Rockford Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Sexual abuse is a terrible experience that can have long-lasting effects on the victim.The abuser may come from your family or be someone you know and trust.

If you’re struggling to cope with what happened, it’s hard to imagine taking action against them for their behavior.

But legal help is available if you want to seek justice for what was done to you.The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC has been helping survivors of sexual abuse get justice for years.

Contact our Rockford personal injury lawyers at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today for immediate legal advice and schedule a free consultation.

All confidential or sensitive information you share with your sexual abuse lawyers remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

If you, your aging parent, or your child has suffered sexual abuse, assault, or harassment, you need a Rockford sex abuse lawyer.

Hiring a lawyer can safeguard your rights and put you in touch with importantsex abuse resourcesin your community, such as trusted physicians or counselors.

During a civil lawsuit in Rockford, Illinois, your lawyer will advocate your best interests. We fight aggressively to recover compensation in cases involving sexual offenses, including statutory rape, even when the predator is not facing sex crime charges.

Seeking Justice, Legal Advice, and Getting the Compensation You Deserve

According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), every 98 seconds, someone in America is sexually assaulted.

Sexual abuse can have long-lasting physical, psychological, and emotional effects on victims. If you’ve been the victim of sexual abuse, assault, or harassment, you may feel like you’re alone.

But you’re not. Rockford sex abuse lawyers can help you seek justice for what was done to you and get the financial compensation you deserve for your suffering.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, the personal injury attorneys have years of experience helping clients like you pursue financial damages against their abusers.

Our Rockford sexual abuse law firm will help you take the next steps to ensure we do everything we can to get you the compensation you or your loved one deserves.

To learn more about how your sexual abuse lawyer handles cases involving sexual abuse, contact our Rockford sex abuse lawyers today. We’re here to answer any questions you may have and set up a free case evaluation with one of our top-rated attorneys.

Criminal Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is a criminal act that can have long-term, damaging effects on the victim. The crime is defined as any sexual contact or behavior without the recipient’s explicit consent. It includes unwanted kissing, groping, and all forms of penetration.

While any sexual assault is serious, criminal sexual assault is a more serious offense. It is a violent crime that can result in physical injury to the victim, punishable by imprisonment or a fine.

If you have been the victim of criminal sexual assault, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself and get help.

First, you should contact the police and report the crime. Then, you should seek medical attention for any injuries you have sustained.

Finally, if necessary, contact a counselor or therapist to help you deal with the emotional impact of the incident.

Illinois Criminal Sexual Abuse Laws & Penalties

Under Illinois laws, sexual predators can be classified into three categories:

The first category is the most serious and includes offenders who have been convicted of criminal sexual assault or aggravated criminal sexual assault. These individuals pose a serious threat to the public and are subject to mandatory registration as sex offenders.

The second category includes offenders who have been convicted of felony child pornography offenses. These individuals must register as sex offenders, though the law does not require them to be listed on the publicly-accessible online database.

The third includes those convicted of misdemeanor indecent solicitation or dissemination of obscenity to a minor and statutory rape. These individuals found guilty of sex crime charges are subject to mandatory registration at police stations in their areas for ten years after release from prison.

Sex crimes are considered very serious offenses in Illinois, and the state imposes harsh penalties on convicted offenders.

For example, criminal sexual assault is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment if it does not result in any physical injury to the victim or life imprisonment if it results in injury.

Aggravated criminal sexual assault can be punished by up to 30 years imprisonment, and felony child pornography offenses can result in imprisonment for up to five years. In addition, misdemeanor indecent solicitation or dissemination of obscenity to a minor can be punished up to one year in jail.

It is important to remember that you are not alone if you have been a victim of sex crimes. There are many sex offense resources available to help you get the support and protection you need.

Additionally, you can seek to recover compensation for the sex offense covering your medical bills, lost wages, mental health care, and other financial circumstances for your case.

Ramifications of Sexual Assault

According to data collected by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one in five women in the United States will be raped at some point in their lives.

The legal system considers sexual abuse an extremely serious crime, and it often negatively affects the victims’ lives forever.

Some of the effects include:

• Shame, guilt, and depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Inability to establish or maintain interpersonal relationships
• Feelings of personal vulnerability
• Inability to trust
• Low self-esteem
• Unemployment
• Substance abuse, including alcohol and drugs

Many victims with PTSD drink excessively to forget how a sex crime was perpetrated on them. However, this usually results in a greater feeling of isolation and contributes to more psychiatric problems.

• Physical health problems, such as chronic pain, gastrointestinal problems, and gynecological problems
• In some civil lawsuit cases, the victim had suffered sexual abuse is no other alternative but suicide

Sexual assault can have a devastating impact on victims and their families. People need to understand what constitutes sexual abuse and be aware of victims’ resources.

Physical Problems from Sexual Abuse

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), individuals who have experienced sexual abuse might suffer various physical problems.

The physical problems associated with sex crimes, including statutory rape and sodomy, could include:

• Gastrointestinal problems
• Headaches
• Chronic pain
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sex
• Vaginal discharge
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Urinary incontinence
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• Sexual dysfunction

Sexual abuse can also lead to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and other infections. In addition, victims might also have:

• Problems breathing
• Chronic fatigue
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Recurrent episodes of fainting or seizures

Victims are also more likely to experience physical problems related to pregnancy resulting from rape.

These are just some of the physical problems in individuals who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. It is important to seek medical attention if you are experiencing any of these problems. Your doctor can help you find the source of your pain and may provide treatment.

The Psychological & Emotional Impact of Sexual Abuse

Anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, eating issues, panic attacks, self-destructive behavior are possible consequences of sexual assault.

In addition, victims may also experience embarrassment, guilt, low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness and helplessness, and excessive vigilance (perceiving danger everywhere).

In most sexual harassment or abuse situations, the victim is familiar with the offender. Rape is a life-changing event that leaves victims feeling frightened, nervous, and melancholy. These feelings of unhappiness can lead to anger issues and an anti-social personality.

In addition, adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse often suffer from:

• Feelings of inadequacy or vulnerability
• Feelings of powerlessness or dependency
• Difficulties in bonding and establishing intimate connections with others.
• Inability to express oneself properly
• Speaking negatively or being harsh and critical of others who share your opinions
• Confusion about one’s sexual identity and intimacy concerns (e.g., to compensate for low self-esteem, a person develops a promiscuous lifestyle)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder, somatization issues, dissociative disorders, or other mental health problems might also develop due to these factors
• Although many people believe that sexual assaults are strictly physical, some can cause psychological and behavioral disorders. Unfortunately, the so-called “dysfunctions” which affect millions of individuals and are not the result of prior sexual abuse experiences are frequently conflated with genuine sexual difficulties caused by assault.

If you are a survivor of sex crimes, contact an experienced lawyer from our Rockford, IL law office at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free consultation to tell us what happened.

An experienced lawyer from our law firm could provide immediate legal advice on recovering compensation and possibly punitive damages even if police arrested the sexual predator who now resides in jail.

Almost No Sex Crime Victims Seek Help

A recent article in the journal “JAMA Psychiatry” found that only three percent of survivors of childhood sexual abuse seek help and benefit. Many people hesitate to reach out for assistance because they feel ashamed, guilty, and afraid they will not be believed.

However, people who have been abused must recognize that the suffering was not their fault and that they were not alone. There is aid available, and victims should not hesitate to seek help.

Please don’t hesitate to contact our Rockford, Illinois, personal injury lawyers for a free case evaluation if you or someone you know has been a survivor of sexual assault or abuse.

Your Rockford sexual abuse lawyer can assist you in obtaining the resources and support you need to begin rebuilding your life.

Childhood Sexual Abuse

According to many studies, childhood sexual abuse can lead to various emotional and psychological issues in adulthood.

For example, according to the CDC, research has revealed that persons sexually assaulted as children are three times more likely to be depressed than those who were not abused.

Victims of childhood sexual assault might also struggle with:

• Anxiety disorders are common, with an estimated six percent of the U.S population suffering from an anxiety disorder at some period in their life. In addition, substance use issues and suicide ideation, or other serious mental illnesses can be treated using hypnosis.
• Poor body image
• Difficulties in relationships
• Problems with sex (including dread, anxiety, flashbacks, or obsessions about it)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

According to studies, 28% of women and 6.6 percent of men have had post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their lives. Furthermore, if a kid has been sexually abused by someone they knew and trusted, they are even more likely to develop PTSD.

Sexual Violence and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as many as 30 percent of women veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan experience sexual assault or rape while in the military.

Rates of military sexual assault are also higher for male veterans. It means that there is a good chance that many people who serve in the military will have PTSD at some point in their lives.

In a study done by the National Center for PTSD, it was found that women who experienced sexual assault in the military were four times more likely to develop PTSD.

Women who were raped while serving in the military were nine times more likely to develop PTSD. There are many reasons why this is true. In an article from the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), they list some of the reasons why sexual assault in the military can lead to PTSD:

• The survivor may feel like they are not safe anywhere
• The victim may feel like they cannot trust anyone
• The survivor may feel ashamed or embarrassed
• The sexual abuse survivor may feel like they are not worth anything
• The survivor may feel like they are at fault
• All of these feelings can lead to PTSD

PTSD is a mental health condition that can occur after someone has experienced a traumatic event. Some common symptoms of PTSD include:

• Flashbacks or nightmares of the event
• Trying to avoid anything that could remind the person of the event
• Emotional scars of feeling numb or out of touch with other people
• Feeling constantly on guard or being easily startled

According to the VA, just because you have PTSD doesn’t mean that you can’t lead a normal life if you are treated to manage your PTSD through therapy and medication.

Types of Sexual Abuse

Victims of sexually abusive experiences may experience a variety of forms of abuse, including rape and sodomy.

According to RAINN, victims may also experience:

• Unwanted touching or fondling
• Exposure to pornographic material
• Forcing someone to watch sexual acts
• Use of sexually explicit language
• Threats to expose victims’ sexual orientation or activities to others
• Pressure for sexual favors
• Intimidation or blackmailing into sexual favors
• Forced or coerced nudity or sex with someone else
• Murder

The types of sexual abuse are not limited to these examples. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) lists different forms in which sexually abusive experiences may occur, including:

• Nonviolent sexual harassment, such as making sexual jokes, displaying sexual images, or unwanted touching
• Verbal abuse that is sexual, such as calling someone a slut or a whore
• Physical abuse that is sexual, such as slapping, pinching, or pulling someone’s hair during sex
• Sexual exploitation, such as making someone do unpaid work in exchange for sexual favors
• Rape and attempted rape
• Anal or vaginal penetration with a foreign object
• Child sexual abuse, which includes activities such as touching, fondling, oral sex, and intercourse

It is important to note that not all victims of sexual abuse will experience every type of abuse. Additionally, the abuse may not be limited to one incident but may occur over time.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, it is important to reach out for help. There are many resources available to victims, including counseling and support groups.

RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE), providing victims with information about support services in their area. Learn more about sexual abuse at RAINN, NSVRC, or Stop It Now!

Sexual Abuse Cases at School

Any sex offender inside a school setting is troublesome because the environment should be safe for children.

The National Center on Sexual Behavior of Youth (NCSBY) defines child sexual abuse as “the use of force, threat, or deception to involve a child in sexual activity.” It includes touching, fondling, oral sex, and intercourse.

Unfortunately, an average of 2.5 million children are victims of child sexual abuse each year in the United States, and 1 out of every ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.

A 2001 study found that more than 60% of teachers who had been convicted for sex crimes against minors had multiple offenses, and 44% committed their crimes in schools.

One of the most troubling aspects of child sexual abuse cases at school is that they often go unreported. It may be because teachers are seen as authority figures, and victims may fear retaliation from the abuser or be embarrassed to tell anyone what happened.

A Victim’s Consequences of Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse can have a devastating impact on victims, both short and long-term.

Victims may experience feelings of shock, disbelief, guilt, shame, anger, and betrayal in the short term. They may also have trouble sleeping, eating, and concentrating.

These symptoms can be extremely isolating and may lead to withdrawal from everyday activities. Some victims may even experience a dissociative state, making it challenging to tell others what happened and leaving them feeling numb and detached from their bodies.

In the long term, sexual abuse survivors often struggle with trust and intimacy as adults. They may feel embarrassed about sex or fear physical intimacy due to the sex offenses they experienced.

They may also have trouble maintaining long-term relationships with friends and family members, leading to feelings of loneliness or isolation.

Finally, many abuse survivors experience chronic physical symptoms as adults related to the original sex crime they experienced as children.

For example, some individuals molested during childhood develop cancer at a higher rate than the general population.

It is important to note that not everyone who experiences sexual abuse will suffer from these long-term consequences. Some victims can heal quickly and move on with their lives. However, for many survivors, the impact of sexual abuse lasts a lifetime.

Hiring a Sexual Abuse Attorney to Resolve a Compensation Case

Our Chicago-based personal injury law firm is well-known for securing that our clients are fairly compensated for the significant losses caused by sexual abuse.

Are you or a family member a survivor of sexual assault? Do you want to pursue legal action to obtain financial compensation and justice for the crime offender?

Call our law firm at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today to schedule a free case evaluation.

Every Rockford, IL sexual abuse lawyer in our law firm accepts personal injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This practice ensures that you pay nothing until our law firm resolves your case through a negotiated settlement or jury award.

Rockford Sexual Abuse Lawyer Resources:

• NIH – Child Sexual Abuse and Neglect
• NIH – Child sexual abuse: the suffering untold