Personal Injury Lawyers > Personal Injury Blog > Sexual Abuse > April Is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Personal Injury Blog

April Is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Every year, there are more than 3 million reports of child abuse in the United States.  The number of children actually being abused or assaulted every year around the country is actually higher, because those reports involve incidents where multiple children were involved.  In 2007, there were an estimated 3.2 million child abuse reports, and these involved approximately 5.8 million children.  This April, Los Angeles sexual abuse lawyers, parents and safety groups will mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The statistics are shocking.  In the United States, there is a report of child abuse made every 10 seconds.  Of these instances of child abuse, an overwhelming majority involve a perpetrator that was known to the child.  For instance, 90% of the perpetrators were known to the victims of sexual abuse.

The cycle of abuse is vicious and continuous.  Approximately 30% of all children who have suffered abuse or neglect of any form, will later indulge in some degree of abuse with their own children.  Child abuse takes a terrible toll on the emotional and psychological makeup of the child.  Approximately 80% of children who suffered sexual abuse were found to suffer from at least one psychological disorder in adulthood.

There are other emotional repercussions from sexual abuse.  Children who suffer from abuse are up to 25% more likely to experience an unwanted teen pregnancy.  Experience with abuse may also leave children more likely to indulge in reckless behaviors.  Children who suffer abuse are three times less likely to practice safe sex.  Children who have suffered abuse may be at a much higher risk of unwanted pregnancy, STDs and HIV/AIDS.

Besides, child abuse also increases the risk of criminal activity later in adulthood.  According to estimates, approximately 14% of all men currently in American prisons were abused sexually as children.  Among women, criminal activity increases with the risk of criminal activity.  Women who have been abused as children constitute 36% of female inmates in American prisons.  Besides, children who experience sexual abuse are 9% more likely to be arrested as juvenile offenders.  They are also 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crimes.

Studies have also confirmed the link between child sexual abuse and alcohol use later in life.  Children who have been abused are 2.5 times more likely to develop an alcoholic use disorder.  They’re also 3.8 times more likely to develop addictions to drugs.

The long-term repercussions of child sexual abuse may not be eliminated even after years of counseling.  This April, parents, law enforcement, California child sexual abuse lawyers and the larger community must get together to minimize incidences of sexual abuse, and encourage awareness of such abuse.  This is especially important in the case of children, who need to be encouraged to come forward to report instances of sexual abuse.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of sexual assault. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire to discuss a personal injury matter,  you can reach us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

 

 

---