PRACTICE AREA: sexual abuse

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LawForPeople’s sexual abuse lawyers are committed to protecting your rights and dignity

The 6 Most Common Types of Personal Injury Claims

Understanding the different forms of sexual abuse is a crucial first step towards its prevention. Creating a culture of consent, respect, and open dialogue can help combat these distressing forms of abuse and contribute to building safer communities. 

Non-consensual sexual touching is one of the most common forms of sexual abuse. It involves any unwanted sexual contact without the explicit consent of the individual involved. Such acts can include, but are not limited to, groping, fondling, or any other form of sexualized touching.

Sexual harassment refers to any unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other conduct of a sexual nature. This can be verbal, non-verbal, or physical, and is often characterized by the abuser exerting power or control over the victim. Harassment can occur in several contexts, including the workplace, academic institutions, or public spaces.

Exhibitionism or indecent exposure involves an individual exposing their genitals or performing sexual acts in the presence of non-consenting individuals. This type of abuse can occur in a variety of places, including public spaces or through digital platforms, as in the case of cyber flashers.

Sexual exploitation involves using individuals for the sexual gratification of others, often in exchange for money, goods, or influence. This form of abuse can manifest in a variety of ways, including child sexual exploitation, trafficking, or forced involvement in pornography or the sex trade.

Rape or sexual assault involves engaging in any form of sexual activity without the explicit consent of the other individual. This can include forced penetration of any kind, whether it be oral, anal, or vaginal. It is a criminal act that often leaves the victim with severe psychological and physical trauma.

As sexual abuse and sexual harassment attorneys, LawForPeople is committed to helping people navigate the complexity of cases involving any of these forms of sexual abuse. 

The problem of institutional sexual abuse of children led the Colorado General Assembly to establish a special cause of action that allows institutional victims of decades-old attacks to sue for sexual abuse committed while they were minors. LawForPeople’s sexual abuse lawyers are ready to help you navigate this process. The climate for much-needed justice has never been better in Colorado than it is right now, and it's about time. We are on the cutting edge with new strategies, legal theories, and unbridled passion. 

Fortunately, the Colorado legislature has lifted the statute of limitations, making recourse available now for Colorado victims of institutional abuse without limitations. 

The regular discrimination faced by members of the LGBTQIA+ community creates compounded harm and damages for victims, whether that’s in situations of personal injury or civil rights, but especially in situations involving sexual harassment or abuse. As members of this community themselves, LawForPeople's experienced sexual harassment and sexual assault lawyers understand the unique challenges you face and are committed to advocating for your rights. 


SEX ABUSE & THE queer COMMUNITY.

Unfortunately, child abuse is not an anomaly but a regular occurrence. In Colorado alone, child sex abuse has impacted thousands of children’s lives as well as their families. The pain that sex offenders inflict on their young victims is immeasurable and stays with the affected children for the rest of their lives. All the harm and losses are made even worse if the child is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Studies have shown that children who have been abused have a lower quality of life, intense PTSD, lower future earnings, low self-esteem, higher health care costs, higher unemployment, greater susceptibility to alcohol and drug use disorders, and the list goes on.

Sadly, much of the child sexual abuse in Colorado and throughout the United States is perpetrated by individuals representing institutions and organizations of trust. 

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

We’ve all seen the last few years of news about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, for example. Unfortunately, this kind of abuse is not isolated to the Catholic Church. There is sexual abuse in foster homes, in schools, in the Boy Scouts of America, in daycare centers, and extracurricular youth programs. These organizations have let children and their families down. The emotional and physical scars these perpetrators leave directly interfere with victims’ abilities to live normal, productive lives and often require them to spend significant resources to cope with the trauma. This violation of trust has profound consequences for the child.

At LawForPeople, one of our top priorities as sexual abuse lawyers is fighting child sex abuse. We must hold these institutions accountable for violating the trust of their communities and abusing their positions of power. 

  • Churches and places of worship
  • Juvenile detention centers, rehabilitation facilities, programs for ‘troubled’ kids
  • Schools: daycares, pre-schools, K-12, after-school programs
  • Extracurriculars: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, sports programs, rec centers

  • About 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before they turn 18 (Child Sexual Abuse Prevention).
  • Nearly 70 percent of all reported sexual assault victims (including assaults on adults) are children aged 17 and under (Child Sexual Abuse Prevention).
  • 60% percent of children who are sexually abused are abused by people the family trusts (Finkelhor & Shattuck, 2012; Whealin & Barnett).
  • 90% of children who are sexually abused are abused by someone they know (Finkelhor & Shattuck, 2012; Whealin & Barnett).
  • 1 in 7 incidents of sexual assault perpetrated by juveniles occurs on school days during the after-school hours between 3 to 7 p.m., with a peak from 3 to 4 p.m. (Child Sexual Abuse Prevention).

More insights on child sexual abuse here.

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