I was sexual abuse when I was 15 what can I do

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

I was sexual abuse when I was 15 what can I do

I was 15 going to 16 when I brother in
law abuse of me I never told anybody I
been doing good but lately it’s been
getting harder for me to keep that
secret what can I do

Asked on January 7, 2018 under Personal Injury, Texas

Answers:

B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 6 years ago | Contributor

Still report it to law enforcement.  You may or may not want to go through with the charges, but tell someone so there is at least a record.  There is still value and power in "telling."
First, you can talk to someone.  As a crime victim, you will also become eligible for counseling assistance for the abuse, which it sounds like you could use.
Second, you get to take back some of what was taken from you....a sense of self and control.  Silence can be a prison.  The mere act of telling helps you break free from an emotional prision.  But....let me emphasize....tell when you are ready. 
Third, statistics tell us that if someone abuses a child once, then they will most likely have another victim at a later date.  I have prosecuted cases where a child was trying to outcry, no one would believe her, and then a relative finally stood up and said, "wait, it happened to me too...." Additionally, the evidence of one abuse event can be used as punishment evidence in the other case, should it have to go to trial.
Abuse victims live in fear that they will be looked down upon by family members or the public if they tell what happened.  In the criminal justice system, it sometimes feels like the criminals get all the protections.  This is a tough and personal decision to make.  However, by telling, you potentially open the door for someone else to have the courage to say, "it happened to me."  They can then start the process of healing too.  So, by telling someone, you aren't just helping yourself. You're helping the other victim(s) that are out their suffering in their own silence.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption