Summer Camp Sexual Abuse Attorney

Summer Camp Sexual Assault: What Parents Need To Know

In 2018, CBS News investigators released a report on sexual abuse in U.S. summer camps. During their investigation, they identified more than 500 victims of summer camp sexual abuse over the previous 55 years — and those are just the survivors who came forward.

Sexual abuse is a severely underreported crime. Countless children are abused every year, and many of those victimizations never see the light of day.

These facts make it all the more important to discuss your child’s experiences of camp with them when they come home. If their account suggests any type of sexual abuse, contact a qualified sexual assault attorney right away.

Summer Camp Sexual Assault: Know Your Child’s Rights

Your child has the same rights as any adult when it comes to sexual assault, having bodily autonomy during these terrible circumstances.

Your child is protected due to their age. It doesn’t matter whether they agree to a particular activity; adults are legally forbidden from engaging in sexual activity of any kind with minors.

Psychological and legal experts consider children too young to make decisions about intimate activities, and the law takes such violations very seriously.

Types Of Summer Camp Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse at summer camp isn’t always obvious. Counselors, camp staff, and even other campers might engage in sexually abusive behavior without your child even realizing it.

When trying to determine whether your child has been a victim of sexual abuse, tactfully ask them about the following activities:

• Anyone watching them in a state of undress
• Anyone taking unwanted pictures of them
• Inappropriate touching with or without clothing on
• Games involving sexual or intimate acts
• Exposure to others engaging in sexual behavior or pornography
• Forced kissing or other sexual activities

This can be a sensitive discussion, regardless of your child’s age. However, if it uncovers any sort of sinister behavior, it’s worth the effort.

When Camp Negligence Leads To Sexual Abuse

When you drop your child off at camp, the facility’s staff takes responsibility for their safety. This means that they agree to take all reasonable measures to protect your child from harm.

The camp violates that obligation if it allows your child to be harmed through carelessness or recklessness. This type of negligence would be apparent if the camp’s staff let your child go swimming without a lifeguard, but it isn’t always so obvious in sexual abuse cases.

Understanding The Legal Responsibility Of Summer Camps

To protect your child from sexual abuse, the camp directors should ensure that they receive proper supervision throughout their stay. Additionally, the camp’s staff must take reasonable measures to ensure that such supervision is safe.

As such, the camp has a legal responsibility to screen and train staff carefully. Furthermore, even the most trustworthy staff members shouldn’t be allowed to end up in situations where sexual abuse could occur.

Understanding Premises Liability In Abuse Cases

Premises liability is a concept that’s most often associated with things like slip-and-fall accidents. The basic idea behind premises liability is that people should be safe when visiting properties owned or managed by others.

Under premises liability laws, if the owner or manager of a property could potentially foresee how someone might be harmed on their premises, they’re obligated to take reasonable measures to prevent such an outcome.

Taking reasonable measures doesn’t just mean fixing broken railings or hiring lifeguards. It also means considering the possibility of other dangers.

For example, a summer camp for children could draw the attention of pedophiles. The camp should hire reasonable security to ensure that strangers don’t sneak into the grounds and assault underage campers. Failure to institute that type of security would leave the camp’s owner or manager vulnerable to legal liability.

For the same reason, a camp owner might install cameras in various key locations to discourage wrongdoing on the part of counselors or campers. Alternatively, they might provide counselors with GPS-tracked phones to ensure that they haven’t gone off with a child inappropriately. These are all reasonable actions intended to limit liability.

Legal Options For Families In Colorado

What characterizes a criminal vs. civil case? This is a common question we receive at our firm.

Criminal cases are prosecuted by the state and can result in penalties, like fines or prison time. By contrast, individuals pursue civil penalties to seek damages for the negative impacts of negligent, reckless, or malicious actions.

At Bachus & Schanker, we assist clients with both types of legal action.

We can help you pursue damages for the harm your child has suffered. The compensation from your legal claim can be used to obtain therapy or other services needed to help your child recover from their ordeal. We can also recommend criminal charges to punish the abuser for their heinous conduct.

As traumatic as it can be to relive the pain of sexual abuse, it’s important to act quickly after a summer camp sexual assault. While Colorado extends its normal two-year statute of limitations for minors, the longer you wait, the harder it will be to obtain the justice and compensation your family deserves.

How Bachus & Schanker Helps Families Seek Justice

Bachus & Schanker is committed to combating sexual abuse in all of their contemptible forms, and we are very sorry your family is going through this.

We provide compassionate Victim Advocate services to support individuals and families taking legal action. Our Elite Litigation Group can also advocate for you and assist you in interacting with the police and prosecution to ensure that they take your child’s needs into account during legal proceedings.

Speak With A Colorado Sexual Assault Attorney Today

There is no greater nightmare for a parent than discovering that their child has been sexually abused. Even if they can’t yet express it, you know the trauma of such an event may haunt them for the rest of their life.

Bachus & Schanker fights fiercely for the rights of children who have suffered this type of terrible ordeal. We’re ready to guide you through the legal process, and help you secure a fair recovery for your pain.