Physical and Sexual Abuse

Physical and sexual abuse is, sadly, far more common than one might think. This is especially the case in residential treatment centers (RTCs), schools, universities, and even work settings.  These places are supposed to be locations where individuals are safe and protected; unfortunately, they may become places where predators look for their next victim.  RTCs are notorious for harming individuals who have arrived desperately looking for a place to heal and recover.   

Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C., lawyers who have experience in helping victims of physical and sexual abuse, explain how to identify abuse and what to do if you think someone may be abusing your loved one.

What Is Physical Abuse?

Physical abuse involves slapping, punching, kicking, or physically injuring a person in some manner. Neglect can be a type of physical abuse as well. For instance, if RTC staff forget to feed residents regular meals, residents can suffer from malnutrition and other health injury problems.

What Is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse involves any type of unwanted sexual contact or penetration. Examples of sexual abuse include:

• Unwanted touching and kissing
• Indecent exposure
• Grooming
• Statutory rape (having sex with a person below the state’s age of consent)
• Rape
• Aggravated sexual assault

Effects of Abuse

The effects of physical and sexual abuse can be traumatic and long-lasting. They may include:

• Anxiety and depression
• physical injury
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Unwanted pregnancy

Victims of child sexual abuse may develop behavioral challenges, such as uncontrollable anger, hyper-sexualized behavior, substance abuse, or defiance.  Some may become withdrawn and refuse to engage with family and friends, exhibiting signs of deep depression and desires to engage in self-harm or even suicidal behaviors. A few may even harm others if a professional does not promptly address the abuse.

Residential Treatment Centers Can Be Hotbeds of Physical and Sexual Abuse

If your loved one is spending time in a residential treatment center, you probably think that staff members are providing great care. That may be true, but some Residential Treatment Centers (RTC) are notorious for physical and sexual abuse.

Residential Treatment Center (RTC) residents may be quite vulnerable because of chemical dependencies, disabilities, or mental illness. Thus, they’re unable to stand up for themselves when abused.

Abuse in RTCs is often due to:

• Inadequate staffing. Some facilities don’t have enough staff to handle every resident.
• Poor supervision. Without proper supervision, staff members can commit abuse, with no one being the wiser.
• Lack of background checks. RTCs are required to conduct background checks on staff before hiring them, but not all do. Without background checks, employees with violent criminal histories can slip through the cracks.

Identifying Signs of Abuse

Abuse isn’t always marked by bruises and broken bones. Sometimes, the signs are much more difficult to detect. This is especially true if an abuser tries to hide the abuse or sweep mistakes under the statute of limitations.

Look out for signs such as these:

• The person has unexplained injuries. If you ask how the injuries happened, they might nervously make up an excuse. This could indicate that staff members are threatening the resident to stay quiet about the abuse.
• The person seems fearful, anxious, or unusually angry.
• They’ve developed an unexplained STD, which points to sexual abuse.
• They surprise you by talking about their trip to the hospital. If the RTC took your loved one to the hospital but failed to inform you, it might be trying to hide abuse.
• They’ve lost a lot of weight. This could indicate that the facility isn’t properly feeding your loved one.

If you notice these signs, call a physical and sexual abuse lawyer now.

What To Do If You Suspect Your Loved One Is Suffering From Abuse

If you suspect that a facility is abusing your loved one, here’s what to do:

• Question the staff about the suspected abuse. If your loved one has unexplained injuries, ask the staff how they happened. If they seem nervous and sound like they’re making up excuses, they might be hiding abuse.
• Talk privately with your loved one. They might not admit what’s happening to them, so watch for signs of abuse, such as fearfulness and agitation.
• Gather information about your loved one’s caregivers, including their names, positions, and duties. Innocent staff members won’t mind you asking for this information.
• Contact an attorney for physical and sexual abuse who can help you seek justice through local civil courts.

Compassionate Representation for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

If you or your loved one want compensation for abuse, reach out to our law firm. Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C., has years of experience representing abuse victims throughout Texas, New Mexico, and throughout the country.

Call (800) 433-2408 to speak with a lawyer for physical and sexual abuse.