Los Angeles Daycare Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Los Angeles Daycare Sexual Abuse Attorney

When you drop your child off at a daycare center, you trust that they’ll be safe, looked after, and nurtured, not hurt. When daycare sexual abuse occurs, the emotional and psychological harm caused to young and vulnerable children can be substantial and enduring. If you suspect or know that your child has been abused, it’s important to have a Los Angeles daycare sexual abuse lawyer with the right experience and knowledge on your side.

What Is Daycare Sexual Abuse?

Daycare sexual abuse is a blanket term for any kind of unwanted sexual behavior that takes place at a childcare center. The behavior can be perpetrated by daycare staff members, volunteers, or other children if they are left unattended. Abuse can take the form of inappropriate touching, forced nudity, sex acts, verbal sexual harassment, or exposure to pornography.

Daycare abuse can be difficult for parents to identify, as the young age of victims means they may not have the vocabulary or capacity to understand what is being done to them.

Daycare sexual abuse victims endure emotional and psychological damage that persists throughout their lives while experiencing disorders such as post-traumatic stress, difficulties with trust and intimacy, anxiety and depression, or regression. For these reasons, it’s important to pursue legal recourse with the help of a daycare sexual abuse attorney, both to bring the offenders to justice and to start children on a path toward recovery.

Warning Signs of Daycare Sexual Abuse

Because the children in daycare are significantly young, many of them will not have the language to express what has happened to them. Some may not even be able to speak yet. Therefore, it’s important to recognize the warning signs to know if sexual abuse may have occurred. Some warning signs include:

• Changes in your child’s mood or behavior
• Scarring or injuries, especially to private areas
• Fear of being touched
• Fear of returning to daycare
• Unexplained physical manifestations, such as bruising or infections
• Regressive behaviors, such as wetting the bed
• Knowledge of sexual topics or exhibition of sexual behavior, especially when it is inappropriate for their age

If you notice any of these signs, you can try to gently speak with your child. If this is not an option, you can speak with a professional and report your concerns to the authorities. Additionally, you may want to remove your child from the daycare center until it can be proven that your child was not abused.

Child Sexual Abuse Statistics

According to the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 10.1% of reports made were victims who were sexually abused. About 90% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the victim knows, including daycare workers. One study noted that approximately one in four children is abused or neglected at some point in their lives, with about 9% of them experiencing sexual abuse.

When looking for a place to file a legal claim, daycare sexual abuse cases in Los Angeles County are usually processed through the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. CHLA, or Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, is a pediatric hospital that provides medical and mental health care for child survivors and can offer trauma-informed medical care as well as child advocacy support.

How to File a Claim

The first step in filing a daycare sexual abuse claim in California is to hire a daycare sexual abuse lawyer with experience handling daycare child abuse cases. A parent or legal guardian can file a civil claim on behalf of the child, naming both the perpetrator and, in some cases, the daycare itself for negligence or failure to protect the child.

It is important to file a claim within California’s statute of limitations, although special lookback windows may be available for some cases. A child abuse attorney can help preserve evidence and talk to professionals for their insight. They can also guide families through each stage of the legal process with compassion and care while informing them of Los Angeles daycare sexual assault laws.

About DeMarco Law Firm

At the DeMarco Law Firm, we represent survivors of childhood sexual abuse throughout California. Our firm offers families experienced legal representation along with compassion and successful outcomes based on over twenty years of dedicated service. Our practice is focused on assisting families in their search for justice and healing.

FAQs

Where Should You Report Daycare Abuse?

Daycare abuse in California should be reported to Child Protective Services (CPS). It can also be reported to your local child welfare agency. If the child has suffered immediate danger, you can report abuse to law enforcement right away. Reports are taken seriously, and they can also be made anonymously.

Can CPS Tell You Who Reported You in California?

No, CPS cannot tell you who reported you in California. Those who send reports to CPS are protected by California law. This allows individuals the protection to report abuse without fear of retaliation or exposure. This also encourages truthful reporting where individuals do not feel that they have to downplay the abuse or withhold information in fear of consequences.

What Are the Rules for Mandated Reporting in California?

The rules for mandated reporting declare that individuals who are designated as mandated reporters are required to report abuse to the appropriate authorities when they discover that abuse has occurred. Failure to do so can result in criminal penalties. Individuals considered to be mandated reporters include teachers, therapists, and doctors. Typically, those who have direct access to children are mandated reporters.

What Are Daycare Violations?

Daycare violations refer to breaches of violations given by the state or through licensing. Violations can include unsafe conditions and environments, unqualified staff, ratio violations, abuse, and neglect. When a violation occurs and is reported, these are investigated and can result in fines, license revocation, or even criminal penalties in serious situations.

Hire a Daycare Sexual Abuse Lawyer From the DeMarco Law Firm Today

When you send your child to a daycare facility, you have a reasonable expectation that they will be cared for. This trust is severely broken when the child is exposed to sexual abuse. When this happens, you need a lawyer you can trust who will fight for justice. Contact DeMarco Law Firm today, and we can fight for your rights and future.