Why Does School Sexual Abuse Go Unreported?
Sexual abuse should never happen in Southern California schools—not only is it a reality for far too many of our students, but only a fraction of these cases ever see the light of day. Our team of Orange County school sexual abuse lawyers will delve more into this issue and focus on the importance of empowering and educating your child.
At DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, LLP, we put victims first. Our Orange County team, led by attorneys Mark S. and Ernest P. Algorri, advocates for children whom the school system has failed. If your child has experienced abuse at school, call our team of school sexual abuse lawyers at 855-WINNING (946-6464) to set up a consultation now. Keep reading to find out why school sexual abuse is so underreported.
Power Dynamics and Pressure From Authority
There is an inherent power imbalance in a school setting. From a very young age, children learn to respect and trust authority figures. This includes teachers, support staff, monitors, and others they see at school every day. Research indicates that over 90% of sexual abuse cases involve someone the child knows and trusts. Unless they have a reason to distrust the person abusing them, there’s a good chance that an abused child will assume that what they’re experiencing is normal. Rather than recognizing that their discomfort is a sign that something is wrong, they are likely to trust their abuser and instead assume that their own intuition is inaccurate.
Lack of Understanding
Children don’t often have a working understanding of sexuality and sexual abuse until their teen years. Those victimized at a younger age often have a feeling that what they’re experiencing is wrong, but they do not know why. Because they can’t pinpoint their feelings or put their experiences into words, they may struggle to tell a trusted adult even when they want to. Helping a child come to terms with their trauma is a process that takes years and substantial mental health resources, which is one reason having a school sexual abuse attorney is so important.
Even when teenagers understand logically what is happening to them, they may not know the full scope of their victimization. Teenage victims may not realize until adulthood that what they experienced wasn’t a developmentally normal and healthy relationship—it was grooming.
Institutional Cover-Ups
School sexual abuse law firms handle many cases involving institutional cover-ups. There are safeguards in place that are meant to protect against this exact scenario, but all too often, those safeguards fail. This means that even if a child or parent reports abuse to the school, the school may take steps to stifle these reports. Why? They may fear the loss of reputation that may come if the information goes public, or perhaps they are at risk of losing accreditation entirely. They may genuinely believe that they can handle the matter internally, although this doesn’t make their cover-up any less wrong.
Fear of Not Being Believed
Even if children do not tell right away, they often do eventually tell a parent, therapist, or another close adult. Why is there a delay? Many children fear that they won’t be believed. Unfortunately, abusers know that children’s minds are malleable—and they use that to their advantage. By insinuating or outright telling the child that no one will believe them, they drive down the likelihood of the child reporting the abuse. Children of all ages know how embarrassing it is to be called out for lying, and even the fear of that shame may be enough to push them into silence. It can take months for a school sexual abuse attorney to draw out the information and evidence needed for a successful case.
The Possibility of Retaliation
Sadly, some children fear retaliation against themselves or their loved ones. In situations where an abuser cannot keep a victim silent via love bombing or affection, they may turn to threats. It is devastating to hear a child say that they stayed silent because they were afraid their abuser would hurt or kill their parents or siblings if they told—and it only adds to the trauma that the child must work through for years to come.
Hold the Abusers in Your Life Accountable—Call DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, LLP
If your child has been the victim of sexual abuse in Southern California, they deserve every resource available to help them recover and thrive. Our school sexual abuse law firm is here to hold the perpetrator responsible for their actions and demand justice. Set up a consultation now by calling us at 855-WINNING (946-6464) or contacting us online.
Mark Algorri has successfully represented individuals and their families in matters involving serious and catastrophic injuries, insurance claims denials, and wrongful deaths, achieving a success rate of 99 percent for our clients.
