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Have You Been Sexually Abused?
Abuse is terrible, and sexual abuse is especially heinous. Victims of sexual abuse often find themselves wondering whether they were even abused or not. That confusion is normal. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, rape is one of the most under-reported crimes, with only 37% of sexual assaults reported to police and only 12% of child sexual abuse being reported to police.
Why does sexual abuse and assault have such a low report rate? Victims may feel conflicted about reporting their assault because they are not sure if they will be taken seriously. They may be scared to report their abuser because the abuser is in a position of power. In other instances, the victim may have been convinced that their assault was not an assault, or they may not even be aware that the crime that happened to them was, in fact, a sexual assault.
Some Examples of Sexual Assault
Listed here are some examples of sexual assault. This is not a complete list. If you feel like you were sexually abused or assaulted, you should immediately report the crime as well as speak with a solid sexual abuse attorney.
Sexual harassment: Sexually inappropriate comments, jokes, texting, propositioning someone for a sexual act, and other sexually charged behaviors are a form of sexual harassment. Physical contact does not have to occur in order for sexual harassment to occur.
Sexual abuse within a marriage or relationship: Even if you are in a relationship with someone, be that your spouse, fiance, boyfriend, or girlfriend, you still maintain bodily autonomy. This means that regardless of your relationship status, you are allowed to refuse sex or being touched or spoken to in a sexual manner. You may be pressured into having sex with your partner by a religious authority figure in your life, which may make you feel guilty for not being a “good partner.” If your partner were being a good partner to you, they would not force you into a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Sexual Grooming: Sexual grooming includes patterns of unwanted, inappropriate touch, including kissing, petting, unwanted attention, or touching the victim where they do not want to be touched. Grooming can be adult-on-adult or adult-on-child. Grooming is a form of long-term sexual abuse where someone, usually an authority figure, normalizes unsafe sexual situations and inappropriate behavior towards the victim. Grooming ultimately leads to extended sexual contact between the groomer and the victim.
Sexual abuse by a spiritual authority figure: A religious authority figure, such as a pastor, reverend, minister, priest, or any religious figure that “guides” their people, is in a unique position of power. They teach about religion, helping people feel closer to their God. They also teach morals and ethical lessons. When a religious authority figure commits sexual abuse, it can lead to turmoil where the victim is unsure if they were sexually abused or not. Religious authorities are often trusted in their community, which can make reporting their abuse difficult.
What Should You Do If You are Sexually Abused?
We know statistically that delayed disclosure is the norm for the majority of victims of sexual abuse. Victims often cite a variety of reasons for not immediately reporting their abuser, from shame and fear to uncertainty. In order to obtain justice, it is important to start the legal process as soon as possible when sexual abuse happens.
Police will want your testimony and the testimony of any possible witnesses and character witnesses. In the case of rape, authorities will want to administer a rape kit in a local healthcare facility. While embarrassing and invasive, a rape kit is nothing to feel ashamed of and can provide valuable evidence that can be used to hold your abuser accountable.
What is an Organizational Cover-Up?
A cover-up is an attempt to conceal evidence of wrongdoing. An organization cover-up is when an organization attempts to conceal evidence of wrongdoing, either of an authoritative figure or other important official. This can be to protect the organization itself from backlash or to protect the authoritative figure from facing legal repercussions.
It can be difficult to take on these organizations because they often have seemingly endless resources to fight these legal allegations. They hire the best lawyers, build the strongest cases, and frequently attack the very character of the victim. All of these factors can make seeking justice feel not only impossible but not worth it. Who wants to watch their name get dragged through the mud, especially after a heinous assault?
This is why you need a great sexual abuse lawyer.
How do Sexual Abuse Lawyers Attack Organizational Cover-Ups?
Sexual abuse lawyers seek justice for victims affected by sexual abuse, even if the abuser is being protected by an organization, whether that organization is a company or a church. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty and are experienced with the tactics these organizations use when trying to obstruct justice.
Andreozzi + Foote attorneys hold institutions accountable for their oversights that allow abuse. Our priority is the safety of victims affected by sexual abuse and obtaining the financial resources necessary to get their lives back on track.
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When you work with Andreozzi + Foote attorneys, you work with a compassionate team that not only wants a satisfactory outcome for you but for all of the other potential sexual abuse victims, past, present, and future, that may have been affected by a corrupt organization.
Call 866-311-8640 today to find out how we can help you!
