Since there is limited research on the availability, utility, benefits, and challenges of civil legal services for survivors of sexual assault, this report presents the findings and methodology of a collaborative research project that examined these issues.
Four issues are examined in this research: 1) whether sexual assault victims who seek civil remedies for the effects of their victimization have been able to receive them; 2) the nature of the challenges they encounter when pursuing civil remedies for their victimization; 3) the extent to which sexual assault victims have overlapping civil legal needs; and 4) the lessons learned from sexual assault cases initiated by the Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC), which provides pro bono civil legal assistance that intends to address the needs of sexual assault victims. Data sources for this research were the VRLC client database and redacted case files. Qualitative information was obtained from a random sample of 293 redacted case files, which included attorney file notes and other documents. During the study period examined, no sexual assault victims were refused VRLC services for civil litigation, and only five who sought legal services were partially served because their cases did not meet eligibility requirements for services or VRLC did not offer the services requested. In addition, survivors’ legal needs may fluctuate while they are a VRLC client. VRLC clients experienced victimization impacts on school, work, housing, finances, or immigration status; and in the aftermath of sexual assaults, they experienced stalking, assault, harassment, retaliation, threats, or lost custody of their children. In some cases, perpetrators were protected due to their status. There were also issues of victim credibility. Seven implications of this research for policy and practice are discussed. 9 references