Washington DC Sexual Abuse & Assault Lawyer

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is a particularly egregious form of violence involving non-consensual sexual contact. Several different kinds of non-consensual contact could be classified as sexual assault, including forcible intercourse (rape), attempted rape, unwanted touching of intimate areas, or coercion into sexual activity. Sexual contact that takes place when one party is unable to consent due to age, intoxication, lack of consciousness, disability, or cognitive difficulties could also be considered a form of sexual assault under the law.

Sexual violence is a particularly egregious violation of a person’s bodily autonomy that often has a lasting impact on a survivor’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being for years to come. Due to the vulnerable nature of these crimes, it is not uncommon for survivors to refrain from reporting incidents of sexual violence to law enforcement. This underreporting can be due to a variety of factors, including ongoing social stigma, fear of reprisal, or concerns about possible revictimization during legal proceedings. All of these concerns are valid – particularly in a culture that is known for questioning, blaming, and attempting to discredit survivors of sexual violence.

Remember: No matter what happened in your case, your abuse is not and was not your fault, and there are legal options available to help you fight for justice.

How common is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is tragically common in our country, with RAINN reporting that someone in the U.S. is assaulted roughly every minute. While some research suggests that the number of sexual assaults reported in the D.C. area has generally trended downward over the past decade, underreporting remains a serious concern for members of law enforcement and victim advocates.

According to data shared by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD):

• 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted by the age of 18
• Women are 14 times more likely than men to be victims of sexual assault
• People with disabilities are at an increased risk of sexual abuse and assault
• Only 28% of sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement, of which:
  • 3% choose not to report for personal reasons
  • 3% choose not to report out of fear of reprisal
  • 8% choose not to report due to concerns about police bias

In a perfect world, no one would ever be forced to suffer as a result of sexual violence. Unfortunately, however, we do not live in a perfect world, and these crimes are far too common in our city and across the U.S.

What is the difference between sexual abuse and sexual assault?

You may hear different terms used to describe sexual misconduct, so it’s important to understand what these distinctions mean to avoid unnecessary confusion. One potentially helpful distinction rests on the fact that sexual abuse is often used as a broader term that may describe ongoing or repeated misconduct. Sexual assault, on the other hand, typically refers to a specific act of non-consensual sexual contact or violence, such as rape or forcible touching.

We often see sexual abuse perpetrated at the institutional level, where power imbalances can lead to violations of consent and autonomy. This kind of abuse can affect minors, vulnerable adults, medical patients, or anyone with limited capacity or control over their environment. From a civil standpoint, sexual abuse and sexual assault can both form the basis of a civil sexual assault lawsuit in D.C., as specific violent incidents and long-term mistreatment can all cause extensive harm to survivors and their loved ones.

What is the difference between sexual assault and sexual harassment?

This is another common source of confusion for survivors – particularly as sexual harassment becomes a more widely-discussed phenomenon in our culture. The short answer to this question is that sexual assault generally involves unwanted sexual contact, while sexual harassment refers to unwelcome sexual advances like comments and requests for sexual favors.

Cat-calling, unsolicited text messages with sexual content, or unwanted in-person discussions about sexual topics may all serve as evidence of sexual harassment in a civil claim. In some cases, sexual harassment may involve unwanted physical touch, but this touch generally does not rise to the same standard as the sexual contact involved in acts of sexual assault. A non-consensual neck massage, hand on the thigh, or stroke of the hair could all be considered sexual harassment if both parties did not fully consent to the contact.

One major practical difference here is that many sexual harassment claims are brought under employment or civil rights laws, while civil sexual assault claims are personal injury or intentional tort cases. It is possible for these two kinds of cases to blur together, though. For example, if sexual harassment behaviors escalate to the point of sexual assault or abuse, the documented evidence of sexual harassment could serve as vital evidence in the assault case.