“Withholding information is the essence of tyranny. Control of the flow of information is the tool of the dictatorship.“
—Bruce Coville
Declaration in Support of Access
Please click on the image below to launch the application for your MacLaren Hall, MacLaren Children’s Center, DCFS reords request in PDF. It is legally known as a “Declaration in Support of Access.”
The form is current as of this posting: April 3, 2013.
Mail the completed form (via Certified U.S. Mail or they’ll claim they never received the request) to:
Records Unit
LA County Counsel, Juvenile Dependency
201 Centre Plaza Drive STE 1
Monterey Park CA 91754
Expect to wait forever as the legal mitigation boys and girls attempt to figure out what to do with the material you are requesting so you don’t sue the crap out of Los Angeles County.
The Los Angeles County Counsel is John F. Krattli.
MacLaren Hall 
Good job!
How do I become part of the class action lawsuit? I was in MacClaren hall several times between 1992 and 1997.
I was also in MacClaren Hall and would like more information.
My name is David Reeves, I was in Mac from 1987-1991 off and on. My email is david4businesscredit@gmail.com
I was there several times between 1994 and 1997 what do we do next
Hello
really David well get some coins then
Did you ever find out how to get your settlement? I was there around some of the same years. Might have met you. lol
How can I get more information and retrieve my records from mc learn hall I was there for many years off and on as a child
me too
You were not raped or assaulted at all.
They broke my arm both bones on purpose.1983
I was in between 1994 and 1997.
My husband George and six of his siblings were in MacLaren Hall in 1963. The abuse they suffered there heaped re-victimization after re-victimization only to then be placed in an even more abusive foster care system with at first a very nice couple but then returned to the hell in a home as abusive as MacLaren Hall if not worse. George carries physical scars of the abuse he suffered to this day.
Iwe were in McClaren Hall in the mid 1960’s. My little brother was sent to the boys ward and I didn’t get to see him again. I just wanted. To know if any other person was called to the head Masters Office to sit on his lap and read for him, this makes me so sick to this day. He started to hump me through my clothes, I jumped up and he grabbed me and said,” This is the way God saves his beautiful little girls. I hated him, but I had to go and read as he called the hall monster. So many other things I hated said aloud to anyone. I believed it was a big conspiracy, not to trust adults. NO ONE.
Hi Patty,
My name is Kris and I’m a writer working on an article on the various misdeeds that went on at MacLaren Hall. Would you like to contribute your experiences to help us to spread the word about what went on there?
I’d be really interested in hearing from you so please get in touch with me via my contact form: http://www.krismulliah.com/contact–lets-team-up.html
Hi kshousewrightcook
I also was in MacLaren Hall in 1963 I was there starting in August 1963. I was brought there at age 8 with my brother 4 and my sister 2 in a police card. I ended up being a ward of the court and all the years as an adult I didn’t know what that meant. I only have snapshots of some of my childhood memories. I believe that most of the traumatic things that happened are blocked out. My sister and brother went back to my mother and I went into foster care.
Thank you for sharing 🙂
Not sure what time I was there. Mostly a blurr had to have been 1961/2. Hated that place.
I was there in the mid sixties and both me and my little brother were abused in the dorms. From there to 2 different Foster homes. The second one, we were in fear of our lives until our grandfather came and got us.
What dorm were you in?
I was 6 or 7 and just can’t remember. Alot of this is a big blur. I don’t want to relive it. I am 67 now.
I don’t remember I was 8, I’m 68 now and most everything is blocked out still from being in there, I remember walking down the long hallway. I’m hoping that someone was there at the same time as me that remembers something that would help trigger memories for me.
More info please. I was there in 68-69, it was hell. I still have nightmares and that was 46 years ago.
I was there in 1968-69 time frame. If I think about it it brings tears to my eyes. So a lot of times I just say “ don’t go there”.
I was there in 1960.
I was there in `91. I was originally placed in “Junior girls cottage”, then moved to “Senior girls cottage”
my name is David Reeves I was in Maclaren Hall in 1987-88-89-90-91-92
Hi David. My name is April Cotton. I was in Mac with you back then and I remember you. Hopefully you’re doing okay and it’s good to know we survived.
This is David Reeves do You remember me I was in Sr. Boys?
Yes I do
I was there in1997to1998 I got beat up pretty good by a staff member so that I won’t tell he put me in jail.how do I become a port of the law suit.I think u guys or trying to find me I know I was was the last one to get foulsly incarcerated
Yo Byrd this u man not sure had a homie we called him byrd Nieto boys joseph nieto here
Same here my name
I was in maclaren hall when staff hit me treated me bad im her to find out..why did thy contacted me about this i was there 1999 to 2002 ..so please contact me on any information about law sue in 2002 ..
How do I become aport of the law sue I need to know about it I was incosurated so I was not able to get no information on it please wright back
I was there 4 separate times in the mid to late 80’s and I escaped 3 of the 4 times while in transit to court on the 3rd day of being there. I would wait till we were in bumper to bumper traffic on the freeway in downtown LA and unbuckle my seatbelt, unlock the door and jump out and run and hide somewhere till I could find a payphone and have someone come pick me up. I stayed on a missing persons list until finally my case worker took me off at the age of 17 because I told her I would keep running every time they took me there. I was never at Maclaren hall for long but in the few short times I was there I was bullied by older girls and thrown in solitary confinement at one point after learning that my mother came and got my brother who was also there but had left me and unfortunately this was on my 13th birthday. One of the older black girls that constantly bullied me found out I had planned on escaping as soon as we went to court and asked me to take her with me. I told her just be ready and when I tell you to run just follow me. We got away and she thanked me and said “you da homegirl now”.. My boyfriend’s brother who had came to get us dropped her off in Compton. I just couldn’t figure out why she needed my help to get out of there. Why wasn’t everyone doing that? All I know is if I didn’t like where I was I ran and now in my mid 40’s I am still running from my problems. I am requesting my records from maclaren hall, we’ll see if I get them.
Have you received any records?
Did you receive any records
I did the same, I was there in 84 when I was 5. They brokE my collar bone one time and split my forehead clean open on another occasion, and I still have issues in the shower alone. I used to run every opening I saw, even after they permanently took my shoes from me, and yes i run still 😦
À s far as gold star fridays went, i was they only child there at the time who still had a parent with parental rights, so my mother wouldn’t let them medicate me, hence I never got a star for taking my medicine, therefore i never got to participate in the extra activities for good behavior and i was unfortunately sober my entire stay. I fucking hate those people, they stole my life…..
our stories are so similar I ran off the van too on the way to court found payphone and the same thing I’m 45 now but was there when I was like 11 12 13 something like that I was in jr girls I remember a staff member named ms Pruitt she always wore socks with her high heels also a crazy girl named Rosalinda she always had a one on one with her. crazy if you want email me or write something on here would love to hear from you. Nicole I also have social media look me up I think I still look the same Nicole wojtiuk
Hello
I’m heathcliff I was there in 87-90 was a tiger h cottage before that I was in a wing next to the pixies made it to junior boys j cottage wow I was put through a lot Nicole I think I know u but maybe not I think I last saw u in sylmar juvenile hall
I’m heathcliff I was there in 87-90 was a tiger h cottage before that I was in a wing next to the pixies made it to junior boys j cottage wow I was put through a lot
Do you remember Taco and Dude we went there together from court in 87 my name is Al Tariq Williams I filed a lawsuit and it’s currently in litigation in Los Angeles County Supreme Court.
I was there same time as you I think. I was in Jr Boys and had a black acoustic guitar I used to take on the field during rec.
I was there in 1978.. I want My records..
I WAS THERE IN 1963 I WANT MY RECORDS TOO
Hi Terriea Conway
I was there in 1963
I was there as child even though tonight Thomas remembers of me but unfortunately he passed away but there’s many staff that know that me and Thomas know each other he worked in the hanging either way my hand is still busted and etc for mofos that work there and the attorneys are etc need to feed my s*** to my social security account do your damn job you guys should take me wrong I was declared a mental health label of mental health disease or illness which is I never had or still do not have a problem but the label it follows me through the damn jobs please and thank you
Has anyone actually received their records?
I’d like my records also. I was there about 1960.
It felt like we were in prison.
I heard this place burned down. Is that true? I see they have me listed in San Marino Girls home in Pasadena, but I’ve never been there and certainly not the dates they list.
I was in girls home in Pasadena but it was called family solutions where did you find your info
did you ever get your records? I need help with that
This place was an asylum. My man suffered there 80’s. Lots of abuse
.
I was there in the 80’s as well lucky me I was there the day before star day or celebrity day does anyone remember that everyone from Hollywood would come and spend the day with us,Run DMC even put on a concert for us. I remember a mrs. fruit that worked in jr.girls. they left me in Mac hall for a year.like the lady above I was runner too and escaped during transport to court.i was brought back there at least 3 times .recently I went to visit Mac and when entering the building was told to turn off cameras we kept filming anyways they still have many secrets going on there and for an empty building the parking lot was completely full.standing next to the wall outside I broke down and cried thinking about the little me who was trapped inside there so many years ago.i do remember a group home in Pasadena I eventually went to called family solutions and would really like to get ahold of the staff that worked there to show them where my life is today.i have a lot of abandonment issues and I try to help any and all children who are going through the system now it seems to help a little but the damage Mac hall bestowed upon me and the system that failed I will never forget.thank. you for your time my name is Nicole wojtiuk and I survived Mac hall.
I was there run d m c on stage singing my Addis’s everyone had shoes shorts shirts wrist bands donated by United Friends of children. Lots of movie stars n fun. Remember the Olympics giant banana splits that filled the whole field. The arcade game room, fitness room the hair salon the store for kids to shop with points. The giant gym. And carnivals and Rec night and church services? I know lots of bad times at Mac but 1986 on much better than past thanks to United friends of children n changes by county and Christian volunteers Not as institutional and bland county walls n kids wore there own close. I have pictures anybody interested lots of fun many days but of course not all of you taken from your family Disney land would not be fun but wow the Day Run Dmc came to Mac but if you recall they did not like sound even though tons of speakers they stopped concert n did audigraphs
I remember that I even had an autograph book so we can get signatures I would love to have some pics maybe I was in A few of yours 🤗
omg yes that was the shit we would have school and those dances upstairs. look me up on face book or ig Nicole wojtiuk share those pics with me please can’t wait to hear from you Nicole wojtiuk
Order the state I was at and I defied the odds and graduated with honors from the educational services out of Riverside California and was a recipient and awarded the Jody award so why has anybody listened to me or got anything on the behalf of me so I can do better things for my fosters because I did found the independent living skills program with father Foster’s before I graduated through the Urban League founded out of Riverside we did I Dustin ran off Watson and four others founded a program of emancipation skills so what the I’m not a statistic and I can do better as a no other to the fact that I’m a poster if I like it or not Wahlberg and then four brothers don’t get nothing on me if I like it or not I am that person and I know we all will rest the case no parking lot or nothing should be done up on that property except for us fosters a decide and it should be the ones that were there years before us of the internet era you know information but should one have their money tooken from them if they move to another state as in social security money no I shouldn’t but they do in the continuously happens it needs to stop
Thank you
Can you please send me some pictures? Thank you. I was there in 1980.
I remember that when they brought Nail Carter there
I think I remember you. Was there when they had that celebrity day. I’m same age. I used to play a guitar out on the rec field. Most of my time there was a total nightmare. But there were a couple memorable times besides the abuse.
Whoopie Goldberg came with Samuel L Jackson Christmas 94 , only memory that I didn’t block out
I member that i was there 94 – 96 and was in jr boys my name is david ford im half mexican and half russian and my dad was there when he was a kid so staff made fun of me and would constantly touch me and it makes me so so sick that they could do that when i would tell them to get away they say oh shut up or be in trouble so i offten just let them get it over with to avoid being hit
Yeah we went to the roller rink with Tina Yothers from Family Ties and I remember the concert with RunDMC and the big Easter Egg hunt on media day they would be fronting like we were at the greatest place for kid .
I was in MAC from 91-96 i would like more information
I was there in 1991 , My name is David Reeves . david4businesscredit@gmail.com
Hello I was in and out of Maclean hall for 12 years I remember and could never forget the abuse I had suffered multiple times at multiple ages , I’m glad to hear they are no longer in business it was a horrible place for children , in fact I’m still in thearpy for events that had taken place when I was a young child through out young adulthood . It was hard enough being a displaced child growing up , then being in that facility was hell and had broken me completely
I graduated from there in 1998 where is my money at i was the only child to graduate
my name is Dustin Randolph Watson and I’m one of the survivors of McLaren Hall in El Monte California my birthday is 12/15/79 I have a right hand you still mutilated for sticking up for one of my younger fosters whoever run into twice since defending and being abused more than one time at the facility and also wouldn’t have seen Jacob Moore and Richard Bradford and Richard Richard Bradford is life being taken by the staff Napier I was right there when I happened
my name is Dustin Randolph Watson and I’m one of the survivors of McLaren Hall in El Monte California my birthday is 12/15/79 I have a right hand you still mutilated for sticking up for one of my younger fosters whoever run into twice since defending and being abused more than one time at the facility and also wouldn’t have seen Jacob Moore and Richard Bradford and Richard Richard Bradford is life being taken by the staff Napier I was right there when I happened also I know the donkeys Michael is Amy’s brother and there’s more than a few other siblings how you doing Amy please someone to say hello to Amy for me and Michael
Apologize to my Mac brothers and sisters that it’s took me so long to do this I bought a hard time but I’ve maintained my there’s people listening I haven’t stopped barking I just watched how I’ve been on the internet and who I’m talking to I know there’s a paper trail of the abuse that we’ve taken that’s what’s to stick up come on don’t let our voice not be heard our voices need to be heard McLaren Hall was I was fubar I know so many know who I am and how I have a great brother and I am and a friend so hopefully me put myself out here like I should have done that I guess but I was the only one but now there’s much more thank you my sisters and my brothers that’s what’s up for the ones that didn’t make it whether it be a prayer for you and a moment of silence Mac baby for life it’s not something to be proud of it’s a scar on our memory life scars like that song from machine gun Kelly
I’m sorry sorry to hear my name is LaQuan Judie born 10/8/79 I think I might know u
Jonathan Tallakson
8064105607
I was in there in the 70’s. I would like more info
Dr psychologist fishers malpractice upon me at diagnosed me bipolar when I’m not bipolar does this get lifted and what about my break off of the lawsuit I have a hip a leg and hand that still mangled the hip needs to be replaced and so does the leg can the staff member will back me on this he took me off the property and out to eat after the super beating also hilderman from 97 to 2007 I ended up being her brother’s co-worker cuz he was my boss in Texas peterbilt Mike hilderman
I would like my records Dustin ran off Watson hopefully some of you at workers at one time that worked at as I was going up there and we’ll do the right thing like in if that was he would do the right thing but he passed away for heart attack can do the right thing buddy you know my hand still mangled from when you guys beat the out of me first pick it up for Dominic I ran into him twice
I would like my records Dustin ran off Watson hopefully some of you at workers at one time that worked at as I was going up there and we’ll do the right thing like in if that was he would do the right thing but he passed away for heart attack can do the right thing buddy you know my hand still mangled from when you guys beat the out of me first pick it up for Dominic I ran into him twice someone needs to get a hold of me please and thank you at least I believe someone would have at least by now I need a hip replacement and that someone had to do the beating I received
I would like my records please and thank you Dustin Randolph Watson
Please my records
I’m tired of telling people all the time or explaining to him this or that you all done of us wrong I get social security put it in my social security account and leave me that alone please that up and I am but not fed up with my brothers and sisters I love you guys I miss you something will give hopefully give for all of us if not one is all and all is one love you guys can do the right thing
Thank you
I would like my records I was there in the 2000s
Thank you
Does anyone have pictures from August 1963 or any memories of that time?
Has anyone received any records?
I was there in 1963. I have written for records for many years. I only received 1 small paper from the court. Does anyone know what a TDO is?
Has anyone found out how to be a part of the class action?
Hello it is Dustin Randolph Watson
We should not have to ask for the awarded this should be given it to us or looking for us or etc All the above
I’m 66 years old a cuban refugee placed at mclaren in th 60’s. Placed there by county social workers who removed me from a foster home who was sexually physically and emotionally abusing me. I believe it was a doctor on staff who touched me in my private parts front and back. I was slapped and socked. The atmosphere was that of relations screaming and crying 24/7 it was like a jail and we were tortured just for asking for food or a drink. I was medicated. My diagnosis was SED ( severely emotionally disturbed) what was worse was that there was a language barrier as I was a cuban refugee and did not speak English making it so that i couldn’t tell anyone.
I was in Maclaren Hall in August 1963-I believe until August 1964. I just turned 67, 2 weeks ago. I believe I have blocked most everything out from Maclaren Hall. Only one thing I remember is being held down by people in white coats so they could give me a shot. I tried to fight them to get them away from me but I was only 8.
I believe children don’t have the correct vocabulary and soo much fear we have no concept of what is happening to us and don’t know how to get help.
I was pretty silent for many years. I didn’t know how to process what was happening in my life. Then after Maclaren Hall being sent to 3 different foster homes from age 9-18.
I was pretty mentally messed up for a long time. I never received any kind of mental care or therapy until now. Through all the very awful experiences and traumas I am a survivor of this heartbreaking journey. God has been good though I struggled and still do with self worth etc.
Thank you for speaking up thank you.
I was there in the 70s I was abused too and then they put me in a foster home where the Foster mother that one of her friends molest me on a trip to Las Vegas
He’ll it’s Dustin Randolph Watson
I was a child that was put in Maclaren Hall and I interested in receiving any information on myself and my stay there. I’d really appreciate it a lot.
My name is Linda Parks , I would like to get my records from when I was at Mac Lauren Hall please
I was there when I was 5 yrs old all the way till I was 16 yrs old maybe some of you remember me my name is Raymond marrujo I use to wait till yard time was over and I use to drag the bench towards the wall and run up it to get over the wall by the swimming pool area or I use to wait till the garbage truck came in when they open up the big doors or what bout running out the front doors had to run through 3 doors anyone remember that
I used to do the same things! Also time the chow hall door so we could go get smokes and throw them over the wall and turn ourselves in!
Hello everyone,
My birth father was at MacLaren hall the majority of his teen years I would say starting could be as early as 1962 through 1967 or 1968. His name was Donald Penns. He was never told about me, and passed in May 2010. I am hoping someone in this chat may remember him. If you do, I ask if you could please reach out to me. My name is Tabatha.
I am trying to find anything related to my Short stay at Macleran hall
My name is DANA MONTGOMERY and I was there twice between 1988 and 1992 I would like to know what I can do