Institutional Abuse Lawyers Lloydminster

Members of vulnerable populations – including children and adolescents – are the most likely targets of institutional abuse.  According to the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services, one in three Albertans are victims of institutional abuse before the age of 18.

This staggering fact is due, in part, to the inherent power imbalance between sexual predators and their targets. Institutional abuse almost always involves an abuse of power or an exploitation of trust. Sexual predators use the authority they hold over young or more vulnerable people, abuse the trust placed in them by their targets, or exploit their target’s dependency upon them in order to engage in non-consensual sexual activities.

Sexual predators often place themselves in close proximity to potential targets. Therefore, they often look for jobs or seek out volunteer positions in:

• Schools
• Religious institutions
• Sports leagues
• Extra curricular programmes
• Summer camps
• Scout organizations
• Psychiatric hospitals
• Juvenile detention centres
• Foster homes
• And more

Being subjected to institutional abuse at any age can have widespread, pervasive impacts on an individual’s life as well as their livelihoods. It is not uncommon for survivors of institutional abuse to develop severe mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Additionally, institutional abuse survivors may develop unhealthy, self-destructive coping mechanisms as a way of mitigating their trauma. These methods often include various forms of self-harm, as well as disordered alcohol and/or substance abuse. As it so happens, institutional abuse survivors are 26 times more likely to develop substance use disorders than those who have not suffered abuse.

Furthermore, survivors of institutional abuse often suffer profound financial repercussions, especially if their abuse occurred during childhood or adolescence. In these cases, it can feel impossible for survivors to continue their educational pursuits or vocational training. If they feel the need to abandon their studies as a result of the trauma they were forced to endure, their future earning potential could be curtailed indefinitely, leading to a lifetime of financial insecurity.

Our Lloydminster institutional abuse lawyers are committed to helping the survivors of this devastating crime recover the compensation to which they should be rightfully entitled. By working with our institutional abuse lawyers serving Lloydminster, you may be able to hold your abuser and any other contributorily negligent parties (such as their employer) accountable for their actions and, in so doing, recover compensation for damages you have incurred.

It can be difficult to speak out against a sexual predator and come forward about a traumatizing experience you were made to endure. By booking a free initial consultation with our Lloydminster institutional abuse lawyers, survivors can feel safe telling their story in a confidential setting and receive personalized, case-specific legal advice. To book your free initial consultation with our institutional abuse lawyers serving Lloydminster, contact us today.

Call Us Today for a Free Initial Consultation

The criminals who perpetrate institutional abuse should be held accountable for their monstrous actions. Our Lloydminster institutional abuse lawyers are devoted to providing crucial legal assistance to survivors in the local community. To learn more about working with us to bring your abuser to justice, call our institutional abuse lawyers serving Lloydminster today and schedule your free initial consultation.