Understanding Consent Laws Across America
Consent is a fundamental aspect of any sexual engagement, yet it’s an area that people are only recently fully educated on. The inconsistency in laws does not help the matter. Every U.S. state sets an age of consent—typically between 16 and 18 years old, depending on jurisdiction. But the real protections extend beyond that number. […]
Missouri Passes Trey’s Law
A Victory for Survivors, A Warning to Institutions That Shield Abusers Missouri has enacted Trey’s Law—a piece of legislation that voids non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases involving child sexual abuse. This law makes Missouri the first state in the nation to categorically bar the use of NDAs to silence victims of child sexual abuse, setting a new legal […]
Pride Month: Child Sexual Abuse in the LGBTQ+ Community
As we celebrate Pride Month—a time to honor the resilience, courage, and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community—we must also confront the difficult truths that too often live in the shadows. One of those truths is the heightened risk of child sexual abuse and exploitation among LGBTQ+ youth. Additionally, there is an ongoing fight to ensure justice and […]
Bearing Witness: Vicarious Trauma
We don’t talk about it enough—the weight we carry when we bear witness to trauma day in and day out. For those of us working with survivors of sexual abuse—whether as lawyers, victim advocates, counselors, or investigators—this work is a calling. But it can also come at a cost. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, […]
