Child Abuse & Molestation in Churches & Schools
Approximately 70% of all reported sexual assaults occur to children ages 17 and under. Child Sexual Abuse includes asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities, regardless of the outcome; indecent exposure of the genitals to a child; displaying pornography to a child; actual sexual contact against a child; physical contact with the child's genitals; viewing of the child's genitalia without physical contact, or using a child to produce child pornography. Children who are sexually abused at school or at church can bear permanent physical and emotional scars.
Studies reveal the following shocking statistics:
- 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18;
- 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18;
- 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the Internet;
Consequences of child sexual abuse affect children and families immediately. Sexual abuse leads to loss of trust, decrease of self-esteem, and development of shame, guilt and depression. Sexual abuse can also lead to eating disorders, substance abuse, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), suicide, promiscuity/prostitution, and other psycho-behavioral issues. Unfortunately, sexual abuse of children can occur in our most sacred of public and private institutions: schools and churches.
Profile of the Child Molester
There is no single profile of a perpetrator of child abuse, although certain characteristics reappear in many studies. For example, an average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.
Child Sexual Molestation in School Settings
When parents send children to school, they expect they will be safe from danger. However, in the hands of untrained and unqualified education professionals and other staff, child abuse can occur in schools or on school buses.
Child Molestation in Church Settings
Although churches are traditionally viewed as trusting and unsuspecting institutions, child abuse can occur in these sacred settings. The National Review Board monitoring the U.S. church response to clergy sexual abuse of minors reported that issues related to priests who sexually abused children included inadequate screening procedures to weed out unfit priesthood candidates.
Faulty Employee Screening Procedures
Screening procedures may also be neglected in the hiring of church and school workers, and even when questions are raised about a worker's conduct, church and school leaders may ignore the evidence of abuse rather than question the worker's character or motives.
Sexual Abuse is Not Obvious
Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many children do not report abuse by a church or school official or employee. The nature of child sexual abuse is intertwined with the issue of victim secrecy. In addition, young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse. More than 30% of child molestation victims never disclose the experience to anyone and live out their lives in scared silence.
Las Vegas Child Abuse Attorneys
Any sexual activity that occurs between and adult and a child, or a child and a much older minor, is against the law. Nevada Law requires the reporting of any known of suspected cases of child molestation to the appropriate authorities. In addition, institutions such as churches and schools can be liable for negligence when such acts of abuse occur. If you suspect that your child has been abused in a church or school setting, contact a qualified attorney to help you sort through the legal issues involved and examine compensation options for injuries to your child and your family.
Situations involving potential child abuse or molestation are obviously very troubling and potentially confusing for families. If you'd like a confidential consultation with an experienced attorney, please contact the Oronoz Injury Law offices via this website or via phone at 702-878-2889.
