Sexual abuse and assault have left their victims with both physical and emotional long-lasting wounds. Such traumas, while common, need not be suffered in isolation. New Jersey has been working on just such a solution: a network comprised of organizations providing support, guidance, and advocacy for victims and their families.
Understanding the Prevalence of Sexual Abuse in New Jersey
Unfortunately, many New Jersey residents experience sexual abuse or assault. Sexual abuse and assault know no age, gender, or socio-economic boundary. In New Jersey, the statistics are staggering: one in six women and one in 33 men in the state have been exposed to attempted or completed rape at least once in their lifetime, according to The New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
The State of New Jersey has countless victims of sexual abuse or assault, and the proportion of the reported cases was unreported because of feelings of shame and confusion by surviving individuals.
Despite such barriers, awareness and reporting have increased significantly over the years through national campaigns that have struggled to nullify barriers to reporting sexual violence. In turn, this increasing trend has seen the state develop an expansion in its support systems through a variety of services aimed at guiding survivors on their journey to restore health and pursue justice.
Resources Available Locally for Survivors
There are several resources and facilities in New Jersey put in place to help survivors of sexual abuse. There are a number of organizations offering support with respect to the legal, emotional, and other medical needs of survivors and their families.
- Sexual Assault Response Teams: These multidisciplinary teams work together to provide immediate, comprehensive care for survivors. Collaboration on these teams includes law enforcement, forensic nurse examiners, and confidential sexual violence advocates. SARTs exist in all 21 counties throughout New Jersey, which provides survivors with immediate access to help regardless of their location within the state.
- Rape Crisis Centers: These are confidential services offering free services to survivors of sexual violence statewide, including areas like Dover and Madison. They provide counseling advocacy and help navigate the confusion of the legal process.
New Jersey: Legal Protections and Policy Developments
New Jersey, including East Hanover, has been at the forefront of the battle to offer increased legal protections for survivors of sexual abuse and assault. Along with a host of other state law changes, there is an increased sensitivity to the trauma of survivors and the need to ensure that avenues to justice are available. Some of these changes had to do with the statute of limitations being extended regarding filing civil suits for sexual abuse.
In 2019, New Jersey created a law extending the statute of limitation window, in which survivors could file civil suits against abusers, out to allow such suits until age 55, or seven years from when they realized their trauma. This sea change event in survivor rights finally justifies how the long-lasting damage of sexual abuse can take a long time for a survivor to come forward.
Meanwhile, New Jersey has the Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act, under which any survivor of sexual violence can obtain restraining orders against their perpetrator, even while criminal charges are not yet filed. Further protection is given, through this, to survivors who, for one reason or another, cannot or do not want to enter the criminal justice system and who would otherwise still need protection against further danger.
Victims can also consider privately seeking professional help, which is the recommended course of action. Companies like Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers and many others have plenty of experience with these kinds of cases. This should be a good indicator that there are lawyers who’ve worked on these kinds of cases and will ensure proper compensation for any victim.
The Effect on the Families and How They Can Support
Sexual abuse affects not only the survivor but often also their family members. Anger, guilt, confusion, or feelings of helplessness can arise as families try to support their loved ones through the process of recovery. For that reason, it becomes important for families to seek out support themselves.
Many local mental health organizations and rape crisis centers also offer family support groups. Support groups allow family members a place to process their feelings, understand the most helpful ways to support their loved ones, and connect with others who are facing similar challenges. They can also encourage families to prod survivors for help and to reach out for support. Families can be an important part of healing by providing emotional support, listening, and not judging the survivor or telling them what they should do next.
Conclusion
Sexual abuse is a severe situation that proliferates today in residences, communities, or institutional settings within New Jersey. Besides awareness of the availability of resources and support to survivors and their families, community activities engagement will make a difference. Somehow, this would mean not leaving the survivors with this process on the path to healing and justice.