Justice for Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse at Bayview Correctional Facility Lawyer

The New York Adult Survivors Act was signed into law by New York Governor Hochul on May 24, 2022 and takes effect on November 24, 2022. It allows a one-time one-year window for survivors of adult sexual abuse in New York to file a lawsuit to demand compensation, even though the statute of limitations has already expired. The window closes on November 23, 2023. Those eligible to take advantage of this new law include victims of sexual abuse by correctional officers at Bayview Correctional Facility. If you or someone you know was a victim of sexual abuse while being incarcerated at Bayview Correctional Facility, contact an experienced New York sexual abuse lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates. With over 20 years of experience representing victims of abuse, we can help.

Survivors of adult sexual abuse often struggle with the psychological impact of the abuse. Many experience anger, anxiety, and depression. Many have suicidal thoughts. This can impact their ability to have successful consensual intimate relationships. It can also impact their interactions with friends and family members.

Victims of sexual abuse are often reluctant to come forward and report the abuse. Some are embarrassed. Others feel guilty. Some blame themselves for the abuse or feel that they will not be believed. Still others fear retribution. This is particularly the case when the victim was an inmate and the perpetrator was a correctional officer. The Adult Survivors Act recognizes the issues that may prevent many victims from receiving justice within the statutory timeframe and gives those victims an opportunity to seek justice through civil lawsuits.

Under the Adult Survivors Act, those who were sexually assaulted when they were at least 18 years old can file a lawsuit seeking compensation from the assailant, even though the three-year statute of limitations had expired. The defendants in such a lawsuit would be the perpetrator. The defendant could also be anyone who helped the perpetrator. In the case of sexual abuse at Bayview Correctional Facility, the perpetrator may be a correctional officer. Those who helped the correctional officer sexually abuse inmates may include prison officials who did not conduct proper background checks prior to hiring the perpetrator, who did not properly supervise the perpetrator, or who did not properly investigate allegations of sexual misconduct.

Offenses that are covered by the Adult Survivors Act include sex offenses enumerated in N.Y. Pen. Law § 130 et seq. If you would like to discuss the abuse that you experienced while an inmate at Bayview Correctional Facility, contact an experienced New York sexual abuse lawyer.

Victims of crimes such as sexual abuse, rape, and other sex offenses under in N.Y. Pen. Law § 130 et seq. have the right to seek compensation from their attackers. Compensation includes money to reimburse victims for out-of-pocket expenses such as medical bills, fees for counseling, lost wages, and loss of future earning potential. Victims can also demand compensation for pain and suffering, including the pain of physical injuries as well as the suffering associated with emotional trauma. In the case of sexual abuse at Bayview Correctional Facility, the victim may be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages punish a defendant for especially outrageous or malicious actions. Due to the nature of sex crimes, particularly those that occur in an institution, punitive damages are common. They are especially common in cases where sexual abuse was ignored and allowed to continued, or where the perpetrator was in a position of power with respect to the victim or had control over the victims actions.

To learn more about the compensation that you might be entitled to because you were victimized by a correctional officer at Bayview Correctional Facility or other prison, contact an experienced sexual abuse attorney in New York.

If you or someone you know are the victim of sexual abuse while incarcerated at Bayview Correctional Facility, the experienced sexual abuse attorneys serving New York at Stephen Bilkis & Associates can help. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent victims of sexual abuse in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Long Island, and Westchester County.