The Role of Maryland Schools in Combating Student Sexual Abuse

Are You a Survivor of Student Sexual Abuse in Maryland?

Maryland law currently allows victims of student sexual abuse to seek justice regardless of when the abuse occurred. If you were a victim of sexual abuse in a Maryland school, schedule a meeting now to review your legal options and rights with a Maryland sexual abuse attorney.

Sexual abuse may be defined as any sexual activity imposed on a minor and any sexual activity imposed on an adult without that adult’s consent. The abuse may occur as a single incident or as a pattern of abuse incidents over time.

Under the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023, sexual abuse victims – with the help of a Baltimore sexual abuse lawyer – may seek to recover compensation from their abusers and from both private and public schools and other institutions, organizations, and businesses.

What is Required Of School Employees?

All fifty states have established child abuse laws that require certain individuals – including teachers, school employees, and school authorities – to report suspected child abuse. Under these laws, school officials are required to report any suspected sexual abuse of a student to the police.

A legal requirement to report student sexual abuse creates a duty to students, and the breach of that duty may be the basis for a civil lawsuit. School officials are less likely to ignore sexual abuse when they face the possibility of serious consequences for the failure to report such abuse.

“Institutional” sexual abuse means that someone has taken advantage of a position of authority in an institution, such as a school, to abuse someone who is under the care of that institution. In certain cases, an institution’s leaders may be held liable for any damages suffered by the victim.

Is There a Link Between Sexual Abuse and Mental Health Issues?

The relationship between mental health and sexual abuse is different and unique in every case. Not all of the victims of sexual abuse suffer long-term emotional difficulties, but researchers have consistently found a link between mental health difficulties and childhood sexual abuse.

A survivor of sexual abuse may experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or severe depression. However, there is no reliable way to detect who may or may not be an abuser. In a school setting, an abuser could be a teacher, another school employee, or even another student.

However, an examination of school-related sexual abuse reports, criminal convictions, and civil lawsuits in Maryland points to these conclusions:

1. Sexual abuse occurs more frequently in Maryland schools than most people realize.
2. Most sexual abuse incidents in Maryland schools probably go unreported.
3. Female students are the most frequent victims of sexual abuse in Maryland schools.

What Steps Should a Student Sexual Abuse Victim Take?

A survivor of sexual abuse in a Maryland school may bring a civil sexual abuse claim against the abuser, and in some cases, against the institution itself. With no statute of limitations, anyone who’s been victimized in a Maryland public or private school may seek to recover compensation.

The justice system in Maryland helps sexual abuse survivors seek justice in two different ways: a survivor may file a sexual abuse lawsuit, and/or a survivor may seek to have his or her abuser face a criminal prosecution.

If the abuse happened to an adult, depending on the details of the case, Maryland prosecutors may have a three-year statute of limitations for bringing criminal charges, but if the abuse happened to a minor, there is no statute of limitations, so a prosecution may proceed at any time.

Should You Report Student Sexual Abuse to the Police?

When you report sexual abuse as a crime, the police will investigate your claim. If the evidence supports your claim, the police will take that evidence to a prosecutor. After examining the evidence, a prosecutor will decide whether to file a criminal charge against the alleged abuser.

If you are seeking to have a sexual abuser prosecuted after a number of years have passed, there may not be any remaining evidence of the abuse, and winning a criminal conviction against an abuser after that many years may be difficult, or in many cases, impossible.

Should You Bring a Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse?

If an abuser is convicted of a criminal charge, that conviction may be presented as evidence in a civil case. However, if an abuser is criminally prosecuted and found not guilty, the acquittal does not impact the victim’s ability to file a civil lawsuit.

Succeeding with a civil sexual abuse claim – with help from a Maryland sexual abuse attorney – may be less difficult than winning a criminal conviction. If you prevail with a civil claim, you may recover compensation for pain, suffering, counseling, treatment, and related damages.

To file a civil sexual abuse claim in this state, you will need to be advised and represented by a Baltimore sexual abuse lawyer, but you will pay no attorney’s fee upfront. It costs nothing to learn more about your legal rights and have a sexual abuse attorney review your case.

In fact, your best option for justice is discussing your abuse claim – before taking any other steps – with a sexual abuse attorney who will review the details of your claim and provide you with personalized advice about the best legal way to proceed.

Which Attorney Should Handle Your Student Sexual Abuse Claim?

If you are a survivor of student sexual abuse in Maryland, take your case to a Maryland sexual abuse lawyer at Andreozzi + Foote as quickly as possible. It is critical to start identifying witnesses and gathering evidence now, before more time passes.

At Andreozzi + Foote, we hold abusers and institutions accountable for their actions. We know it is difficult for survivors to come forward, so we work to make our clients comfortable through each step of the legal process. We work hard to help survivors win justice and obtain closure.

If you are a survivor of student sexual abuse anywhere in the State of Maryland, no matter how much time has passed, contact the law offices of Andreozzi + Foote promptly by calling 866-311-8640, schedule a no-cost case evaluation, and let our legal team go to work on your behalf.