Representation for Victims of Sex Crimes & Sex Offenses
Sex Offenses & Sex Crimes from a Victim’s Standpoint
In New York, laws regarding sex offense and sex crime victims focus on protecting their rights and providing avenues for justice. If you are a victim of a sex crime or sex offense, there are various steps you can take to protect yourself and to achieve some form of justice through the legal system.
How We Fight for Sex Crime & Sex Offense Victims
Criminal Complaints
Of course, if you are the victim of a sex crime or offense, you should contact a former prosecutor and an experienced trial attorney who can walk you through the process of filing a formal criminal complaint with law enforcement.
Oftentimes, this is more complex than just picking up the phone and dialing 911. For example, a sex crime lawyer can and will
- help you organize your timeline with important details from before, during, and after an assault.
- help with doing a forensic download of any contacts between you and the perpetrator, which can easily be shared with law enforcement and prosecutors in a seamless fashion.
- assist with addressing potential issues with the claim such as a delay in reporting or the lack of an outcry witness.
Civil Remedies
Some sex offenses may not qualify for a criminal complaint if the statute of limitations has passed. Other times, even if still within the statute, some victims may not want to press charges due to the sensitive nature of these cases and the prospect of being cross-examined at a future criminal trial by a defendant’s attorney.
For those reasons and many more, some sex crimes victims seek to bring their case through civil court. As a victim, it is imperative that you engage a former prosecutor and seasoned trial attorney to help with the drafting and filing of a civil complaint as well as represent you on all subsequent steps in the civil arena, such as depositions and settlement negotiations.
Restraining Orders
For many justifiable reasons, some sexual assault victims do not want to take legal action in the criminal nor the civil system. Yet, it is still crucial for a victim’s safety to obtain a restraining order which can shield them from unwanted contact by the perpetrator of this crime.
Without an arrest (where a criminal court order of protection would be granted), individuals can instead have their lawyer petition a family/civil court for an order of protection. If granted, this order of protection will typically mandate that the accused stay away from the victim and refrain from having any direct or third party contact. Importantly, if the accused violates this order, it can and typically will result in a violation of an order of protection (criminal contempt) arrest.
Demand or Cease and Desist Letters
If a victim wishes for things to remain completely confidential and out of the court system, it is still prudent to have an aggressive and reputable attorney to send a cease and desist or demand letter to a sex offender. These letters create a paper trail in an effort to warn the accused that any future conduct will result in the legal actions described above.
In some cases of workplace/employer sexual harassment, carefully written demand letters create an avenue for victim’s to get justice without having to go through a tedious and drawn out court process. Because the way the civil and criminal court systems are set up, many times a victim’s quickest way to justice against a corporate employer or high-profile and powerful figure is to first reach out with a pre-lawsuit demand letter in an effort to come to an amicable and swift resolution before a legal filing is made.
Contact The Law Offices of Jason Goldman
If you are the victim of a sex crime or offense, it is crucial to have a former prosecutor who handled sex crimes to walk you through the various different avenues you can take. Having a strategic and reputable lawyer is crucial during these initial stages when you are considering the best path to justice as a sex crimes victim. Contact The Law Offices of Jason Goldman today.
