Sexual Abuse Attorneys in Spartanburg, SC
Have you been victimized by sexual abuse? If so, contact a Spartanburg sexual abuse lawyer now for a complimentary case consultation. It is important for you or your loved one to realize that there are choices available to the victims of such heinous and unimaginable crimes.
Sexual abuse is broadly considered an offensive, undesired, or nonconsensual act that carries sexual connotations, whether expressly or implicitly. Abuse is a very broad term that may be used to describe offensive and unwanted behavior such as conversations that may be portrayed as “locker room talk,” while the term abuse may also be used to describe the most atrocious and inconceivable sexual assaults. All sexual abuse carries with it physical and emotional consequences for the perpetrator’s victims. Perpetrators of sexual abuse and assault are causing devastating suffering to their victims. These effects will often stay with the victim throughout their entire life.
8 Common Forms of Sexual Abuse
Sadly, there are many different acts of sexual abuse committed by people every day. Some common types are listed below:
- Child Molestation and Sexual Abuse
- Children should be protected by adults. While inconceivable to nearly all of us, disturbingly, there are grown-ups in society who sexually and violently prey on the most vulnerable of us.
- Sexual Harassment
- Harassment can be verbal, written, via the internet, or through other forms of communication.
- Rape and Attempted Rape
- Domestic Violence and Marital Rape
- If you are married, nonconsensual sex is still rape.
- Groping
- Groping is far too common in society. Such behavior can cause significant anguish to victims and should not be taken lightly
- Date Rape
- While generally thought of as a crime that only happens on college campuses, date rape can be committed anywhere.
- Elder Sexual Abuse
- Unfortunately, those with access to vulnerable elderly adults sometimes prey upon them, even in a sexual manner.
How Can You Make A Sexual Abuser Pay For What They Have Done?
Far too often, cases of sexual abuse go unreported, leaving the abusers free to harm somebody else. While facing the realities of reporting such an attack can be daunting, scary, and downright difficult, assailants need to be held accountable whenever possible. Retaining a skilled and compassionate Spartanburg Sexual Abuse lawyer can help you navigate the frightening situation that has been thrust upon you. Along with supporting you through these difficult times, our attorneys will pursue compensation from your attacker for the following struggles:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages and income
- Permanent or temporary physical disability
- Disfigurement
- Punitive damages, awarded to victims as a punishment of the perpetrator
- Medical bills, including those incurred for mental health services
Navigating the circumstances following a sexual attack can be intimidating, but having legal counsel by your side can make it a little bit easier. Furthermore, filing a lawsuit initiates a complex and sometimes drawn-out process, for which an attorney’s counsel and guidance will help. At Strom Law Firm, our Spartanburg Sexual Abuse Lawyers, we have experience guiding clients through a wide variety of complex legal situations, including sexual abuse and assault cases. Our attorneys are understanding, compassionate, and empathetic to your struggle, and we are ready to help you through your unfortunate situation.
Sexual Abuse Stats
- Sexual abuse victims come from every demographic, regardless of sex, age, race, or economic standing. Unfortunately, it is widely believed that the majority of sexual abuse cases are never reported, but it is commonly estimated that 8 percent to 20 percent of America’s population has been abused or molested, in some way, at some point in their lives.
- Around 70 percent of reported abuse cases involve children under 17 years of age.
Unfortunately, sexual predators use everyday activities as opportunities to commit sexual abuse and violence. The places and activities that are often targeted usually do not have a host to supervise the children. Far too often, sexually predatory behavior occurs in locations where we, as parents, believe our children are safe. Some more common places of attack include:
- Schools
- Churches
- After-school Programs
- Sports Teams
- Dance Classes
- Foster Homes and Children’s Homes
- Hospitals and Doctors’ Offices
- Care Facilities
If you or your loved one has been victimized by sexual abuse or sexual assault, the skilled and compassionate Spartanburg sexual assault lawyers at Strom Law Firm are here to help. We are experienced in representing victims of sexual abuse and other sex crimes, and we are available to help guide you through this difficult time. Our lawyers are ready to meet with you in person at your convenience. You can also contact us online or by phone at (864 )598-1111 to schedule a time to talk with a member of our team.
Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: a service of RAINN
- Online chat hotline
- Spanish online chat hotline
- Telephone hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673)
- National Helpline for Male Survivors: a service of 1in6
- National Street Harassment Hotline: a service of Stop Street Harassment
- Online chat hotline
- Telephone hotline: 855.897.5910
- DoD Safe Helpline: a service for members of the U.S. military and their families, operated by RAINN for the Department of Defense
- Online chat hotline
- Telephone hotline: 877.995.5247
Support for Sexual Harassment and Abuse Survivors
There is a national network of community-based rape crisis centers and local organizations who support the needs of sexual assault survivors. These centers exist across the United States to provide supportive services to victims of sexual assault. While the specific services available vary by location, services are confidential and may include:
- Advocacy,
- Accompaniment during medical exams and law enforcement interviews,
- Education,
- Follow-up services,
- And referrals to other resources.
Every state and territory also has an organization designated to coordinate resources and represent that state or territory as its coalition.
NSVRC maintains a directory of organizations that lists state and territory sexual assault coalitions, victim/survivor support organizations, and local communities of color sexual assault organizations. You can contact your state or territory’s coalition to find local resources that provide services to survivors. You can also find a rape crisis center or sexual assault program near you by searching RALIANCE’s directory of local programs.
The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), organizes the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline. The Hotline is a referral service that can put you in contact with your local rape crisis center. You can call the Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, or access RAINN’s online chat service.
Children Sexual Abuse Facts and Resources
By educating the community about prevention, intervention and treatment, The CAC is addressing the devastating reality of child sexual abuse. We all want to believe that our children are safe and that we can protect them from harm, but child sexual abuse is real, and recovery begins with the truth. Use the resources in this section to educate yourself with the facts about child abuse to protect children, heal families, and prevent child sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
Check out the resources below and feel free to contact The CAC with any questions or comments.
- Protection during the Covid-19 pandemic ( English version)
- Protection during the Covid-19 pandemic ( Spanish version)
- Child Sexual Abuse Facts
- Tips for Protecting Your Children
- Internet Safety
- The CAC Tip Card
- Reminders and Tips about Child Abuse
- Administrator-Card-Child Abuse
- Educators-Guide-2020
- Books for Parents To Address Body Parts, Personal Boundaries and Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse is an issue that makes people extremely uncomfortable, because it hurts to think about anyone harming children. However, unreported or untreated child sexual abuse not only scars children and destroys families, it also leaves offenders free to abuse and cripple future generations.
What is Child Sexual Abuse?
It is any sexual activity between adults and minors or between two minors when one forces it on the other. This includes sexual touching and non-touching acts like exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, photography of a child for sexual gratification, solicitation of a child for prostitution, voyeurism and communication in a sexual way by phone, Internet or face-to-face. It is a crime punishable by law that must be reported.
Sexual Abuse Law
Sexual abuse refers to any type of illegal or coerced sexual conduct against another individual. A variety of different offenses fall into this category, which is not limited to physical contact alone. Instead, sexual abuse includes acts of sexual harassment, rape, indecent exposure, forcing another individual to view or participate in pornography, and contributing in any way to the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Most states define sexual penetration as penetration of the vagina, anus, or mouth with a part of the body or an object.
Sexual conduct is criminal if it is not consented to, either because the perpetrator uses force or because the victim is not capable of providing consent. Minors under 14 or 15 years of age, depending on the state, are deemed to be incapable of consenting to sexual conduct regardless of their level of maturity.
