Private School Sexual Abuse Lawyer in California
While sexual abuse of minors in the public school setting grabs more headlines, it is clear that abuse occurs at private schools as well. In a study commissioned by the American Association of University Women, one in ten students reported that they had been the victim of some form of sexual abuse on the part of a teacher or other school employee, and two-thirds reported that the incident involved physical contact. If these numbers are representative of the student population nationwide, 4.5 million students currently in grades K-12 in public and private school systems have suffered some form of sexual abuse by an educator, and more than 3 million have experienced sexual touching or assault. Call (949) 557-5800 to speak with one of our California private school sexual abuse lawyers for help today, we are available 24/7.
In the case of private schools, the numbers may be underestimated because private schools are not commonly regulated by state and local governments to the same extent as their public school counterparts. In addition, private schools stay in business through reputation, which can be severely damaged by allegations of sexual abuse. Private schools include preschools, where children are the most vulnerable because of their age. Preschool facilities are regulated in most states, but certification, background check requirements, and other procedures designed to keep children safe can vary.
Private schools also include schools owned or run by churches. Schools run by orders of the Catholic Church have been frequently implicated in abuse cases. For example, during the past decade, allegations of child sexual and physical abuse involving Christian Brothers schools in the United States began to surface, most of which focused on two institutions in the Northwest. Dozens of claims arose from allegations of sexual abuse at the now-defunct Briscoe Memorial School, which was an orphanage and boarding school located a short distance from Seattle. Briscoe, which opened in 1909 and closed around 1970, had been a home for thousands of boys. Briscoe was owned by the Seattle Catholic Archdiocese and was jointly operated by the Archdiocese and the Christian Brothers.
Take a Stand with the help of our California private school sexual abuse attorneys
The fact of the matter is that private schools and prep schools are not free from child sexual abuse. Just as in any school setting, the risk of teachers, administrators, staff and others committing such crimes is a very real one. If you are the victim of sexual abuse in a private school or if you are an adult who suspects child sexual abuse, contact The Senators Firm to discuss your situation with one of our experienced private school sexual abuse attorneys in California. We are here to help, and together we can take a stand.