Child sexual abuse is a traumatic act that not only impacts the victim but also their loved ones and family. Survivors experience long-term emotional, psychological, and physical impacts, and thus the journey to justice is tiring but paramount. There are, indeed, legal outlets for survivors and their families to attain justice and bring perpetrators to book. Learning about these avenues can empower victims and their families to proceed toward healing and protecting their rights.
Criminal Justice System: Making Perpetrators Accountable
The criminal justice system starts when the abuse is reported to the police. A trained attorney can help report the crime and make sure the investigation continues thoroughly. The prosecutor takes the case to court, and the survivor might need to testify, usually with assistance from a victim advocate. If convicted, the accused can be subjected to serious sanctions, including imprisonment, and the conviction can be a means of public accountability.
Civil Lawsuits: Seeking Compensation and Civil Justice
Aside from criminal offenses, child sexual abuse survivors are also entitled to file civil lawsuits against the perpetrator and, depending on the case, other persons who are responsible, like institutions or organizations who did not prevent the abuse from happening. It demands monetary compensation for damages incurred by the abuse, such as:
- Emotional distress
- Medical and therapy expenses
- Loss of quality of life
- Past and future care costs
Often, the survivor doesn’t even have to confront the abuser personally since the civil proceeding is mostly about legal argument and evidence over personal testimony. This can also bring some respite to the survivors who fear confronting the trauma in court again.
Legal Claims Against Institutions or Organizations
In other instances, institutions or entities like schools, churches, or foster care institutions can be held accountable for their role in perpetuating or facilitating the abuse to take place. Institutional liability is an important option for survivors who were abused by a trusted in-power figure. These cases could be more difficult, but they can serve to hold organizations accountable for not safeguarding children against harm.
Seeking Justice and Healing
The justice system may be psychologically taxing to survivors, particularly when children are involved. Nonetheless, seeking justice is empowering and may lead to closure. Survivors can be assisted through the justice system by a skilled attorney, who will guard their rights and reduce re-traumatization.
Summing Up!
Survivors of child sexual abuse have legal recourse to pursue justice and accountability. Through criminal prosecution, civil action, or claims against institutions, victims and their families can seek ways to hold perpetrators accountable and receive financial compensation for the damages incurred. With the assistance of an experienced attorney, survivors can begin the process of healing, justice, and a better future.
This article was written by Alla Tenina. Alla is one of the best tax attorneys in Los Angeles California, and the founder of Tenina Law. She has experience in bankruptcies, real estate planning, and complex tax matters. Click here for more information. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
