Juvenile detention centers are meant to be a place to help young offenders reform their ways. However, for many of these young offenders, this place becomes one of fear, abuse, and exploitation.
Many juveniles face various forms of sexual violence from other detainees and staff members, and due to their lack of power, isolation, and young age, they might be completely vulnerable to such forms of sexual violence.
If a juvenile were to ever face such problems, they have the right to contact a juvenile detention sexual abuse lawyer to get justice for the crimes committed against them.
This blog explores the various types of sexual violence juveniles are susceptible to at a detention center.
1. Sexual Abuse
Sexual assault is when a perpetrator uses manipulation, coercion, threats, etc., to force another to perform sexual acts. Sexual abuse is often a repeated or long-term form of sexual exploitation. Sexual abuse often occurs when there is a power imbalance between the victim and the abuser, so an abuser can be another juvenile or even a staff member.
2. Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is when a person forces or intentionally does sexual acts on another without their consent. Sexual assault can include groping, fondling, forcing oral sex, etc. As the perpetrators can be both other juveniles or staff members, victims often do not report such cases to avoid further mistreatment.
3. Intimate Partner Sexual Violence
It is likely that people who are in the detention center together form relationships. Such relationships could be for various reasons, such as genuine romantic interest, coercion, and the desire to feel safer. Even if there is a relationship between two people, there still might be sexual violence involved.
One partner could force, manipulate, or use other tactics to make the other perform sexual acts. But, if the act was done without the other’s consent, the act is considered sexual violence.
4. Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault
Perpetrators can use various ways to get what they want, even if it means making their victim addicted to substances. Many perpetrators coerce or force their victims to use drugs or sedatives to either get them addicted and use their addiction as a tool or get the victim to lower their defenses to commit sexual acts. It is important to keep in mind that any sexual act that was done without the consent of both parties is considered an act of sexual violence.
5. Sexual Harassment
Some acts, though they do not involve physical touch, can be just as traumatizing. Sexual harassment is one such act of sexual violence. Sexual harassment includes sexual gestures, comments, noises, unwanted advances, etc. Such acts of sexual violence can create a hostile environment, leading to serious psychological issues for the victim.
6. Rape
Rape is when a person is forced or coerced to perform sexual intercourse. Rape often involves the use of violence and threats to instill fear or to physically force one party to perform penetrative sex. As it is an act of sexual violence that severely violates the victim’s rights over their own body, rape can lead to severe physical and emotional trauma.