Sexual abuse in the United States is a fact of life for too many women and men. There are a lot of nuances in how someone copes with the event and the steps they take to recover, including reporting the abuse or assault.
White Law PLLC. understands this is a vulnerable and challenging position, and we endeavor to provide unwavering and compassionate support to survivors choosing to take their lives back.
If you have survived sexual abuse and have decided to come forward and share your story, we are here to listen. Our Michigan sexual abuse lawyer is skilled in handling sensitive cases and will treat you with the respect and courtesy you deserve. Regardless of your story, what happened to you is not your fault.
Sexual Abuse Reporting Statistics
The statistics surrounding sexual abuse can be disheartening to dive into, given the frequency with which it happens and the frequency with which survivors successfully navigate the criminal justice system. The rape abuse incest national network (RAINN) reports that a sexual assault happens in America every 68 seconds. Every nine minutes, that victim is a child.
Regarding perpetrators of sexual violence, 80% of all rapes in the United States are committed by someone known to the victim, but 93% of children know the abuser.
Under Reporting
The prosecution of sexual-related offenses is part of the problem, but perpetrators cannot be prosecuted if abuse is not reported. The data we have collected regarding sexual abuse and assault is unreliable at best due to low reporting rates. A recent report from the United States Department of Justice shows that nearly two-thirds of assaults go unreported.
Emotional Barriers
Sexual assault and abuse are a violating, humiliating, and dehumanizing experience. Profound feelings of shame can come from sexual abuse and prevent the individual from disclosing the abuse to anyone.
These feelings may also lead the survivor to believe they are not worth the resources to investigate their assault or even that they deserved the abuse in the first place.
Fear
Many perpetrators will use threats of further harm to the victim or their family if they tell. They may also use their reputation in the community or with the victim’s family to convince them they will not be believed.
Many survivors will refuse to report their abuse for concern of not being believed or the perpetrator’s retaliation against them or those they love.
Relationships
The fact that most victims know their abusers is something that can cause a significant amount of dissonance. Many survivors of sexual assault may feel a sense of loyalty to or safety with their abuser, whether it be a family member, teacher, coach, or clergy member.
Particularly in the case of child sexual abuse (CSA), the child may be confused about whether the abuse was good or bad if it came from someone who says they love them.
Additionally, a child who is reporting that a stepparent or clergy member is abusing them may worry about what that information will do to the family. They may also share a concern for the abuser and avoid reporting the abuse because they don’t want to see the perpetrator in trouble.
Sexual abusers are often incredibly charming and skilled in manipulation, which can make the target of their crimes unsure of saying anything that may cause trouble for them.
Trust
A significant factor in whether a survivor chooses to report or not is one of trust. The assault in and of itself is an incident that can lead a survivor to be less trusting, whether that is their own instincts or the motives and behaviors of others. This is often exacerbated when we consider that the criminal justice system and process only result in about 2% of sexual abusers seeing jail time.
In an issue of “Dispatch” published through the Department of Justice, it is reported that many victims face unnecessary challenges when they try to report their abuse to the police.
This may include a systemic lack of empathy and criminal justice workers who are not appropriately trained in trauma-informed approaches. Encounters like this can often serve to retraumatize the individual and prevent further attempts to report.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
The Role of Grooming in Underreporting Sexual Abuse
The role of grooming in sexual abuse cannot be overstated. To fully understand grooming and its legal implications, we must understand what it is and how it is utilized. Grooming can be considered a kind of behavior modification strategy, which is not inherently illegal, but it is when done with the intent to exploit the victim.
Predators use grooming to facilitate trust and cooperation with their target. Most predators will identify a vulnerable target and use that to manipulate it.
Some behaviors to look out for when adults are with kids can include interactions where an adult takes particular interest in a child, buying them presents, taking them on trips, consistently invading their space, or other behaviors that may keep them close or isolated.
The grooming process can often create distance from other safe figures or make the target feel that the perpetrator is the only one who will genuinely love or understand them. This can create some of the complicated feelings and dynamics discussed above.
These complexities may result in fear that they are responsible for their abuse and may be judged by reporting or that their abuser is the only one who cares for them, preventing them from disclosing.
Call a Michigan Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today
A criminal trial can be stressful and retraumatizing. Many survivors of sexual abuse are simply trying to move forward with their lives, but the cost of recovering can be extensive.
White Law PLLC may be able to help you pursue a civil lawsuit against your abuse to recover the losses you have sustained, providing you with a cushion to help you manage your experience in a way that you feel is most appropriate.
We are available 24/7 to contact us for a free case consultation where we can discuss your situation and explain the options you have in how you pursue your case. We understand how important it can be to control how you move forward and endeavor to follow your lead. Call us today.
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