Anyone can be a victim of sexual abuse; instances of sexual violence aren’t limited to a specific race, age, gender, and even kinship. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), an anti-sexual violence organization working together with the Department of Defense, an American is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds; however, only 230 out of 1,000 cases are reported to the police, and about 5 rapists will be incarcerated out of 1,000 incidents of sexual assault.
Spouse
Spousal or marital rape is the forcible sexual penetration of the perpetrator with his or her spouse. It is a form of intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) and domestic violence. Spousal rape has been illegal in all 50 states since 1993 although the specifics of the amended laws vary with each state. This legislative change began in the mid-70s, but to this day there are some states that treat marital and non-marital rape differently.
The State of Illinois ended the marital exemption involving spousal rape in 1992, but the State law required spouses to report within 30 days of the assault until July of 2019 when Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law the removal of the statute of limitations for major sex crimes. This includes charges for criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Previously, prosecutors only had 10 years to charge offenders.
If you are anyone you know is a victim of spousal rape, you may call the Domestic Violence Victim Service of the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) for safety assistance throughout the State of Illinois. They offer a multitude of services 24 hours a day through their toll-free hotline that’s confidential and multilingual:
- 1-877-TO END DV or 1-877-863-6338 (Voice)
- 1-877-863-6339 (TTY)
Children
According to the Child Trends, a non-profit and non-partisan child research center, in 2015, sexual abuse was the third most occurring form of maltreatment among children. Child sexual abuse (CSA) covers several types of sexual behaviors including fondling, exhibitionism, voyeurism, penetration, oral sexual conduct, exposure to pornography, internet crimes, and sexual solicitation. It may also include non-touching activities and may involve an adult or child that exerts power or authority over the victim or exploits the child’s trust.
Illinois’ Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Act designated the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) as the primary body to “develop programs and services for the prevention of child sexual abuse and exploitation and shall provide for the treatment and counseling of sexually abused children and their families.” It’s important to know that most children don’t report instances of abuse and show no physical signs, when they do, however, it may include one of the following according to the IDCFS:
- Difficulty sitting and walking;
- Bleeding, redness, or rashes in the genital area;
- Painful bowel;
- Frequent urinary tract infection (UTI);
- Frequent headaches or stomachaches;
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD); and/or
- Pregnancy.
Sexual abuse in children may lead to feelings of anger, fear, guilt, betrayal, shame, and confusion. According to a study that explored the effects of child sexual abuse on health: “survivors of childhood sexual abuse are significantly at risk of a wide range of medical, psychological, behavioral, and sexual disorders.” Some of its long-term effects include:
- Eating disorders;
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Depression;
- Suicide ideation;
- Stress and anxiety;
- Dissociation; and/or
- Interpersonal relationship problems.
Among the ways to prevent sexual abuse as promoted by the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (CCAC), are to understand age-appropriate behaviors and teach bodily functions; educate children about boundaries, privacy, and consent; create a family safety plan; keep an eye out on behavioral warning signs; and, pay attention and speak up in all environments your child or children are in.
If you suspect a case of child abuse or risk for abuse, you may call the DCFS 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-252-2873 or TTY 1-800-358-5117. The DCFS advises calling 911 first if the child is in immediate danger.
People with developmental disabilities
Developmental disabilities, also known as intellectual disabilities, happen across demographics. In the US, 1 in 6 children aged 3 to 17 have one or more developmental disabilities below:
- ADH;
- autism spectrum disorder;
- cerebral palsy;
- hearing loss;
- intellectual disability;
- learning disability;
- vision impairment;
- and other developmental delays
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines developmental disabilities as a group of conditions that impair a person’s behavioral, physical, learning, and language abilities. Developmental disabilities result from a combination of factors like genetics, birth complications, and parental pregnancy behaviors (smoking and alcohol intake) among others, and may start any time in the developmental period.
The investigation conducted by the National Public Radio (NPR) showed that people with intellectual disabilities are sexually assaulted seven times more than people with no disabilities. The data used was obtained from the Justice Department. The investigation showed that people with developmental disabilities are at high risk all day and are victimized by people they trust.
People with developmental disabilities are easier targets for abuse as they are trained to be compliant; some of them cannot speak entirely or have speech difficulties; and, and are prone to difficulties in processing scenarios as abuse. Add to this the fact that some people’s automatic response is to attribute abuse claims of people with IDD to their imaginations or conditions.
The DHS encourages anyone concerned not to report when a person with an intellectual disability is causing a problem that concerns you. Instead, you may call the person’s treatment program. There are separate hotlines depending on the people involved:
- If the sexual abuse is towards a person with an intellectual disability living in a setup funded and licensed by the DHS, you may call the OIG Hotline: 1-800-368-1463.
- if the person lives in an institution supported and licensed by the Department of Public Health (DPH), call 1-800-252-2893.
- If the victim, however, is under 18 you may call the DCFS Hotline: 1-800-252-2873.
- If the victim is 60 or older and doesn’t live in a nursing or private home, you may reach out to the Department of Aging (DOA) at 1-800-252-8966 after typical business hours.
Also, take note of important details to use when reporting the abuse:
- Name and/or description of the person abused;
- Information about the abuse: what happened and where and when it took place (should include the name and address of mental health or development program);
- Name and/or description of the suspected abuser; and
- Other pertinent information like witnesses and their contact information.
Elderly and People with dementia
Sexual abuse is also prevalent among the elderly, especially those with dementia. According to the National Center on Elderly Abuse (NCEA), two to five million Americans suffer from elderly abuse yearly. Among the identified types of abuse are physical, emotional and psychological, sexual, neglect, and financial.
Because older people are restricted by multiple factors – physical limitations, reliance on the abuser, fear, and memory issues among others – they make good targets for abusers. The NCEA confirms dementia and poor physical health as risk factors for abuse. Other factors that also contribute to the risks of maltreatment among the elderly include:
- Low social support;
- Impoverished or lower-income households;
- Gender – women are more likely to be victimized than men;
- History of traumatic events (emotional, sexual, and financial abuse); and
- Large households.
A study found that elders with dementia, as opposed to those non-diagnosed older adults, were more likely to be abused by people they know like family members, caregivers, or other residents in the home. Another study has shown that resident-to-resident mistreatment in nursing homes is typically in the form of physically, verbal, and sexual abuse. Sexual abuse in nursing homes may manifest in different forms.
Physical indicators of sexual abuse:
- Recent difficult in walking or sitting;
- Bruises in the inner thighs and genitals or breasts;
- Torn or stained undergarments;
- Unexplained sexually transmitted disease or genital infections;
- Unexplained anal or vaginal bleeding, irritation, or pain;
- The elderly’s report of the abuse.
Social indicators of sexual abuse:
- Withdrawal from socialization;
- Agitation;
- Onset of panic attacks and other PTSD symptoms; and
- Unusual conduct between the victim and abuser; and
- Suicide attempt.
The Department of Aging is the agency responsible for advocating for the rights and betterment of older Illinoisans, specifically those aged 60 and older and people with developmental disabilities aged 18 to 59. According to the Department, you may reach the following hotlines to report elderly abuse:
- For those aged 60 and older and people with developmental disabilities aged 18 to 59, call the 24-hour state-wide Adult Protective Services hotline at 1-866-800-1409, 1-888-206-1327 (TTY).
- For residents living in nursing facilities, call the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Nursing Home Complaint hotline at 1-800-252-4343.
- For residents living in Support Living Facilities (SLF), call the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ SLF Complaint hotline at 1-800-226-0768.
The reporter must take note of the following information:
- Alleged victim’s information (name, contact information, sex, age, and general condition);
- Alleged perpetrator’s information (name, sex, age, kinship to victim and condition);
- Reason for believing the alleged victim is being abused (specify as much as possible);
- If the alleged victim is in immediate danger, if the person knows about the report, time to best contact the person, if the person can make the report by themselves, and if there will be any danger for the caseworker that will investigate;
- Name, contact information, and occupation of the reporter;
- Willingness of reporter to be contacted again and other pertinent information.
Rest assured that your information will be kept safe. The Adult Protective Services Program protects the confidentiality of records unless provided by law or ordered by the court.
People in poverty
Poverty is a prevailing risk factor for sexual abuse. According to the Heartland Alliance, people living in poverty experience serious violent crime of any type nationwide, and between 2008 and 2012 they have experienced 267% higher incidence of sexual assault/rape victimization than those with higher incomes. Violent crimes include murder, rape/sexual assault, robbery, and assault.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these are the possible reasons that poverty heightens risk for sexual abuse, especially on women:
- Poverty forcing people into occupations more vulnerable to sexual violence like sex work.
- Poor people are forced to look for jobs and maintain them even at the cost of exploitation;
- The search for masculine identity in men includes success ideation by being the provider. Failure to achieve this results in a shift from ideal masculinity to misogyny, sometimes resulting in violence.
Hotlines for People in Poverty
Depending on your age and relationship to the abuser, you may access the above provided hotlines. The State of Illinois also has referred multiple hotlines as part of their Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Helpline. The hotlines cover range of services including counseling and mental health referral, employment, and suicide prevention.
Victims and survivors of sexual abuse are often discouraged to pursue legal action for its complexities and financial and mental toll on people. We understand and hear your struggles, and that’s why our sexual abuse attorneys are here to guide you and fight for you from start to finish. Bringing you the justice you deserve is our goal.
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