Inland Empire Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Victims of clergy sexual abuse in the Inland Empire are often shamed into silence. They may worry about destroying a clergy leader’s reputation, question their role in what happened, or be shunned by church members. We know that what happened is not your fault—and you deserve support and kindness, not judgment. Our team is here to help you demand justice from those who failed to protect you and your family.
A community fixture for multiple decades, DeWitt Algorri & Algorri is proud to advocate for victims throughout San Bernardino & Riverside. We understand the intricate laws affecting clergy sexual abuse cases and what it takes to prove these challenging cases. Our experienced team of clergy abuse attorneys brings a breadth of knowledge and education to the table in every single case we accept.
Our office is located on the DeWitt Algorri & Algorri serves all of the Inland Empire from our downtown Pasadena office. You can find us at 25 Union Street in Pasadena, and we’re ready to meet in person or over Zoom to help you with sensitive & complex clergy abuse cases. Find out how we can help by calling us at 855-WINNING (946-6464) of filling out a confidential contact form.
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A Growing National Focus on Clergy Sexual Abuse
While sexual abuse in religious institutions has long been known, it’s often been a topic that’s kept hush-hush—which benefits no one beyond the perpetrators. There are numerous reasons for this. In some cases, churches keep these discoveries private to move perpetrators into other institutions, giving them a “fresh start” and a chance to seek forgiveness. Sadly, these choices deny victims the chance to heal. These cases have also been kept quiet because there’s still many who believe that clergy sexual abuse is rare enough that it only reflects the actions of a few bad apples. This approach ignores the fact that hundreds of thousands of sexual abuse cases have been reported over the decades, indicating that this is a very real systemic issue.
While a recent MCNBC report focuses on abuse in Illinois, the global nature of the Catholic Church ensures that this is an issue seen in every state—including California and the Inland Empire. In Illinois alone, over 2,000 children were sexually abused by Catholic clergy between 1950 and 2019.
The spotlight has caught other denominations and churches present sin the San Bernardino area, as well. The Jesus Christ Church of Latter-day Saints has been accused by many over the years, and a growing number of Protestant churches have also come under fire for their failure to address reports of sexual abuse and misconduct.
Changes in California Law and What They Mean for You
California is often at the forefront of efforts to make justice more accessible, and it’s no different in this case. While many states have old laws on the books that severely limit how long victims have to demand justice from perpetrators, California has made important changes in recent years that allow victims to speak up. Assembly Bill 218 drastically extends the statute of limitations for childhood victims of sexual abuse. Previously, victims who sought compensation after the age of 26 were unable to do so. This law now allows victims to seek compensation until the age of 40. They may have even longer if the agency had reason to know that there was any sort of childhood sexual assault by an employee or volunteer, or if they engaged in efforts to cover up the abuse.
Another relevant bill is Assembly Bill 2777, which provides further legal protection for those who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of an entity, such as a church, school, or employer. Similar to AB 218, this law extends the statute of limitations in certain scenarios.
How Clergy Sexual Abuse Occurs
Research focusing on clergy sexual abuse often differentiates between on-site abuse, off-site abuse, and repeat offenders. On-site abuse occurs at churches, often when a victim is receiving counseling, discipline, or education from a perpetrator. Off-site abuse removes the child to a third location, although some studies indicate this is typically the perpetrator’s own home. Habitual offenders do not limit their abuse to one victim; they may target multiple victims at once or cycle through victims as they grow up.
Don’t Face This Challenge Alone—Call DeWitt Algorri & Algorri, LLP
Sexual abuse victims in Riverside & San Bernardino Counties may be entitled to compensation that can bring them closure after long years of grief and silence. Let’s talk about your next steps—call us at 855-WINNING (946-6464) or contact us online.