Boarding School Sexual Abuse Lawyers in Pennsylvania

Parents in Pennsylvania should be able to feel confident that when they send their children to school. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

Some statistics suggest that as many as one in ten students from kindergarten to high school around the U.S. will experience sexual misconduct of some description in their lives. Public and private school students of all ages have suffered abuse from teachers, other staff members, coaches, guidance counselors, and fellow students.

If you or your child is a victim of boarding school sexual abuse in Pennsylvania, the experienced team of lawyers at Andreozzi + Foote can help you take the first steps towards justice. We hold the school accountable, and claim the compensation you are entitled to.

Boarding School And Private School Abuse

People in Pennsylvania have become increasingly aware of the widespread sexual abuse of private school students with high-profile cases involving the Catholic Church.

While these cases make the news headlines, abuse cases have occurred in private schools of all types – related to religious institutions, charitable organizations, and other establishments.

At boarding schools, students generally live in close quarters with one another and staff in dormitories or on-campus residences. Providing security and educators, administrators, and facility staff are often in more immediate contact with students than at other public and private schools. School staff routinely spend most of the day with these children and may even supervise at night.

This environment appears to be a magnet (and a breeding ground) for sexual predators.

Boarding school students spend most of term time away from their families, and so are less likely to be able to report the abuse and stop it from happening.

Many have suffered in silence. Alarming numbers have been sexually molested, harassed, or sexually assaulted, leading to lifelong psychological damage.

With religious institutions generally expected to uphold high moral standards, parents often trust and let their guard down when sending their children to such schools. If abuse does occur, the institutions have often rallied around and protected the school’s reputation before the interests of the victims.

Reasonable Family Expectations Of Private & Boarding Schools

It is reasonable for Pennsylvania parents to expect their child to be safe and well cared for when entering a boarding school environment – especially those considered the most prestigious in the area.

Many schools provide residential programs that promise shelter, security, and safety for the children on campus.

Parents tend to have higher expectations and may let their guard down.

Boarding school administrators and teachers are seen as surrogate parents, watching out for their kids’ well-being and education in their absence. A duty of care to students is a reasonable expectation for parents.

Unfortunately, the reality behind the scenes can be very different.

The main problems are:

Poor hiring practices with a lack of background checks
Failure to retain the best staff and desperation to fill positions
Negligent supervision of children in boarding schools by the school faculty, employees, and teachers

How Will Legal Action Affect My Child?

Students or their parents can hold a boarding school liable for sexual abuse if it occurs as a result of the actions (or inaction) of an employee.

However, there is a reasonable fear for parents that taking a sexual predator to court could be hard on the child.

Alternatively, it can empower a child to experience a sense of justice for the misdeeds perpetrated against them. The legal action may also help prevent abuse from occurring to others.

The local court and your attorney will attempt to shield your child from any adverse psychological trauma. Victim support groups are available to assist you and your child.

Why Are Boarding School Sexual Abuse Cases Covered Up?

That boarding school sexual abuse occurs at all is shocking to many Pennsylvanians. The fact that it is then covered up makes the crime even worse. Cover-ups happen primarily to avoid negative publicity for the school.

Sometimes, strong rumors have gone uninvestigated. At other times, plaintiffs were told to use an outside school consultant rather than seeking proper legal advice.

Perpetrators have often been allowed to remain on paid leave during investigations. They are resigning from their position at the school after a conviction.

Boarding schools protecting their interests instead of those of child victims can be held liable under Pennsylvania’s child abuse laws.

Examples Of Predatory Behavior

Some typical examples of predatory behavior include:

Building trust with victims
Encouraging reliance on the abuser
Gift-giving and acts of kindness
Strategies to isolate the victim (private tutoring or training)
Gradual sexual interaction, starting with touching/fondling
Maintaining secrecy and cultivating feelings of shame, guilt, and fear/threat

Boarding Schools Enabling Sexual Predators

Grooming victims is common for sexual predators in boarding schools and elsewhere. A predator earns a child’s trust and tests them to see what they can get away with before a pattern of stronger abuse takes hold.

Some abusers are adept at this strategy, targeting vulnerable individuals who may feel lonely or have low self-esteem. Many specialize in making the victim feel partly to blame for the abuse, so they unwittingly shield the perpetrator by not reporting it.

The close-knit community in boarding schools provides plenty of opportunities for predators to target easily accessible victims.

Reporting Boarding School Sexual Abuse In Pennsylvania

School administrators and school owners must report any inappropriate sexual activity involving students under federal and state laws. If boarding school officials fail to report sexual abuse, criminal charges and civil litigation may follow.

Some predators slip through the system as schools nationwide are not required to share information about child abuse with other educational institutions. Many have moved interstate and found new employment.

Fortunately, with greater awareness of the problem of sexual abuse the legal loopholes for sexual predators are slowly closing. As more victims come forward, it should help to protect more children in the future.

Help For Boarding School Sexual Abuse Victims In Pennsylvania

If you want the sexual abuse lawyers at Andreozzi + Foote to evaluate your case, please call 1 (866)-694-2307 for a free consultation.