San Diego Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Child sexual abuse cases require a unique and delicate approach, considering the sensitivity and complexity of the subject matter. We recognize the immense courage it takes for survivors to come forward and share their stories. With that in mind, our attorneys provide a safe and supportive environment, ensuring that each survivor is treated with respect, dignity, and utmost care throughout the legal process.
Jessica Pride and the attorneys at The Pride Law Firm work to empower survivors and their families by fighting for their rights, seeking justice, and holding responsible parties accountable. We firmly believe that every survivor deserves to be heard, validated, and compensated to the maximum amount for the harm they have endured.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of child sexual abuse, we are here to help. Reach out to us today online or by calling (619) 516-8166 to schedule a confidential consultation. Your communications with us are fully confidential, and we can discuss your legal options and provide the guidance and support you need. Together, we can work towards justice and healing.
“The Pride Law Firm will always be the firm I refer to family and friends when they need a lawyer or advice. Jessica cares about survivors and will fight at all costs for justice. The Pride Law Firm is deeply committed to fighting for your cause and getting its clients justice. It's a welcoming environment where your concerns will be heard compassionately and without judgment. If you are a victim of sexual assault/ harassment, Jessica Pride is your lawyer!”
- Alyson C. | Client
Child Sexual Abuse in San Diego
In San Diego, we are deeply committed to protecting our children. Understanding the scope of the issue is a crucial step toward fighting it. Here are some statistics that shed light on child abuse and sexual assault in our county, based on recent data from the County of San Diego's Child and Family Well-Being Department:
- In one recent fiscal year, nearly 39,000 reports of abuse and neglect were made to the county hotline, representing over 67,000 children.
- Of these reports, sexual abuse was the reason for 11.2% of them, and 19% of reports that were assigned for investigation.
- According to the San Diego County District Attorney's office, there are approximately 4,500 known sex offenders living in our county.
- Of these 4,500 registered offenders, approximately 50% of all registrants have committed crimes against children.
- Across the nation, the FBI has identified San Diego as one of the top 13 regions for human trafficking, with up to 8,000 victims per year. A significant number of these victims are children, and San Diego's average age of entry into sexual exploitation for boys is between 11-13 years old.
- 5 children need out-of-home placement each day in San Diego County due to abuse and neglect.
A Local Look Into Child Sexual Abuse and Institutional Failure in San Diego
Recently, over 200 survivors of child sexual abuse have come forward to file lawsuits against San Diego County. The lawsuits allege that these individuals were abused as children while staying at the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children's Center in Kearny Mesa. This center is a temporary shelter run by the county's Health and Human Services Agency for children who have been removed from their homes for safety. The lawsuits claim the abuse happened over many years, from the early 1990s all the way up to 2023.
According to the complaints, children were left alone in vulnerable situations, and staff members took advantage of their position. Many of the survivors say they were threatened with more harm or told they wouldn't see their families again if they reported the abuse.
The lawsuits became possible after a change in California law in 2020 (AB 218), which extended the time limit for adult survivors to file a lawsuit for childhood abuse.
Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrific crimes committed against young, innocent survivors. An experienced attorney from our firm will guide you through the legal system to seek justice, closure, and compensation. A lawsuit can also help remove predators and expose institutional failures.
This kind of institutional failure isn't limited to one facility or one system. To better understand how widespread and deeply rooted this problem is, we invite you to listen to this episode of the Cases 4 Causes podcast, featuring attorney Jessica Pride and her work exposing abuse at a federal women’s prison:
What Qualifies As Sexual Abuse Of A Child In San Diego?
Child sexual abuse is a terrible crime that affects young, innocent people. It involves any kind of sexual act against a child under 18. In San Diego, the age of consent is 18, which means a child can never legally agree to sexual contact.
This type of abuse isn't just one thing; it can happen in many different ways and places. Sometimes it's obvious, but often it's hidden and hard to spot. Abuse can be clear and direct, or it can be suggestive and manipulative. It can be physical, or it can be words and threats. It all depends on the person and the situation.
For a child, this is a profound betrayal of trust that can feel incredibly confusing and frightening. When an adult or older person abuses a child, the difference in power and authority makes it an especially intimidating experience.
Sadly, this crime is far more common than many people realize. Experts agree it's difficult to know the true number of cases because so many are never reported.
According to the National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), one in five girls and one in 20 boys are survivors of sexual abuse. More disturbingly, experts agree that the “prevalence of child sexual abuse is difficult to determine” because it is often not reported.
Meet San Diego Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer Jessica Pride
Hiring a lawyer for something as personal and painful as child sexual abuse can be intimidating. Sharing your story is an act of immense courage, and it’s only fair that you know who you’re trusting with it.
Jessica Pride isn’t just a lawyer. She’s a fierce advocate for survivors and a tireless fighter against injustice. In her own words, here’s why she does what she does, and why she won’t stop until justice is served.
Watch the video below to hear directly from Jessica:
How Long Do I Have to File a San Diego Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
In California, the laws surrounding the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases have changed. If the abuse occurred on or after January 1, 2024, there is no deadline to file a civil lawsuit. For abuse that happened before this date, you generally have until your 40th birthday to file a lawsuit, or within five years of discovering the psychological injury caused by the abuse, whichever is later.
It is important to remember that these are general rules and the specifics of your case may change this. If you are unsure about the time limit in your case, we can review the statute of limitations in a private, no-obligation case review.
5 Misconceptions About Child Sexual Predators Dispelled by Our San Diego Child Sexual Abuse Lawyers
Here are some important facts that may dispel misconceptions about who perpetrates childhood sexual abuse:
- Child sexual predators have varied nuances and backgrounds that make it hard to predict their actions.
- Abuse does not only happen in situations and locations that are convenient. Some offenders go to great lengths to plan just the right abuse situation.
- Women can sexually abuse children just as much as men.
- Child sexual abuse can happen in any family, despite the level of income, education, religion, or race.
- Not all sexual predators are repeat offenders, which makes the crime more difficult to detect.
Child sexual abusers can’t be categorized by certain looks or behavior. Abusers most often act alone, but can also commit the crime with accomplices or while bystanders look the other way. Sadly, many people who become aware of the sexual abuse fail to disclose it, allowing it to continue repeatedly, sometimes to many children over a period of time.
Who Can a San Diego Child Molestation Attorney Hold Liable?
The following are examples of potential abusers:
- Adult family members such as a parent, step-parent, uncle, cousin, or grandparent.
- An older sibling or a sibling’s friend.
- Foster or adoptive parents.
- Neighbors or adult family friends.
- A playmate’s parent or sibling.
- Babysitters, daycare workers, a babysitter’s parent, or the parent of another child that a teen babysits for regularly.
- A teacher, coach, teacher’s assistant, or camp counselor.
- A church pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, or other religious leader.
- Physicians, nurses, or other medical attendees.
- A business owner at a store or other place that his child frequents.
When adults are with children, you can observe their relationships with others, particularly older children or adults. Teach your child boundaries, such as the concept of personal space and private areas, and who they should tell if those boundaries are violated.
Abuse can be physical, emotional, visual, or even verbal, so making sure your child is aware of unsafe words, touching, or sights can help protect them from certain grooming activities.
If your child has been a victim of child sexual abuse in San Diego, it is crucial to take immediate action to protect their rights and seek justice. Consulting with an experienced injury attorney who specializes in child sexual abuse cases can provide you with the guidance and support needed during this challenging time.
Perhaps the suspected predator is a close family member, and you are struggling with conflicting feelings of guilt and outrage. For help sorting out these strong emotions, please contact Jessica Pride today at (619) 516-8166 or online. We understand what you are going through as a family and can help you decide how to best move forward.
What Types of Assaults Can a San Diego Child Sexual Abuse Attorney Handle?
Child sexual abuse can involve many forms of unwelcome sexual contact or suggestive behavior between an adult and minor, or between children with a significant age difference.
Examples of different forms of sexual assault we can handle include:
- Touching, rubbing, or caressing.
- Non-touching sexual behavior, such as exposure of genitalia.
- Manufacturing, viewing, or sharing child pornography.
- Taking pornographic photos of a child.
- Intercourse, or any type of penetration involving a child’s private body parts.
- Masturbation in the presence of a minor.
- Obscene contact through the telephone or online.
- Sex trafficking and prostitution.
- Unwanted hugging, kissing, massaging, or tickling in a suggestive, sexual manner.
- Sharing sexual stories or personal sexual information.
- Any type of sexual contact or inappropriate behavior, whether verbal, visual, or physical, that is psychologically harmful to a minor.
Our attorneys at The Pride Law Firm have trauma-informed training to ensure we can handle these cases appropriately. We are here to provide stability, professionalism, and comfort to help our clients pursue justice in the state of California.
What Does a San Diego Child Sexual Abuse Attorney Do For Your Case?
When you feel ready, you can contact an attorney for advice and to determine what your legal options might be. Like any lawyer, San Diego child sexual abuse lawyers provide a wide range of services, such as:
- Preparing court filings and documents, including researching relevant laws and any limitations that may need to be overcome.
- Calculating appropriate compensation like medical expenses, therapy costs, pain and suffering, loss of income, and other related damages. In fact, a study by Martindale-Nolo found that people who hired an attorney received over four times more in compensation, on average, than those who pursued claims on their own.
- Zealously representing you in negotiations or at trial.
Not all personal injury attorneys are able or willing to take on child sexual abuse cases due to the extra care needed for persons who may be in a state of trauma and pain. Jessica Pride and the entire team at The Pride Law Firm are fully trained and equipped to provide you with not just legal advice and information. We are here to give you the support, affirmation, and emotional counseling you need.
If you or a loved one has been affected by child sexual abuse in San Diego, get in touch with us at (619) 516-8166 or fill out our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation.
How Do You Find the Right San Diego Child Molestation Attorney for Your Case?
Selecting the right attorney to handle a child sexual abuse lawsuit is absolutely critical. Factors to consider include:
- How comfortable do you feel opening up with your lawyer?
- How responsive is your attorney to calls and texts for updates?
- How well have they represented other clients in previous cases?
An attorney’s skill and experience can directly influence what type of remedy or result the lawsuit yields. Contact Jessica Pride at (619) 516-8166 for a confidential consultation about what we can provide for you and your family.
The Importance of Filing a San Diego Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
When childhood sexual abuse isn’t talked about, children may learn to cope with the trauma by adopting dangerous coping mechanisms. A child may retreat into silence, dimming their light and joy. They may avoid healthy intimate relationships out of fear. They may turn to self-harm or drug and alcohol abuse to self-medicate. These behaviors can last a lifetime and disrupt intimate or family relationships well into adulthood.
Contact a child sexual abuse lawyer as soon as possible when you learn of or strongly suspect abuse. It’s better to talk about than to doubt or discount yourself or your child. We understand that it takes tremendous courage to step forward and discuss painful and traumatic experiences, and we will hold your confidences with the utmost privacy.
Why Hire Jessica Pride and The Pride Law Firm
Jessica Pride has represented men, women, teens, and children who have experienced sexual abuse in public, private, and boarding schools. We have the resources to support LGBTQ+ survivors and those whose cases are made more challenging due to immigration status or the involvement of correctional facilities. We can help you evaluate all your legal options to find the best path forward from where you are today to the resolution you need.
Contact Jessica Pride at (619) 516-8166 or online to learn about how we can help your child and family heal. All consultations are free, with no obligation. A compassionate staff member is available 24 hours a day to talk, and your information is held in the strictest of confidence.
Our staff’s combined years of experience in the San Diego legal system provide unparalleled service to families while seeking the just compensation for physical, psychological, and emotional damages they deserve.
Stepping forward today could bring closure to you and help uncover and prevent abuse from happening to others.
Proudly Representing Survivors Across San Diego
California Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit FAQs
Where Does Child Sexual Abuse Typically Occur?
Child sexual abuse can happen anywhere, within minutes or over a span of time. Most often it happens at home or in places where the child frequents, such as elementary, junior high, and high schools. This includes daycare and preschool facilities for younger children and after-school programs such as sports and drama classes for teens.
Outside of school, abuse can happen in churches or other religious meetings, as well as clubs like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other youth organizations. Children can also be assaulted in their family homes, foster homes, or at a neighbor’s or friend’s house.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), 93% of children under the age of 18 know their abusers. Many times, it’s a close relative, leader, or friend who the child knows, sees often and trusts.
Can an Organization Be Held Liable for Child Sexual Abuse in San Diego?
An organization can absolutely be held responsible for child sexual abuse if its negligence contributed to the harm. This means the organization failed to protect a child by neglecting to properly supervise employees, perform adequate background checks, or enforce clear safety rules. When an organization's failures enable an abuser, a lawsuit not only provides a path to justice and compensation for the survivor but also forces the institution to create a safer environment for other children.
What Are the Signs of Sexual Abuse in Young Children?
The signs of sexual abuse may differ between developmental ranges.
Infant and toddler signs in children who are unable to express themselves verbally may show physical or behavioral changes caused by sexual abuse. Examples include increased bedwetting incidents, new sexual curiosity, unusual anger or secretiveness, or unexplained discomfort, pain, itching, bleeding, or bruises in or around the genital area.
Signs of sexual abuse in children or teenagers can show physically through sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or chronic anxiety conditions like headaches, stomach aches, disturbed sleep patterns, or eating disorders. Emotional signs could include age-inappropriate regressions like thumb-sucking, outbursts of anger or panic, or signs of depression like socially isolating, failing in classwork, or neglecting their hygiene.
What Should I Do If My Child Has Been Sexually Assaulted?
The most critical first step is to remove your child from the suspected predator, location, or situation to keep them safe. If you have evidence to report to the police, you should immediately contact your local law enforcement.
If you file a report, authorities may follow with an investigation and interviews. Having your own lawyer by your side during this process can help increase your comfort, demystify the process, and advise you on when your private information can be withheld from police without harming your child’s case.
There are child abuse hotlines for parents, like the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline or Childhelp Hotline, for general advice. Call an experienced sexual assault attorney like Jessica Pride to learn about your specific legal options in pursuing the abuser.
Contact Jessica Pride at (619) 516-8166 or fill out our confidential online form. Jessica has represented countless sexual abuse clients through the civil court process, obtaining highly favorable results for her clients’ restitution and justice. More than just an attorney, Jessica is a trusted friend and advocate who has helped many families find their healing after the tragedy of child sexual abuse.