Sexual Assault

In a computer-age world, dating has become a bit tricky. Meeting someone through friends or employment can work sometimes. Finding love in a bar or other awkward social setting where you’re thrown into a sea of strangers can be challenging. Then there’s the world of online dating. Today there are so many dating sites to…

Type the term “rape kit backlog” into a Google search and be prepared to be overwhelmed. Victims of sexual assault have been told for years that allowing for the collection of DNA evidence is their best chance at catching their attacker. Already traumatized victims undergo a special rape exam where they are literally picked over…

It’s a sad truth that human trafficking used to be a term that conjured up thoughts of poor people in faraway countries working in fields or mines. We live in the United States where we don’t have the same widespread level of poverty or social issues as other countries, don’t we? That’s true to an…

That sound you hear is dominoes falling from a high altitude. It began slowly and picked up the pace with the #MeToo campaign giving victims the confidence to finally come forward and publicly point their fingers at their abusers. The last couple of years haven’t been good for anyone in a high profile position in…

Do you think your child may be the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of someone you have trusted, such as a partner, family member, priest, neighbor, or even a teacher? While it is not always easy to get children to speak about things that are going on, especially if they are afraid of…

When you send your child to school, you expect them to learn in a comfortable, safe environment with teachers and support staff members who care about the success of each child. While this is true for the most part, some teachers or school staff members may use their power to gain control over others, including…

A company in Brooklyn has recently released a DIY rape kit, with the goal of enabling survivors to take and submit their own DNA samples. The MeToo Kits are supposedly designed to prevent victims from feeling like they are being victimized all over again. They are also a terrible idea. Rape is both physically and…

Bill Cosby, once a respected comedian, television actor, and public speaker, has since been sentenced to 3-10 years in prison for committing sexual offenses. In an era of Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer, or #MeToo and #WhyIDidntReport, it is easy to forget that Cosby’s crimes once dominated the headlines. Over and over again, we heard…

“Consent” is the agreement between two people to engage in whatever sexual behaviors they want. Theoretically and ethically, this is a simple thing. But the reality is that there are gray areas in the laws, and those shades of gray can make it incredibly difficult for victims of sexual assault to get the justice they…

The essence of a punitive damage claims is to punish someone who’s wrongs are unconscionable, so they don’t harm anyone else. The payment of punitive damages is paid to the injured plaintiff. A punitive damage claim in any type of case requires more than a showing of carelessness or negligence. In California, the defendant must…

NBC News reported on July 3, 2019 that a New Jersey judge’s decision that a 16-year-old boy who was accused of the rape of an intoxicated girl was overturned by a higher state court. The accused, according to prosecutors, also filmed the sexual assault/rape and sent it to his friends. The government sought to have…

A sexual assault forensic exam, commonly known as a rape kit, is an examination to collect any evidence left behind after a sexual assault. When a survivor chooses to report an assault to authorities, this exam can be extremely helpful in prosecuting the assailant, as well as allowing the victim to receive necessary medical care.…

Sexual assault is a crime that many people don’t like to think about, but should be in the back of your mind. Many refuse to think that it will happen to them until it does. The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that one in every six women will be the victim of…

Researchers have come up with response protocols for sexual assault response teams that operate on campuses across the country. These sexual assault response teams are faced with multiple barriers when responding to reports of sexual assault that prevent their work from being effective to the same level as response teams operated by cities and counties.…

In an effort to promote understanding during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, officials at Fort Bragg launched a sexual assault escape room. The purpose of the room is to educate soldiers on sexual assault in the military, the prevention program in place, and the resources available to members of the military who have been assaulted. The…

The Center for Justice & Democracy at New York Law School (CJ&D) has long been a champion for the country’s civil justice system. Part of their work involves raising public awareness of the insidious nature of “tort reform,” and the effects that it has on all of us. Their latest in-depth publication focuses on survivors…

Sexual assault survivors who report the attack to the police or discuss it with others often experience a lot of doubt on those with whom they speak. They are often asked questions related to fighting back, screaming, and finding a way to remove themselves from the situation. Facing this doubt from others can be just…

United States Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has proposed changes to campus sexual assault rules at the college and K-12 levels of the education system. These changes have been met with tough resistance from members of the academic world, the ACLU, and the public. This has become such a hot topic of discussion and debate that…

A.J. Calloway, the host of Extra, is facing allegations of sexual assault. Calloway was suspended earlier in February by Warner Bros. for the mounting accusations against him. So far, six women have accused Calloway of sexual assault or sexual harassment, according to a report in The Hollywood Reporter. Calloway’s suspension came right before a tell-all…

A recent docu-series about R. Kelly airing on Lifetime television has resulted in renewed law enforcement interest in the 52-year-old singer. The three-part series features multiple women alleging they were part of the singer’s notorious sex cult, with some mentioning seeing other girls and women on Kelly’s property against their will. “Surviving R. Kelly” documents…

A new study shows that victims of sexual assault and harassment deal with mental and physical effects long after the trauma occurred. Researchers found that middle-aged women with a history of harassment and assault in their younger years suffer from hypertension, anxiety, depression, and poor sleep. The study, “Association of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault…

In September of 2016, the California state legislature voted to eliminate the statute of limitations from criminal rape cases. The lifting of these restrictions means that charges can be brought regardless of the amount of time that has passed since the alleged rape. While this change is widely seen as a win for victim’s rights…

A long-awaited report on sexual assaults in the military was finally been released on September 21, and its biggest takeaway is that women and men are more likely to be assaulted on a United States Navy ship than any other type of military installation. Further, the ship most likely to be involved is an aircraft…