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Child sexual abuse is an unimaginable crime that can have lasting repercussions not only for victims but also for their loved ones. It is natural to feel anxious, nervous or discouraged about coming forward with a child sexual abuse claim in Kansas. Working with an attorney at DRZ Law, however, can empower you when you feel powerless. We will make sure you are protected while having your voice heard in the justice system.
Our attorneys understand the devastating trauma experienced by survivors of childhood sexual abuse and assault. We will do everything in our power to help you and your family get through this difficult time. Our child sexual abuse attorneys are committed to helping victims heal by achieving the closure and justice that they deserve. Please contact us today to request a free, confidential consultation about your case to learn more.
Child sexual abuse is when a perpetrator – such as an adult or older adolescent – uses a child for sexual stimulation or gratification. This is a crime in Kansas that is punishable with up to a lifetime in jail, as well as penalties such as requiring the perpetrator to put his or her name on the Sex Offender Registry. Childhood sexual abuse or assault can refer to many different types of crimes and interactions of a sexual nature involving a child, including:
Sexual acts performed by force against a child are sexual abuse, as are nonforced acts, as a child cannot legally give his or her consent to sexual activity in Kansas. If you are unsure of whether an incident involving yourself or a loved one constitutes child sexual abuse or assault, request a confidential consultation with our lawyers to receive our legal opinion.
In Kansas, the legal age of consent to sexual activities is 16. Anyone under the age of 16 is legally unable to consent; therefore, it is illegal to engage in sexual acts of any kind with someone 15 or younger in Kansas. Sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 16 is referred to as statutory rape and comes with serious criminal penalties.
Legal age of consent is in place to protect children from sex acts that they may not understand or have the mental capacity to consent to – allowing them to be free to focus on learning, building relationships and preparing for the future. Unfortunately, sexual predators, pedophiles and abusers often target young children for sex crimes.
Adults may groom a child for sexual abuse from a young age, such as by giving the child gifts or lavishing them with special attention to become a trusted person to the youth. Then, the perpetrator will abuse the position of power to take advantage of the child. If your child is a victim of child sexual abuse in Kansas, our lawyers can help you press charges against the assailant (and potentially an institution), as well as file a civil lawsuit to pursue financial compensation for the victim’s suffering.
At DRZ Law, our child sexual abuse lawyers focus on taking action against institutions that allow children to be harmed in their care. We represent clients in the following types of cases, and more:
Find out if we are the right fit for your child sexual abuse case in Kansas during a free case evaluation. If we cannot accept your case for any reason, we can point you in the direction of someone who can help.
It is often up to the loved ones of a victim to notice the signs of child sexual abuse and to break the child’s silence. Children often do not understand the nature of what happened to them enough to come forward. They may also be too frightened to say anything, as they may be threatened or coerced by the sexual predator. In many cases, it is the responsibility of adults to detect red flags, such as:
You may also be able to detect child sexual abuse by noticing the actions and behaviors of an adult who is close with your child or who has unsupervised access to them. Adults who are grooming children for sexual abuse may create scenarios to get close to a child or be with a child alone. Keep in mind that anyone is capable of being a child sexual predator – including other children, close friends and even family members. So, if you suspect someone you know to be a child predator, don’t write them off based on their relationship to you.
It is overwhelming to discover that your child is a victim of sexual abuse or assault. It is critical, however, to take the correct steps as a parent or guardian. Your child has been through an extremely traumatic event and needs your support. Take the following steps if you find yourself in this challenging situation:
You are not alone as the parent of a child who has been sexually abused in Kansas. The proper authorities, services, professionals and counselors can help you and your family get through this ordeal. This includes an experienced sexual abuse lawyer who knows how to guide families through the legal process and go up against powerful institutions in the pursuit of justice.
In a case involving child sexual assault or abuse, institutions are often named as defendants. Many institutions – such as public and private schools – employ a number of tactics to harbor child sexual predators and known abusers, including hiding information and failing to disclose the backgrounds of their employees. These institutions effectively allow children to be abused while in their care.
Another common reason why institutions are held liable for child sexual abuse is the failure to supervise. A lack of child supervision can create opportunities for sexual predators to target vulnerable kids and harm or abuse them. Organizations such as schools have a legal responsibility to properly supervise and watch over children, and not to allow children to be unsupervised in the presence of an adult or even other children. The failure to fulfill this responsibility is a civil tort, or wrongdoing.
The child sexual abuse lawyers at DRZ Law, can go up against powerful institutions in Kansas even if an institution is claiming legal immunity. We have the knowledge and legal experience to get around these claims and hold an institution accountable for harboring abusers or for their dangerous lack of child supervision. Our lawyers have extensive experience representing the parents of children who have been physically injured, bullied and sexually abused while in the care of trusted institutions.
Sexual trauma can leave mental and psychological scars for victims of any age; however, sexual violence is especially traumatic and damaging for young children. If you are a childhood sexual abuse survivor, you may have stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders or other mental health conditions that have followed you into adulthood from abuse that you suffered as a child. It may not be too late to file a civil lawsuit in Kansas and to hold your abuser accountable.
Kansas has one of the shortest filing deadlines, or statutes of limitations, on child sexual abuse cases in the country. Currently, the law states that a child sexual abuse victim has three years from the date that he or she turns 18 to file a civil claim. There is an exception, however, if the victim did not discover the connection between his or her trauma and childhood sexual abuse. In this case, the victim has three years from the date of discovery to file.
Although Kansas lawmakers attempted to pass a bill in 2019 that would have matched the civil statute of limitations on sexual abuse with the criminal statute of limitations – meaning there would be no deadline to file – the bill did not pass. It is important to speak to a childhood sexual abuse lawyer as soon as possible in Kansas to explore your legal rights. While missing your deadline may mean losing the right to file, there could be an exception that applies to you.
In a childhood sexual abuse case in Kansas, you may receive financial compensation for losses such as your medical bills, therapies, psychological trauma, physical injuries, legal fees, and more. The amount of financial compensation that you are eligible to collect will depend on the unique circumstances. An “average” settlement amount does not exist, as each case is unique.
The value of child sexual abuse compensation is based on factors such as the severity of the assault and the effects that it had on you and your family, as well as the amount of insurance coverage available from the defendant(s). The best way to determine how much your case is worth is by consulting with an attorney. Our lawyers can provide an individualized assessment and help you fight for maximum financial compensation from one or more defendants.
If you or a loved one experienced the terrible crime of childhood sexual abuse, assault or violence, contact DRZ Law to set up a free case consultation, where we can discuss your rights and legal options. Case evaluations are always entirely confidential and can be conducted either in person at our local Kansas City law office, via Zoom or over the phone. We can also arrange home visits, if necessary.
Our attorneys care deeply about helping child sexual abuse survivors seek justice and relief from what may have been years of suffering in silence. Please call (913) 400-2033 today to find out how we can help you.