Were You Sexually Abused While Participating in Scouts Canada?

If you’re a survivor of sexual abuse in Nova Scotia or you were sexually abused as a child, a Nova Scotia sexual abuse lawyer can help you fight for justice. Childhood sexual abuse survivors may seek justice in both criminal and civil courts in Nova Scotia.

If your child is a sexual abuse victim, you must deal with your feelings and reactions. You also must establish an environment that makes your child feel secure again. Taking legal action can help.

What Should You Know About Scouts Canada?

The person who abuses a child could be a coach or teacher, a member of the clergy, a relative, neighbor, friend of the family, or scout leader. Scouts Canada is this nation’s largest youth organization, offering a variety of activities and programs for youths ages five to twenty-six.

Thousands of young people participate in the organization. What are their rights when they become sexual abuse victims due to their participation in Scouts Canada? How should you report sexual abuse in Scouts Canada? And what can a Halifax sexual abuse lawyer do to help?

What is Institutional Sexual Abuse?

Unwanted sexual activity that is imposed on a person without that person’s consent is sexual abuse. Victims often know their abusers. Abusers use their position of authority, threats, intimidation or physical force to abuse victims and prevent them from reporting the abuse. Several different actions may constitute sexual abuse, including:

  1. unwanted sexual contact
  2. rape or attempted rape
  3. forcing or coercing someone else to engage in sexual activity

Sexual abuse may be a single incident, a series of incidents, or ongoing abuse. Institutional sexual abuse happens when someone uses an authority position to abuse sexually someone in the institution’s care. An institution’s leaders may share the fault and be held partially liable for damages suffered by the victim.

How Has Scouts Canada Handled Sexual Abuse Claims?

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported in 2011 that active Scouts Canada leaders were implicated in more than three hundred alleged incidents of sexual abuse. Scouts Canada issued an apology to scouts who were sexually abused by Scouts Canada leaders.

In 2012, Scouts Canada publicly admitted not all previous allegations of sexual abuse by Scouts Canada leaders had been reported to law enforcement authorities. In 2015, Nova Scotia eliminated the statute of limitations for filing sexual abuse claims. Now, every province and territory has removed the time limit to pursue compensation claims for sexual abuse.

Whenever a childhood sexual abuse victim is ready, he or she may report sexual abuse and seek compensation in the civil courts with a sexual abuse lawsuit.

What Steps Should a Sexual Abuse Survivor Take?

If you survived childhood sexual abuse but have not obtained counseling, find a counselor you trust. Healing and moving forward positively with your life must be your top priority. Survivors also have these legal options: filing a sexual abuse lawsuit and pursuing a criminal prosecution.

Your first step should be to seek a free consultation from an experienced sexual abuse lawyer about your legal options and rights. Your lawyer can explain how to report the abuse (or report the allegations for you) answer your questions about confidentiality and help you understand the different burdens of proof in criminal charges and compensation lawsuits.

If you would like to contact Scouts Canada yourself to report suspected abuse within Scouts Canada, call the Safe Scouting Department immediately at 1-800-339-6643 (24 hours a day). You should also consider making a report to child protective services and the police. Finally, you should also file a report with the local Scouts Canada Group Commissioner.

If you want to pursue criminal charges, the police will investigate your report, and if they find evidence of abuse, they will arrest the alleged abuser. However, to win a criminal conviction for sexual abuse, the crown prosecutor must prove an alleged abuser’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

What Does a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Entail?

As time passes, childhood sexual abuse can become more challenging to prove. If the abuse took place years ago, a lawsuit may have a better chance of success than a criminal prosecution.

In a civil sexual abuse trial, your Nova Scotia sexual abuse lawyer does not have to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but your lawyer still must show it is more likely than not that the abuse happened. The legal burden of proof in sexual abuse compensation claims is called “proof on the balance of probabilities”.

Before you take any legal steps, consult a Halifax sexual abuse lawyer who will examine your abuse claim, address your concerns, and offer you personalized advice regarding the best way to move forward with your case.

How Will Your Lawyer Help You?

A sexual abuse lawyer will clarify your rights and options and help you determine if you should seek a criminal prosecution, pursue a civil sexual abuse claim, or both. If you move forward with a civil sexual abuse claim, you will pay your lawyer nothing unless and until your compensation claim is successful.

A civil sexual abuse lawyer is only paid when and if your lawsuit prevails. You may receive compensation for your counseling and treatment expenses, your pain and suffering, and related damages. There is no charge and no legal fees to have a sexual abuse lawyer review your case.

What More Should You Know?

The elimination of a statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims means you do not have to proceed with legal action until you are ready. Still, if you were abused as a child by a Scouts Canada leader or any other adult, take your case to an abuse lawyer as soon as you can.

Your lawyer will need to gather evidence and locate witnesses before more time goes by. If you’re a childhood sexual abuse survivor or the parent of an abused child, the right lawyer will help you win compensation and justice. Schedule a meeting with that lawyer as soon as possible.

Take Your Abuse Case to McKiggan Hebert Lawyers

If you are the parent of an abused child or a childhood sexual abuse survivor, McKiggan Hebert Lawyers will fight on your behalf for justice and compensation. We handle sexual abuse claims across the country. Contact McKiggan Hebert by calling 902-706-2298 to schedule a free legal consultation with no obligation.

Our legal team has decades of experience and has received national recognition representing the survivors of childhood sexual abuse. We pursue and insist on justice in every case. McKiggan Hebert Lawyers will use every available legal tool to win the compensation you deserve for the abuse you have suffered.

Our award-winning team offers a free case evaluation to the survivors of childhood sexual abuse. When you are ready to come forward, call our Halifax law offices at 902-706-2298. McKiggan Hebert has established a reputation for legal excellence and outstanding client service.