Women's Prison Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Prison sexual assault can cause significant and long-term harm to survivors, both physically and emotionally. Here are some of the harms associated with prison sexual assault:

• Physical injuries: Sexual assault can cause physical injuries from the attack, and may also contract sexually transmitted infections or become pregnant as a result of the assault.
• Emotional distress: Sexual assault can have a profound impact on a person’s emotional well-being, especially when they are already in a stressful prison environment and isolated from loved ones. Survivors may experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other persistent mental health issues.
• Loss of trust: Sexual assault can cause victims to lose trust in others, especially authority figures. This understandable mistrust can cause further isolation and lead to harmful coping mechanisms detailed in the following point.
• Substance abuse: Survivors of sexual assault may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their trauma, which can lead to addiction and other negative consequences. Treating a drug addiction in prison can be difficult or impossible, and leaving prison with an addiction makes it harder to maintain your independence on parole.
• Suicide: Victims of sexual assault are at a higher risk of suicide than the general population. The trauma of sexual assault can be overwhelming, and many survivors struggle with feelings of hopelessness and despair.

These are just some of the harms associated with prison sexual assault. It is important to seek help if you or a loved one has experienced sexual assault in a correctional facility. A prison sexual assault lawyer can be part of that help, as we can handle the work associated with case building so you can prioritize your physical health and mental peace.

Sexual assaults in prisons are often part of a pattern or “culture” of abuse.  Incidents may be part of repeated, cyclical violations that can cause lasting psychological damage among multiple inmates.  When just one person speaks out, it can uncover underlying conspiracies, and encourage more survivors to come forward and find justice.

Our prison sexual assault lawyers help survivors by:

• Providing reassurance: The emotional support that comes from knowing you are not alone. There is a real, viable path through this difficult time to a satisfactory case resolution, and knowing that can be a profound relief to many clients. If you feel overwhelmed, scared, or hopeless, our compassionate attorneys can provide proven, verifiable guidance on how to move forward.
• Investigating the incident: Our prison sexual assault attorneys can conduct a thorough investigation of the incident by legally demanding (with a subpoena) internal camera footage, reports, and guard schedules from the correctional facility. We can also secure evidence by taking witness statements, and building a strong case against the perpetrator(s) of the assault.
• Advocating for the survivor: A prison sexual assault attorney can be a strong advocate for the survivor, both in and out of the courtroom. We can work with law enforcement, correctional facilities, and other agencies to ensure that the survivor’s rights are protected.
• Pursuing legal action: We can handle settlement discussions on your behalf, negotiate potential insurance claims, and present your case before a judge or jury if necessary to secure justice.
• Calculating and securing compensation: In order to demand damages, we must document your injuries and losses in financial terms. Our prison sexual assault attorneys may consult experts to accurately account for your medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

These are just some of the ways that the prison sexual assault lawyers at Jessica Pride’s law firm can help our clients. If you or a loved one has experienced sexual assault in prison, it is important to seek the help of a qualified attorney with proven success in the area of sexual assault litigation.

Contact our experienced prison sexual assault lawyers to find the best path forward for you. Fill out our contact form here, or call us at 833-200-7111. A prison sentence does not forfeit your fundamental rights — let us help you seek justice and hold abusers and enabling institutions accountable. Your decision to pursue a lawsuit today could help restore your personal strength, and improve treatment for other incarcerated individuals just like you.

Generally, yes. If you were sexually assaulted while in someone else’s custody and thus under their care, you have the ability to sue them for that violation or for negligently allowing it to happen.

While the terms “jail” and “prison” are often used interchangeably, there are some key differences between the two:

• Jails are typically used to hold individuals who are awaiting trial or sentencing, or who have been sentenced to a short term of incarceration. Jails are typically operated by local governments, such as counties or municipalities, and are usually smaller in size than prisons. Inmates in jails may include individuals who have been arrested for minor offenses, such as traffic violations, as well as those who have been charged with more serious crimes.
• Prisons are long-term correctional facilities used to house individuals who have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to a term of incarceration. Prisons are typically operated by state or federal governments, and are often larger in size than jails. Inmates in prisons have usually been convicted of more serious crimes, such as felonies.

While both jails and prisons are intended to hold individuals who have been accused or convicted of a crime, there are some significant differences in terms of the length of incarceration, the severity of the offenses for which inmates are being held, and the types of programs and services that are available to inmates. It is important for your lawyer to factor in these differences when considering the issue of sexual assault in correctional facilities.