A Kansas City woman is suing a behavioral health center that temporarily housed a city jail in 2019, alleging an employee sexually assaulted her while in solitary confinement.

The woman, identified in court documents as JWK, was incarcerated at the Heartland Center for Behavioral Change, 1514 Campbell St., when it served as the city jail for the second half of 2019.

Jackson County Detention Center’s agreement with Kansas City to house inmates charged in municipal court ENDED on June 25, 2019. Meanwhile, the city 110 beds rented — 85 for municipal inmates and 25 for persons detained by the Kansas City Police Department — from the Heartland.

Heartland was used as a prison from June 27 until December 31, 2019, when the facility lost its following liability and workers’ compensation insurance policies one death, two escapes and numerous safety issues.

JWK entered Heartland on November 1, 2019. She claims she was sexually assaulted on November 4 by a Heartland employee.

JWK was in solitary confinement at the time of the alleged attack, according to court documents. The lawsuit alleges Heartland did not install security cameras overlooking the holding cell or its entrance.

The Heartland Center for Behavioral Change was not available Tuesday to comment on the pending litigation.

JWK’s lawsuit names Heartland and its CEO and president, Kyle Mead. as a defendant.

A case management conference regarding the trial has been scheduled for February 18, 2025.

Previous reporting by Allison Kite and Steve Vockrodt was used in this article.