Sex crime refers to cases involving incest, sexual assault, attempted rape, and rape. As per the laws in the United States of America, the victims of these types of crimes have got certain legal rights related to prosecution and privacy. However, it is entirely up to the victims to find out how and when they should use those rights. Because of the psychological pain, sometimes the victims are not even in a situation to handle the case on their own. In such cases, it is advisable to get help from a professional church sex abuse attorney who has experience in handling such cases successfully. Following is a brief rundown on some of those rights.
Confidentiality And Privacy
Sex crime victims are entitled to complete confidentiality and privacy. The law enforcement and medical staff are likely to ask certain questions that you may not like to answer, probably because of hesitation. But, in order to maximize the chances of capturing and prosecuting the assailant, the victim must answer each and every question accurately. The information you provide is kept private and confidential. Anyone who is found guilty of leaking this information is punished through legal procedure.
Legal Representation
Many sex crime victims never take any legal actions, not just because they hesitate to do so, but also because they do not know how to deal with the consequent legal proceedings. Considering this very fact, the laws in the United States of America have made a provision, as per which, all such victims are entitled to free legal representation. It means there is no need to hire an attorney yourself; the court will appoint one for you. You do not even need to pay the attorney fee.
Protection
The victims in these types of cases often also fear further attack from assailant. Once the case is filed, you have the right to ask for police protection, if needed.
If you are not sure about your legal rights and how to use the same, you can contact the national rape advocacy center or a local rape crisis center. They will assist you on how to proceed with the legal action by using your rights. It is also important for you to keep in mind that even the accused has certain legal rights. Things can become a little easier if you know about those rights also, as it will help you follow the right steps while you are pursuing legal channels related to sex crime.