30 Years I Had to Be Quiet”
At a news conference in Kearny Mesa, survivors stood before cameras and described abuse they say occurred while they were children housed at Polinsky — a facility meant to serve as a temporary place of safety for children removed from their families.
One survivor, Kimberly Dennis, described decades of silence.
“For 30 years I had to be quiet about this, and now I feel like my voice can be heard,” Dennis said through tears. “The abuse created an environment of fear and mistrust.”
Dennis and dozens of others are represented by Herman Law, which alleges that San Diego County allowed sexual abuse by staff to continue unchecked for nearly three decades.
What Is Polinsky Children’s Center?
Polinsky Children’s Center is operated by San Diego County and functions as an emergency shelter for children who have been separated from their families due to abuse allegations, neglect claims, or parental incapacity.
Children are often sent to Polinsky in the middle of the night — frightened, traumatized, and alone — under the justification that removal is necessary for their safety.
The facility is still operating today.
Allegations: Abuse, Silence, and Intimidation
According to the lawsuit and statements from attorneys:
Children were allegedly sexually abused by staff members
Victims who attempted to report abuse were ignored
Others say they were intimidated or dismissed
Abuse allegedly continued across decades, not isolated years
Attorneys argue that San Diego County either knew or should have known what was happening inside its own emergency shelter.
“This is not one incident. This is not one era. This is a pattern,” attorneys said during the press conference.
Not the First Lawsuit — And Not the Only One
This is not the first legal action tied to Polinsky Children’s Center.
A separate lawsuit filed last year by another law firm alleges more than 100 children were sexually abused at the same facility.
That means two major civil actions, hundreds of alleged victims, and overlapping claims — all tied to the same county-run shelter.
Yet despite the mounting allegations, Polinsky remains open.
San Diego County Responds — Or Doesn’t
When contacted for comment, San Diego County issued a brief statement:
“The County is aware of the press conference and remains committed to the safety of all children provided temporary respite at Polinsky Children’s Center. The County has no comment on this pending litigation.”
For many survivors, that response felt painfully familiar.
Silence.
Distance.
Legal language instead of accountability.
The Central Question: Is Foster Care Actually Safer?
San Diego County justified placing children at Polinsky by claiming it was necessary for protection.
But the growing body of lawsuits raises an uncomfortable question:
What happens when the place children are sent for safety becomes the source of harm?
Emergency shelters like Polinsky operate with:
Limited transparency
High staff turnover
Vulnerable children with no parental advocates
Institutional power imbalance
Survivors say that combination created the perfect conditions for abuse — and for that abuse to remain hidden.
A System Built on Trust — Without Verification
Parents are told to trust the system.
Judges are told the placements are vetted.
The public is told children are safer once removed.
But these allegations suggest something far darker:
that San Diego County’s child welfare system failed at its most basic responsibility — protecting children already in its custody.
When abuse is alleged inside foster care or emergency shelters, there is no “undo” button.
Why This Case Matters Far Beyond San Diego County
What’s unfolding in San Diego is not an isolated scandal — it’s a warning.
Across the country, emergency shelters and foster placements operate with enormous authority and minimal scrutiny. Polinsky Children’s Center is now emerging as a case study in what happens when that authority goes unchecked.
Survivors are no longer willing to be silent.
And the public is beginning to ask questions San Diego County can no longer ignore.
What Comes Next
The lawsuit against San Diego County is ongoing. Attorneys expect additional plaintiffs to come forward. Discovery may reveal internal reports, complaints, or warnings that were never acted upon.
For the survivors, the goal is not just compensation — it’s accountability.
And for families watching from the outside, the message is chilling:
Removal does not guarantee safety.
State custody does not equal protection.
And silence is not the same as innocence.
