Allegations of Abuse at Camp Sayla
On Wednesday, two lawsuits were launched against Camp Sayla, a youth housing facility in Henry County, claiming severe abuse and systemic negligence of the children in its care. The lawsuits describe a terrifying environment where kids faced beatings with brooms, were assaulted with socks filled with potatoes, tossed into trash cans, and coerced into fighting each other under a staff-imposed “bounty system.”
Attorney Tommy James, who has represented numerous children from similar facilities, expressed grave concerns. “This is not just about Camp Sayla; it’s indicative of the failures in Alabama and across the country that allow abuse to remain hidden,” he stated. He emphasized that this lawsuit aims to secure justice for the victims while sending a clear message to other care facilities about the unacceptability of such abuse.
In collaboration with Birmingham attorney Jeremy Knowles, James has filed suits alongside Morris Haynes and Caleb Cunningham from the Pensacola firm Levin Papantonio. The legal action centers around Kenyatta Danzay, a former staff member at Camp Sayla, who was arrested in January 2024 for 17 charges of child abuse. Reports indicate Danzay had a prior probation violation yet was permitted to work directly with the children. Investigators uncovered surveillance footage showing Danzay violently wielding brooms against the kids, using extended cords, and locking them in a quarantine room for hours without justification.
Camp Sayla has a contract with the Alabama Department of Youth Services (DYS). Although residents are presented by juvenile courts, they do not have DYS custody. Following the abuse allegations, DYS suspended the facility’s license, and a subsequent evaluation revealed troubling, unsafe conditions. While the license has been reinstated, currently, no children reside at the camp, leaving its future uncertain.
Attorney Knowles added, “These incidents are not one-offs. We’re filing three lawsuits and are aware there are other victims. This culture of cruelty thrives on silence and is funded by taxpayer money.”
The lawsuits seek compensation and punitive damages while also advocating for increased transparency and accountability in the oversight of youth housing facilities across the state.
