Former Texas foster children tell of frequent moves, abuse

DALLAS (AP) — Former Texas foster care children described conditions of neglect and sometimes physical and sexual abuse as part of a lawsuit against Texas, prompting a federal judge to declare the system unconstitutionally broken.

Sharp entered the foster care system at 10, and testified he was molested beginning around age 12 by a residential treatment center employee.

I came from a chaotic home environment, and I was thrown into a system where people beat on you, they call you names and they molest you.

Most of his placements were in foster group homes or residential treatment centers, and were "absolutely fraught with abuse," he said, especially between children.

Jackson said he learned "all the basics of adult life," including how to drive and pay bills.

[...] 19, Jackson is using the state tuition waiver to study criminal justice.

Officials noted in her record that she was "wearing provocative clothing" and "asking for it," she said in an interview.

Crystal Bentley says after being physically and sexually abused in the foster care system, she's "become a statistic once, twice, again and again" in adulthood: having unhealthy relationships, being sexually trafficked and having four children.