Civil Legal Needs of Sexual Assault Survivors

• In Event: Understanding the Dynamics of Sexual Assault and System Responses

Abstract

Criminal justice outcomes (arrest, conviction, sentencing) for sexual assault survivors are infrequent, compared to the frequency of sexual assault. In addition, these outcomes, if obtained, may take months or years to achieve. Increasingly, survivors of sexual assault are relying on civil legal remedies to address their more immediate needs (i.e., protection orders, privacy, housing, immigration, education, employment). This exploratory study involved a manual review of attorney case files from a not-for-profit organization that provides free civil legal services to survivors of sexual assault. The sample includes all clients (n=420) with new legal matters (n=1011 total matters) from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014. In 37% of cases, survivors were also pursuing a case in the criminal legal system. Protection orders were the most common remedy sought (30% of matters), followed by criminal matter support (20%), privacy (13%), educational issues (e.g., campus sexual assaults) (12%), housing (8%), and immigration (7%). The demographics of clients, assault characteristics, and legal outcomes for these matters will be presented along with policy recommendations for supporting survivors of sexual assault with civil legal needs.

Authors

• Sarah C. Nicksa, Widener University

• Jane E. Palmer, American University