Christina Spicer  |  March 24, 2022

Category: Legal News

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scared girl with HELP on hand, sexual abuse

Sexual violence in the United States education system is a serious problem at all levels, from elementary schools through to college. Learn more about the causes of sexual abuse in schools, its risk factors, and how to prevent sexual assault and violence in a place where students should feel safe: at school.

The Problem of Sexual Violence in Schools

Teachers and other adults who sexually assault students often dominate the headlines, but student-on-student sexual violence is a bigger problem, according to experts. After private homes, schools are the second most likely place a child is more likely to experience sexual violence perpetrated by another child, according to a 2017 investigation by the Associated Press. In fact, for every report of an adult sexually abusing a student at school, there are seven student-on-student reports of sexual violence, the investigation found.

Sexual Violence Statistics in Schools

Sexual violence in schools is difficult to track because many school systems do not track student-on-student incidents, the Associated Press reports. Indeed, there are no national requirements to track sexual assaults perpetrated by students on other students in K–12 schools, and, in fact, schools may have a perverse incentive to conceal reports due to state laws that require action by school officials.

“No principal wants their school to be the rape school, to be listed in the newspaper as being investigated. Schools try to bury it. It’s the courageous principal that does the right thing,” former K–12 teacher and expert Dr. Bill Howe told AP reporters.

From the data AP was able to gather, between 2011 and 2015, a total of approximately 17,000 official reports of sexual assaults by students were submitted. AP reporters took a close look at data provided by the FBI for the 2013–2014 school year. The data included reports of sexual violence at schools, including unwanted fondling, object penetration, rape, and sodomy.

Four out of five of the reports concerned unwanted fondling, meaning that one in five students experienced more severe forms of sexual violence, according to the Associated Press. In addition, of the K–12 students who reported, 5% of them were between the ages of 5 and 6.

The data also revealed that sexual violence occurs in all education settings, from inner-city to wealthy suburban schools, according to AP News.

Of course, college and university students also experience sexual violence. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the country’s largest anti–sexual violence organization, reports that 13% of all students in higher education experience sexual assault, including rape. In addition, RAINN reports that college students are more likely to experience sexual violence than other crimes.

Causes of Sexual Violence in Schools

While it is disturbing to consider the extent of sexual violence in the education system affecting students as young as five, experts say that school officials and parents must understand the causes in order to prevent it.

There are a number of individual and relational risk factors linked with school abuse, as well as risks associated with the community and society that play into the perpetration of sexual violence at schools, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Indeed, those who are more likely to perpetrate sexual violence exhibit lack of empathy, aggression, violence, hostility towards women, hyper-masculinity, and even suicidal behavior, the CDC notes. In addition, alcohol and drug use are risk factors, as is early sexual initiation, exposure to sexually explicit materials, and/or prior sexual assault or victimization.

stressed girl student on floor of classroom

An individual’s relationship characteristics can also factor in. According to the CDC, individuals who experienced violence in the home or a history of childhood abuse are more likely to engage in sexual violence at school, along with those who associate with peers who are sexually aggressive, hyper-masculine, and delinquent.

Impoverished communities with few employment opportunities and lacking police and judicial system support are more likely to experience sexual violence in schools, per the CDC. Additionally, communities that tolerate sexual violence are also more susceptible to it as well.

Finally, social normalization of sexual violence, male superiority, and entitlements, along with high levels of violent crime are risk factors for sexual violence at schools, warns the CDC. Additionally, weak laws regarding sexual violence or gender equity are risk factors.

Sexual Violence Prevention

There are a number of laws in place meant to help protect students who have experienced sexual violence, but both individuals and organizations can help prevent sexual violence before it happens.

Preventing sexual violence is complex, but can be done. The CDC notes that the following protective factors can reduce the chance that a student will experience or perpetrate sexual violence while going to school:

  • Academic achievement
  • Parents that use reasoning to resolve conflicts
  • Connections and good emotional health
  • A concern for others

Schools and communities can take action to prevent sexual violence, the CDC notes. These include empowering women and girls by providing leadership opportunities and economic support systems, as well as teaching men and boys how to be allies.

In addition, schools and caregivers can teach students skills to prevent sexual violence, says the CDC, including lessons on healthy sexuality, safe dating, social-emotional skills, and empowerment.

Prevention efforts should also include protective environments, according to the agency. Safety and monitoring programs need to be developed and approved and policies consistently enforced. Adults should be aware of the signs of sexual abuse so they know what to look out for.

Finally, survivors of school sexual violence need to be provided with adequate treatment and services, notes the CDC, as well as programs for at-risk students when they begin to exhibit problematic behavior.

Filing a School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

A growing number of young people and their family members are coming forward with allegations of sexual abuse in schools, both public and private, and across all ages. Schools such as the Thacher School in Ojai, California or the Gow School in New York have been hit with litigation over sexual abuse allegations dating back years or even decades.

In recent years, some states have been making changes to their childhood sexual assault laws, in many cases allowing survivors more time to come forward with their allegations.

If you or your child have been subjected to sexual violence or abuse at school, you may be able to file a lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by abuse, but it can at least provide some compensation, as well as help to hold those responsible accountable for their actions and inactions. It’s not only the perpetrators of abuse that can be named in these lawsuits — organizations that allowed the abuse to occur, or failed to adequately protect their students, can also be held accountable.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Join a Free School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Investigation

If you or someone you love was the victim of sexual abuse in a Californian school setting, legal help is available. 

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