JoJoseph George Jr. Law Corporation:

Helping You Reclaim the Power.

California Child Sexual Assault Lawyer

Helping Clients Across Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange Counties Fight for Justice & Compensation

It may take decades before a survivor of child sex abuse can acknowledge what happened or even remember that it did. In the life that happened in between, shame, anger, and other powerful emotions most likely made it very difficult for them to maintain personal relationships or refrain from self-destructive behavior. Making this connection is where many victims begin the process of reclaiming their own lives.

At the Joseph George Jr. Law Corporation, our sexual abuse attorneys help survivors of child sexual abuse confront their abusers and the organizations or individuals who enabled or could have put a stop to it. Our law firm has been dedicated to this work since 1986.

We are familiar with California molestation laws and have handled cases statewide and in other states as well. We are here to listen and provide the help you need, too. Our California child sexual abuse lawyers can also provide referrals to therapists in your area with whom we have worked within our practice.


Have you or a loved one suffered from abuse? Call Joseph George Jr. Law Corporation today at (916) 623-4914 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our California child sexual abuse lawyer. We have recovered millions for our clients!


Helping You Reclaim the Power

Filing a lawsuit won't change the past, but it can change your future for the better and improve your quality of life. It can also bring about positive societal changes, which will help prevent other children from being abused in the future.

Several reasons why you should contact the Joseph George Jr. Law Corporation include:

  • Speaking out can stop an abuser from continuing to create new victims.
  • Holding employers accountable for the acts of their employees encourages them to scrutinize job applicants more closely.
  • Seeking justice from individuals or institutions that should have reported suspected abuse but didn't reinforces the mandatory duty to report for others.
  • Pursuing compensation from the businesses, institutions, and organizations that enabled or tried to cover up your abuser's crimes encourages internal change and sends a strong message to others.

Who Are Common Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse is such a shameful and terrible crime. Not only do victims have to experience the horror and anger of being violated, but they also often suppress the emotional pain of their emotional distress because of the social stigma assigned to sex abuse victims.

Common perpetrators of child sexual abuse include:

Often, victims are not believed, or they are too young to know what they are experiencing is a crime. Because of this, many abuse victims deal with their pain incorrectly, especially if they believe that no one will believe their stories of abuse or that family or friends do not support them.

Does Child Sexual Abuse Need to Involve Physical Contact?

Child sexual abuse does not need to involve physical contact. While it makes sense that sexual abuse is often associated with unwanted touching, physical contact is not required. According to the Veteran’s Administration, child sexual abuse—broadly defined—includes any sexual behaviors between an adult and a child that are “meant to arouse the adult in a sexual way.”

Accordingly, a range of activities is considered child sexual abuse. While many people associate child sexual touching, there are many other ways an adult can abuse a child or adolescent sexually.

They include:

  • Sexual talk/innuendo
  • Forcing a child to watch sexually explicit programs
  • Forcing a child to look at sexually explicit photos
  • Forcing a child to watch sexual activity
  • Exposing genitals to a child

The range of activities that can be considered child sexual abuse is vast. If you feel your child has been sexually abused, please contact a qualified medical professional.

Children may face emotional trauma defined as sexual abuse from seemingly safe spaces such as daycare centers to churches. Survivors of child sexual abuse must recover from emotional trauma. Emotional trauma can take much longer to heal than physical injury. Beyond psychological counseling and medical intervention, there are other ways of getting help for abuse. Not only can the perpetrator be prosecuted in criminal court, but they can also be held civilly liable. Many survivors are too concerned about the public nature of lawsuits to get help from an attorney.

It is essential to understand that you can file a lawsuit anonymously, so your name is not in the public record. Attorneys specializing in this law area can provide further accountability for the abuser, allowing the victim another measure of healing.

Warning Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

They suffer in silence and may rely on drugs, alcohol, or other destructive activities to medicate themselves. For young sex abuse victims, it is critical for parents, teachers, and other authority figures to understand the signs a child or teen may exhibit so that proper interventions can be made.

Some of these signs are:

  • Quickly withdrawing from or not trusting certain adults – What may be seen as petty bitterness or rebellious attitudes may be a sign that a particular adult is abusing a child.
  • Avoiding physical contact – A child who doesn’t want to be hugged or kissed may have been abused or is currently experiencing abuse.
  • Nightmares and fears of going to bed – As we alluded to earlier, child sex abuse victims often relive their nightmare when they go to sleep. Constant sleep problems may be another sign that a child is being exploited.

Additionally, the California Department of Education notes that there are a few common indicators that a child may be sexually abused:

  1. The child runs away from home
  2. The child behaves in a seductive manner.
  3. The child prefers not to change clothes in front of other children or adults
  4. The child is interested in or knows about sexual acts that are inappropriate to their age
  5. The child has a sexually transmitted disease at a young age (under 14)
  6. The child shows discomfort while sitting or walking
  7. The child does not want to join in physical activities

What to Do if You Suspect Child Abuse

If you suspect a child is being abused, it is essential to report it to the proper authorities, which may be the police department, a county welfare department, a county probation department, or Child Protective Services.

While such reporting is mandatory for certain adults who work with children, including teachers and school administrators, it is simply the right thing to do for others.

It is essential to know that your identity and the report itself will remain confidential if you report an instance of abuse. If your profession requires you to report suspected abuse and do so correctly, you cannot be held liable in a civil case. You will also have immunity if a criminal case arises from the report.

Contact Our Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer Today

It may take a long time for a child sexual abuse victim to come to terms with the incident they had to endure. And while filing a lawsuit may not change the past or erase the memory, it could hold the perpetrator accountable and anyone who knew or knowingly failed to prevent it. Speaking out like this can give other victims confidence to step forward.

At the Law Offices of Joseph C. George, we have been working on child sexual abuse cases for more than 32 years. We have extensive experience handling these complex legal cases and will diligently and passionately come to your defense as you seek the justice you deserve.

Our law firm has a sexual abuse lawyer near you who is ready to help. We are here to answer your questions and give you the support you need going forward. We are a safe, supportive place to turn to, and we are committed to doing whatever it takes to help you reclaim power over your own life.


Contact Joseph George Jr. Law Corporation today to schedule a consultation! Servicios de Traducción en Español Disponibles.


 

We Are the Team Who Can Help

  • Honest Communication
    We value each of our clients; everyone deserves respect and clear communication. We never leave our clients in the dark.
  • Well-Rounded Team
    Attorney Joseph George Jr. is a former deputy district attorney; Attorney Maricar Pascual was the national champion in appellate advocacy.
  • Decades of Experience
    Collectively, our legal team has more than 30 years of experience in fighting for the rights of Californians.
  • Ph.D. in Psychology
    Joseph C. George earned a Ph.D. in psychology and was an active duty clinical psychologist in the United States Air Force for 12 years.