What is the Best Way to Report Sexual Abuse and Ensure I Am Believed?
Statistics tell us that approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they reach age 18. You are believed.
There are many avenues for reporting child sexual abuse confidentially. Let’s take a look at how to report sexual abuse while ensuring that your privacy and safety can be protected.
What are the Ways That I Can Report Abuse?
There are many ways to safely and confidentially report abuse:
- If you see abuse happening or a child comes to you in crisis, call 911.
- If you suspect child sexual abuse, you can call ChildHelp: The National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child. They have trained counselors answering phones 24/7 to guide you through the process of reporting.
- If you were sexually abused recently, call the police.
- You can also contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at RAINN, the Rape and Incest National Network, at 1-800-656-4673. They will refer you to your local rape crisis center.
- If your abuse happened a long time ago, or you are not sure to whom to talk, contact a licensed therapist or an attorney who is experienced in representing survivors of child sexual abuse. They can offer you guidance and help determine the best options for you. If the predator is still a threat to children, you can also contact the police where the crime occurred and file a report.
I have Already Reported Being Sexually Abused to the Church, and They Said I am The Only Victim. Do I Go Back to Them for Help?
Many dioceses have confidential reporting lines for survivors of sexual abuse. However, there have been instances in the past where these lines were answered by attorneys hired to represent the church, or priests, instead of trained, independent counselors.
We always suggest talking to a lawyer, law enforcement, or a therapist first to ensure that your rights and safety are protected.
Predators seldom, if ever, have only one victim.
Is There a Place Where I Can Make an Anonymous Call About my Experiences with Abuse?
Yes. If you suspect child sexual abuse, you can call ChildHelp: The National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child. They have trained counselors answering the phones 24/7 to guide you through the process of reporting. They also take calls from sexual abuse survivors.
If you were sexually abused recently, call the police. You can also contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at RAINN, the Rape and Incest National Network at 1-800-656-4673. They will refer you to your local rape crisis center.
All calls to our offices and to therapists are protected and completely confidential.
You can call us at 1-800-ITS-TIME or you can also send us a message.
I Tried to Tell the Police about the Abuse I Endured in the Past, and They Wouldn’t Make a Report. What Should I Do?
The attitudes of law enforcement has changed dramatically when it comes to child sexual abuse.
However, there may be reasons that they can’t or won’t take the report.
If the perpetrator is dead, the police cannot pursue an investigation, and as a result, they may not take the report. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t pursue other legal recourse if the perpetrator is dead.
Also, police often will not take reports of crimes that happen outside of their jurisdiction. If the police will not take a report, talk to an experienced child sexual abuse civil attorney or therapist, who may have resources available for you to report effectively.
If I work With a Lawyer, Can They Help Me Make a Report?
Yes, a lawyer can help you report the sexual abuse you endured to law enforcement. In fact, an experienced child sexual abuse attorney can help make the process easier for you by setting the appointment, going with you, and providing any additional materials that the police may request.
How Do I Report if the Parish Where I Was Abused is No Longer There?
It does not matter if the parish where your abuse occurred is still in existence. Reporting the crime is still important.
If you feel ready, you can call the police in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred.
Suppose you decide to move forward with a lawsuit. In that case, you can help expose predators and complicit authority figures at the parish who may have moved elsewhere and may still be engaging in activities that put kids in danger. Perpetrators’ movement to other parishes or church organizations is one of the ways Catholic institutions concealed abuse and protected perpetrators.
You can also talk to a therapist who can give you guidance about the reporting process.
You can also call the national hotlines that help survivors of child sexual abuse and assault. ChildHelp: The National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child has trained counselors answering the phones 24/7 to guide you through the process of reporting. They also take calls from survivors.
You can also contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at RAINN, the Rape and Incest National Network, at 1-800-656-4673. They will refer you to your local rape crisis center and aid you in reporting.
If you were sexually abused by a priest, counselor, teacher, coach, or other trusted adult, you still have rights. We want to help you. Contact us confidentially today.
How Do I Report My Abuse If My Perpetrator is Dead?
Although the perpetrator who abused you is dead, your pain is real. You as a survivor, still have the opportunity to report your abuser to law enforcement, a loved one, a therapist, or an attorney. By exposing the perpetrator, your courageous power can influence other survivors to come forward and realize that they are not alone.
If you decide to work with an experienced child sexual abuse attorney, they can assist you with reporting your abuse. If you decide to move forward with a lawsuit, you can help expose other potential child abusers or complicit authority figures, who may have moved on elsewhere and may still be engaging in activities that put kids in danger.
You can file a lawsuit against the organization that covered up the crimes of sexual predators even if the predator is dead.
To report, you can also talk to a therapist.
The process of reporting child sexual abuse by someone who is now deceased can be difficult. The National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child has trained counselors answering the phones 24/7 to guide you through the process of reporting. They also take calls from survivors.
You can also contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at RAINN, the Rape and Incest National Network at 1-800-656-4673.
If I Report My Sexual Abuse, Will the Police Become Involved?
If the alleged perpetrator is still alive, we recommend that survivors who file a child sexual abuse lawsuit also file a report with the appropriate law enforcement agency. That decision, however, is completely up to the survivor.
To protect your interests, it is important to consider who to tell and in what order.