Fighting for Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Assault in MD, VA, and DC
No matter when or where it happens, sexual abuse and assault leave devastating psychological scars that can impact a victim for years to come. When a child suffers abuse from a trusted teacher or mentor at a public or private school, these scars can affect the child’s development into adulthood and eventually deepen into a lifetime of pain and trauma. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) estimates that a child is sexually assaulted every 9 minutes in the United States — a majority of this horrifying abuse is perpetrated by someone the child knows.
If your child has been sexually abused, harassed, or assaulted at a public or private school, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the perpetrators and, in some cases, even the school. For over 65 years, our attorneys at Ashcraft & Gerel have been committed to fighting injustice wherever it may be found, and with skill and experience, we can advocate for your child’s right to swift justice in these serious matters.
Understanding the Problem: Public and Private School Abuse
In both public and private educational settings, young students are at risk of sexual abuse from teachers and staff members because the educational process allows so many opportunities for adults to engage with children. That is why schools have a high duty of care to ensure that they are vetting their staff and staying vigilant for the signs of sexual abuse.
In the private or boarding school setting, children may be living away from home and their parents for the first time, making them even more vulnerable to sexual abuse. Therefore, private school students may be at a heightened risk of sexual abuse from teachers, counselors, clergy members (at religious schools), administrative staff, and other students.
Unfortunately, a yearlong investigation by the Associated Press (AP) uncovered that many schools are failing in their duty to protect students: According to AP’s report in 2017, there were more than 17,000 official reports of sexual assault at schools between 2011 and 2015, with many experts estimating the actual numbers to be much higher. Although reporting for sexual abuse and assault has increased across the country in the wake of the #MeToo movement, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) discovered that only 5.2% of K-12 schools reported one incident of sexual assault other than rape in 2017, in comparison with 3.4% in 2015.
Seeking Justice for Public and Private School Abuse Survivors
Under state and federal law, an individual who has been victimized at a public or private school may be able to bring an action for civil (monetary) damages. In addition, all schools that accept federal funding are bound by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” If a school received federal grants or funding, that school may be subject to claims that it violated its obligations under Title IX, in addition to other claims.
At Ashcraft & Gerel, our experienced attorneys can represent sexual abuse victims at the following types of educational institutions, from K-12 and through college:
- Traditional public schools
- Charter schools
- Religious schools and seminaries
- Special needs educational facilities
- Military schools and academies
- Independent schools
- Boarding schools
- Single-gender schools
- Public colleges and universities
- Private colleges and universities