When we send our kids to school, we place an enormous amount of trust in the local public and private schools to educate our children and keep them safe. Here in Chicago and across the country, we’ve seen first-hand how schools and teachers have violated this trust.

 

Cases of Sexual Abuse in Schools

In 2019, federal officials at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights found “widespread and systemic” mishandling of thousands of sexual abuse allegations within the Chicago Public School (CPS) system. The probe, which began in 2015, has been characterized as the “largest probe of its kind in department history.” The Department found more than 3,000 “teacher-on-student” and “student-on-student” incidents across more than 400 CPS schools that were handled improperly.

In 2020, the CPS watchdog unit opened hundreds more cases, despite schools being shut down for much of the year. This indicates that sex abuse in schools is an ongoing problem.

 

Public, Private, or Boarding School Abuse

Abuse can happen anywhere, including schools. Abuse can happen by teachers, administrators, coaches, bus drivers, or anyone children come into contact with at school. Instances of abuse and sexual misconduct have occured in every type of school, from public to private, before, during, or after school, on field trips or away games or during practice. It can happen to boys or girls, and can include a number of different types of misconduct. 

There is a shocking number of coverup cases across the country, and there is no database that tracks sexual misconduct in schools, meaning the problem is much larger than anyone knows.

For families of victims, getting justice and compensation can be made more difficult by both the culture of coverups and the lack of awareness around the problem of sexual abuse in schools. That's why parents should seek legal assistance from a qualified attorney experienced in school sexual abuse litigation.

 

What to Do if Your Child Has Been Abused at School

If you believe your child has been sexually abused at school, reporting the incident is important. You can contact the school district, the police, or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for guidance. 

Connecting with an attorney experienced in sexual abuse litigation at any time can help you determine how to navigate the difficult task of obtaining justice and compensation. 

Learn more about childhood sexual abuse cases here

 

Victims Deserve Compensation

The perpetrators at your school may have already been charged and sentenced for their crimes in a criminal proceeding. However, a criminal trial doesn't provide your family with the necessary financial compensation for healing and trauma that can be secured through a civil lawsuit.

If you or a loved one have suffered sexual abuse at any school in Chicago or Illinois, please call us at 800-322-5573 for a free consultation with one of our sexual abuse attorneys. Our staff of attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants have extensive experience working with survivors of sexual abuse and handle each survivor’s call with compassion, respect, and confidentiality. You can also fill out the Free Case Evaluation form on this page and a qualified representative will respond to your inquiry soon.

Submit Your Free Sexual Abuse Case Evaluation to a Cooney & Conway Attorney