If you or someone you love endured sexual abuse by members of the clergy or church representatives, you may have grounds for legal action. However, figuring out where and how to report clergy abuse at the Diocese of Detroit can be confusing, especially when there are so many potential options and you are still struggling to cope with the trauma of what he went through.
There are multiple ways to report clergy abuse. One of your first options is to contact the Archdiocese of Detroit. With the support of a compassionate and highly experienced Detroit clergy sexual abuse lawyer, you can demand your abuser and those who facilitated the abuse be held accountable to the full extent of the law.
Reporting Clergy Abuse to the Diocese of Detroit
You can contact the Archdiocese of Detroit by calling its victim assistance line 24/7 at (313) 237-6060, (866) 343-8055, or emailing vac@aod.org.
There are no restrictions or deadlines for reporting clergy abuse to the Diocese of Detroit. Once the Diocese of Detroit receives your complaint, it will not only investigate on its own but also report the incident to law enforcement officials. The diocese states that it does not disregard, hold back, or pre-screen complaints.
Who Investigates Sexual Abuse Complaints Brought to the Archdiocese of Detroit?
After reporting your complaint to the Diocese of Detroit, you will be assigned a victim assistance coordinator. However, the coordinator is not the party who will be responsible for investigating the sexual abuse complaints brought forward. Instead, the archbishop appoints a priest to manage the investigation.
They will need to investigate church representatives and clergy members when allegations of misconduct or sexual abuse of vulnerable adults or minors are reported. The archbishop will send the complaint to the review board, which is typically led by a chairperson. The purpose of the review board is to ensure that all investigations are independently examined.
The review board will take a closer look at the complaint to determine whether it has a “semblance of truth” and is credible. If the review board finds the complaint credible, their next step will be to make a recommendation to the archbishop as to how the complaint should proceed. The Diocese of Detroit may impose its own internal penalties, such as relocation, counseling, or dismissal.
Why the Diocese of Detroit Conducts Independent Investigations
Under church law, as described by the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the archdiocese is required to perform independent reviews of all reports of sexual abuse involving vulnerable adults and minors. However, these investigations cannot begin until the archdiocese has notified the police of the allegations made against church representatives or clergy members. It is important to know that there will be multiple investigations into the complaint due to the extreme nature of such allegations.
The purpose of committing an independent review is to ensure that those who may have committed abuse are removed or restricted from ministering. It does not matter how long ago the abuse happened or whether the prosecutor opted to pursue criminal charges. These canonical reviews are the only way to remove priests from public ministry if formal criminal charges are not filed.
If you or someone you know
endured clergy sex abuse,
contact White Law PLLC today.
Reporting Clergy Sexual Abuse to Law Enforcement
You should not rely on your report to the Diocese of Detroit alone. Before you report the clergy abuse to the diocese, you should notify law enforcement officials. You can contact the Detroit Police Department at (313) 267-4600 and ask to speak with an investigator.
Alternatively, you can report your complaint to the Michigan Attorney General by emailing their office at aginvestigations@michigan.gov or calling (844) 324-3374. According to the diocese’s website, all reports of abuse made to the Diocese of Detroit must be shared with the prosecuting attorneys within the six counties within the Diocese of Detroit’s boundaries. Law enforcement officials will review the circumstances of your complaint to determine whether they have enough evidence to proceed with formal criminal charges.
Even if the prosecutor does not believe you have a strong case in criminal court, that does not mean you do not have ways of holding your abuser and those who facilitated the abuse accountable. The burden of proof in criminal court is beyond a reasonable doubt, as described by the Committee on Model Criminal Jury Instructions, which is a high burden to meet. However, in civil court, the burden of proof is based on a preponderance of the evidence per the Michigan Rules of Evidence, which means the evidence just needs to show the jury that the defendant is likely liable.
You can contact our clergy sex abuse
lawyers today and rest easier with
experienced attorneys tackling your case.
Reporting Clergy Sexual Abuse to White Law PLLC
Reporting your complaint to a Detroit personal injury lawyer from White Law PLLC may be one of the best ways for you to ensure your abuser is held accountable. Once you report your complaint to law enforcement officials, other than being ready to testify in court, you do not have much control over whether the defendant is subject to criminal penalties. However, filing a personal injury claim is something you can do with the legal support and resources of a reputable advocate.
Our team will conduct an investigation of our own. Since the burden of proof is much lower in civil claims, we simply need compelling supporting evidence that convinces the jury of the defendant’s liability. We may be able to use communications exchanges, medical records, and testimony from other victims of clergy abuse to help build your case against the church representative or clergy member.
In doing so, you have an opportunity to recover compensation for your suffering. We understand that no amount of money will make up for what you went through. However, this compensation can help you cover your expenses and set you up for emotional, physical, and financial success.
Contact a Reputable Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer and Get the Justice You Deserve
While reporting the clergy abuse to the Diocese of Detroit is one way to take action against your abuser and others who may have allowed the abuse to occur, it is not the only option. By reporting the abuse to law enforcement officials and enlisting the support of a trial-proven Detroit sexual abuse lawyer from White Law PLLC, you can do everything in your power to bring clergy members or church representatives to justice.
Take action on your legal claim as soon as today when you contact our office by phone or through our secured contact form and schedule your confidential and free consultation.
You have the right to reach out to
a clergy sex abuse attorney and
discuss your right to legal action.
