Sexual Abuse or Assault in Schools

Santa Barbara and Ventura Sexual Abuse Victims Attorneys

Schools that fail to provide children a supportive and safe learning environment are unforgivable. It’s unthinkable that any kind of sexual misconduct could occur in any school. Unfortunately, sexual abuse incidents in schools have risen from 9,649 to 14,938 between the years of 2015 to 2018, based on the Department of Education’s (DOE) Civil Rights Data Collection report. Likewise, cases of attempted rape or rape doubled from 394 to 786.

Parents shouldn’t have to worry about their children’s safety while in school. But if your child is sexual abuse victim, our Ventura and Santa Barbara school sexual abuse lawyers here at The Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC, will help pursue justice for your child.

What Exactly is School Sexual Abuse?

• Inappropriate sexual innuendos and comments, ranging from subtle remarks to obvious harassment, from teachers, administrators, coaches, counselors, and other school staff.
• Spying on students when they’re showering or changing in the locker room.
• Exposing students to sexual and pornographic images or trying to photograph them naked.
• Threatening students into acting inappropriately or performing sexual acts.
• Sexual assault, including grabbing, groping, and/or force intercourse.
• Sexual acts or contact with students, regardless of whether students have given their consent.

Schools are Responsible for Our Children’s Safety

The DOE’s revised Title IX Final Rule details the vital legal obligations of school districts that provide greater protections for students against sexual misconduct. The revised Final Rule, among other things, include the following:

• Requires secondary and elementary schools to respond properly in cases where an employee has any notice of sexual misconduct, making it easier for students or parents to report the sexual abuse.
• Requires schools to inform parents and legal guardians of secondary and elementary school students of the school’s designated Title IX coordinator’s contact details and prominently display the details on their websites to facilitate easier and more effective communication between schools and parents.
• Enables any individual to report sexual misconduct, in writing or verbally, regardless of whether the individual reporting is the individual alleged to be the sexual abuse victim. This empowers everyone in the school to challenge sexual misconduct.
• Requires schools to investigate complaints right away.
• Requires schools to provide support to the alleged sexual abuse victim, free of charge.
• Requires proper training for all Title IX coordinators to ensure that they can help sexual abuse victims more effectively.

Our Ventura and Santa Barbara Sexual Abuse Lawyers are Ready to Fight for Your Child

The Ventura and Santa Barbara sexual abuse lawyers at The Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC, are dedicated to protecting and preserving your child’s rights when they’ve been sexually harassed, molested, assaulted, or otherwise abused by the same people you’re counting on to protect them.

If your child’s innocence has been robbed due to any kind of school sexual abuse by a school employee, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Ventura and Santa Barbara sexual abuse lawyers for a free consultation about your legal options. Call us at 805-643-5555 or contact us online for more details.