Virgil Bossom, a former employee of New Hampshire’s youth detention center, testified in a trial where David Meehan accuses the state of negligence that led to his abuse in the late 1990s. Bossom described a culture where administrators sided with staff against residents, while lower-level workers wanted to punish kids for speaking up. He mentioned instances where complaints from residents were not taken seriously, and disciplinary action was taken against teens if their complaints were later deemed unfounded. Despite these issues, Bossom also acknowledged that he never raised concerns about Meehan’s abuse or broader problems at the time.
Lawyers for the state pushed back against Bossom’s claims, citing instances where employees were fired for violating rules in the mid-1990s. They questioned Bossom about his failure to report abuse or potential issues at the facility while he was in a position as an interim ombudsman. Although Bossom previously expressed concerns about putting teens in solitary confinement, he stated that in some cases, it was appropriate. Attorney Martha Gaythwaite questioned Bossom extensively about incidents involving Meehan, including one where he was accused of plotting to take another resident hostage and escape.
Meehan’s attorney, David Vicinanzo, argued that given Meehan’s situation of enduring sexual assaults almost daily, wanting to escape was a normal response. Vicinanzo questioned Bossom about the circumstances and the abuse Meehan was experiencing at the time. The Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly the Youth Development Center, is at the center of the trial, with more than 1,100 former residents filing lawsuits alleging abuse spanning six decades. Eleven former state workers, including those accused by Meehan, are facing criminal charges, creating a unique situation where the attorney general’s office is prosecuting alleged perpetrators while also defending the state in the civil cases.
Since Meehan’s report to the police in 2017, the New Hampshire lawmakers have approved the closure of the facility and its replacement with a smaller building at a new location. The youth center, named after former Governor John H. Sununu, father of current Governor Chris Sununu, once housed over 100 children but now typically serves fewer than a dozen. Lawmakers have also established a $100 million fund to settle abuse claims arising from the facility. The dynamic at the trial highlights the challenges in holding the state accountable for the actions of a few “rogue” employees and addressing systemic issues within the youth detention system. The testimony from Bossom shed light on the failure of administrators to address complaints and the need for accountability in protecting vulnerable residents from abuse.
