Institutional Sex Abuse
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Sexual abuse perpetrated against minors by well-liked and respected members of the community is a serious issue, one that has attracted national attention and prompted modifications to child sex abuse statute of limitations laws in nearly every state, including the state of California. These new laws seek to make it easier for adult survivors of child sexual abuse to hold their former abusers responsible for the physical and emotional pain they have endured, as well as any liable third-party entities, in cases where the abuse was ignored or covered up by the institution or organization the abuser was affiliated with at the time. If you or someone you know has been the victim of institutional sex abuse, do not hesitate to seek qualified legal help. The three-year window for adult survivors of childhood sex abuse to file a claim in California opened in January 2020 and the lawsuits immediately came pouring in. Contact a reputable child sexual abuse attorney today for trustworthy legal advice on how to proceed with your claim.
What is Institutional Sex Abuse?
Institutional sex abuse is a term used to describe child sexual abuse perpetrated by a person in a position of power or influence, such as a teacher, coach, or member of the clergy, in which the organization, institution or entity the perpetrator is affiliated with permitted the abuse to occur, either by actively concealing the abuse or ignoring the victim’s attempt to report the abuse. There have been many high-profile cases in the media over the past several years in which adult survivors of child sexual abuse have come forward with stories about the years of abuse they endured at the hands of a person they liked, trusted and respected. Child sexual abuse of any kind is an egregious and unforgiveable act. And institutional sex abuse is even more disturbing, given the fact that this type of abuse is carried out by those individuals entrusted with the care or education of their intended victims, and takes place in the very settings or environments meant to foster safety, protection and enrichment.
There are approximately 321,500 victims of sexual assault and rape every year in the United States.
New Laws Extending Statute of Limitations for Child Sex Abuse Claims
New laws have been enacted in many states that give adult survivors of child sexual abuse more time to hold their abusers and the institutions that allowed the abuse accountable for the harm they have suffered. Beginning on January 1, 2020, the state of California opened a three-year window for child sexual abuse lawsuits that were previously time-barred under the old statute of limitations laws. This “lookback window” will allow adults to bring civil claims for abuse they experienced as minors, regardless of their current age. The state also extended the time limit for future civil sexual abuse lawsuits in California, giving survivors until the age of 40 to file a claim for compensation, rather than the age of 26. Victims over 40 may also be eligible for compensation in California, so long as they file a claim within five years of when they discovered, or should have discovered, that the abuse caused them lasting psychological harm. Other states have updated their statute of limitations laws and/or established lookback windows for child sexual abuse lawsuits, including New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Hawaii, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.
Compensation for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
The new child sexual abuse laws in California and other states allow sex abuse victims to sue both their abusers and the institutions, organizations or entities under whose watch the abuse took place. The state of California defines these potential third-party defendants as “any person or entity who owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, if a wrongful or negligent act by that person or entity was a legal cause of the childhood sexual assault that resulted in the injury to the plaintiff.” That means survivors of child sex abuse could potentially file claims against the Catholic church, a private school or university, a sports association, a youth group, or any other organization or institution that knew or should have known about the abuse and either ignored it, accepted it, or deliberately covered it up.
Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits in California
The Catholic church, USA Gymnastics, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, school districts, coaches, military boarding schools, and other alleged abusers and third-party entities have already been named in institutional sex abuse claims in California. And with the state’s updated laws extending the deadline to bring child sex abuse claims against abusers and other liable parties, the number of lawsuits filed in courts across California is expected to continue to grow. If you were the victim of institutional sex abuse in California, regardless of how many years ago the initial abuse occurred, you may now be eligible for compensation through a civil child sex abuse lawsuit. Consult a knowledgeable California child sex abuse attorney as soon as possible to find out how to file a claim.
Sexual Violence Statistics
The following are sexual violence statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN):
- There are approximately 321,500 victims of sexual assault and rape every year in the United States
- 90% of adult rape victims are female
- People between the ages of 12 and 34 are at the highest risk for sexual assault and rape
- 54% of sexual assault victims are between the ages of 18 and 34
- Transgender students face a higher risk of sexual violence
- 1 out of every 10 rape victims are male
- Female college students between the ages of 18 and 24 are three times more likely than women in the general population to experience sexual violence. Women of the same age who are not enrolled in college are four times more likely.
- Roughly 15% of all sexual abuse victims are under the age of 18
- 1 in 8 lesbian women and nearly 50% of bisexual men and women experience sexual assault in their lifetime
- Nearly 4 in 10 gay men experience sexual violence in their lifetime
- 64% of transgender individuals have experienced sexual assault in their lifetime
- On average, 68% of sexual assaults go unreported, and 98% of rapists will avoid spending time in jail
Sexual Assault Lawsuit Information
Not only do victims of rape and sexual assault typically suffer short-term consequences of the trauma, they can also experience long-term emotional and psychological effects that can persist for years after the incident. Some possible long-term side effects of rape or sexual assault include anxiety, depression, denial, mood swings, promiscuity, post-traumatic stress disorder, a lack of interest in daily activities, and possibly even attempted suicide. If you have been the victim of a sexual assault or rape, contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible to defend your legal rights. You may have grounds to file a sexual assault lawsuit against your attacker, in order to pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.
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