Sexual Assault and Abuse

What is Sexual Assault?

Any form of sexual contact that occurs without the full, capable consent of two adults is sexual assault. Sadly, cases like this are still all too common, as the recent spotlight on sexual assault shows.

Victims of sexual abuse and assault can experience tragic and long-lasting emotional, mental and physical effects long after the abuse has occurred.

They often find themselves in need of medical care for the physical and mental distress they’ve faced, along with a financial burden due to medical expenses and the potential loss of wages due to missing work.

Then there is the legal battle to defend their claim and get the help they deserve. 

Examples of Sexual Assault

Examples of sexual assault include, but are not limited to:

• Coercing someone to partake in a sexual act
• Committing sexual acts with someone who cannot consent, including someone under the influence of drugs and alcohol and someone under the age of 18
• Rape, including statutory rape
• Aggravated sexual assault and sexual battery
• Inappropriate touching of another person’s body
• All incestuous acts, regardless of “consent”
• Any form of sexual contact with a child
• Indecent exposure to a child
• Creating or displaying child pornography
• Grooming (building emotional connection with a child to gain their trust for the purposes of sexual abuse, exploitation, or trafficking)

Statistically, women are more likely to be victims of sexual assault (9 in 10 victims of sexual assault are female). However, anyone can be the victim of sexual assault and sexual abuse, including women, men, children, teenagers, and seniors.

Sadly, most cases of sexual assault are perpetrated by someone the victim knows, such as a friend, babysitter, teacher, or colleague, to name a few.

Sexual assault can happen where we feel safe, such as:

• Schools from pre-K to High School
• Day Care Facilities
• Universities
• Sports Teams
• Workplace, including temporary jobs and internships
• Churches and Places of religious worship
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes and other health care facilities

What are your options?

If you or a loved one has been the victim of sexual assault, our attorneys are here to offer caring, compassionate legal representation through this incredibly difficult period.

We take pride in treating our clients with the kindness and dedication we would give to our own family. We’ve fought and won for clients all over the country, and we won’t stop until we get you the justice you deserve. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Need help? Contact Giroux Trial Attorneys today.

“Our firm takes great pride in helping the victims of sexual abuse and their families through extremely trying times. Our goal is to uncover the truth, seek justice for the victims and make sure it won’t happen again to someone else in the future,”

Evan Pappas, Attorney at Giroux Trial Attorneys.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Michigan.gov – Sexual Assault Hotline

Michigan Laws

Reporting to the Police

Where to Go for an Examination

Finding Services in Your Area

Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence