The trial seeking to hold the state of New Hampshire accountable for child abuse at the Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly known as the Youth Development Center, resumed with testimony from Virgil Bossom, a former employee who oversaw staff training and investigations at the facility. Bossom testified that top-level administrators at the center often sided with staff over residents, while lower-level workers wanted to punish kids who spoke up about abuse. He described a culture in which complaints from teens were dismissed or even met with disciplinary action if later deemed unfounded.
Eleven former state workers, including some accused by the plaintiff David Meehan, are facing criminal charges related to abuse at the youth detention center. Alongside these criminal proceedings, more than 1,100 former residents have filed lawsuits alleging abuse dating back six decades. The attorney general’s office is in the unique position of both prosecuting alleged perpetrators and defending the state in civil cases, creating a complex legal situation.
Bossom recounted speaking with higher-level administrators at the Manchester facility, who expressed skepticism about taking a child’s word over a staff member’s in abuse investigations. He also described instances in which disciplinary action was taken against teens, even if their complaints were later deemed unfounded. The defense pushed back on Bossom’s claims, presenting evidence that employees were terminated for violating rules in the mid-1990s, indicating that complaints were taken seriously and addressed by management.
While Bossom acknowledged that he never raised concerns about Meehan specifically being abused or drew attention to broader problems at the time, he stood by his belief that certain disciplinary actions, such as placing teens in solitary confinement, were appropriate in certain circumstances. However, Bossom did find the practice troubling and admitted that he suspected heavy-handedness and potential abuse going on at the facility. Meehan’s attorney argued that given the context of near-daily sexual assaults, it was understandable that Meehan would want to escape his difficult situation.
The Sununu Youth Services Center, named after former Governor John H. Sununu, has faced scrutiny since Meehan came forward with allegations of abuse in 2017. Lawmakers have since approved the closure of the facility, which now only houses those accused or convicted of serious violent crimes, and have allocated $100 million to settle abuse claims. The trial seeks to address the state’s responsibility for the neglect and abuse that former residents like Meehan experienced during their time at the facility.
