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

Albion Correctional Facility is a medium security prison in Albion, New York. It is one of three prisons in New York exclusively for women. The other remaining prisons for women include Bedford Hill and Taconic. A problem that has plagued prisons for women all over the country is that of sexual abuse. Albion is no different. Inmates suffer sexual abuse at the hands of corrections officers, prison officials, and volunteers at an alarming rate. At the same time, the lack of punishment of the abusers and justice for the victims also occurred at an alarming rate. Now there is a an opportunity for those who were not able to receive justice for so many yeas to receive it. If you were sexually assaulted at Albion Correctional Facility, contact an experienced New York sexual abuse lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates. With over 20 years of experience successfully representing victims of abuse, we can help you pursue compensation for the abuse you suffered.

Just like victims of any other personal jury, victims of sexual abuse have the right to pursue civil action against their abusers. Civil action is different from criminal action. Even of your abuser was never charged criminally, you can still pursue a civil lawsuit. The new Adult Survivors Act allows adult survivors of sexual abuse at Albion Correctional Facility to pursue justice even if the abuse occurred years and years ago. The law recognizes that victims of sexual abuse often need years to process the trauma suffered by the abuse and that there are often other barriers to immediately reporting it. It also recognizes that in institutions such as Albion, staff may actively avoid following up on allegations of sexual assault.

The Adult Survivors Act temporarily waives the prior statute of limitations for adult survivors of sexual abuse and gives them a one year window to file a sexual abuse lawsuit in cases where the lawsuit would otherwise be time-barred. The temporary window begins on November 24, 2022 and ends on November 23, 2023. The Adult Survivors Act is similar in spirit to the 2019 Child Victims Act. However, to be eligible to take advantage for the opportunity provided by the Adult Survivors Act, the abuse must have happened when the victim was at least 18 years old.

Because victims have only one year to file their claims, it is important to immediately get the process started. Contact an experienced New York sexual abuse lawyer to ensure that you do not miss out on this unique opportunity. This is a one-time only exception to the statute of limitations.

Oftentimes people assume that sexual abuse or sexual assault refers only to nonconsensual sexual intercourse. It can refer to several other actions including:

• Anal sex
• Penetrating the vagina or anus with a finger or object
• Touching the victims breasts, buttocks, vagina
• Being forced to touch the abuser
• Forcing the victim to have sexual contact with a third party
• Exposing genitals
• Threating the victim to keep them from reporting the abuse

Victims of sexual abuse at Albion can sue for damages based on their physical injuries as well as based on their emotional pain and suffering. Furthermore, because of the heinous nature of sexual assault, courts may award victims an addition amount of compensation for punitive damages.

Some victims of sexual abuse at Albion may be hesitant to come forward because they blame themselves for the abuse or because they view the sexual contact as consensual. Consent is not a viable defense to a charge of rape or any other sexual contact or sex offense. According New York Penal Law, it is against the law of residents of Albion or residents of any institution to have sex with staff.

If you were sexually abused by staff while incarcerated at Albion Correctional Facility, you have the right to seek justice by filing a lawsuit against your abuser and those who protected the abuser. The window for filing claims for otherwise time-barred claims is only one year, so don’t delay. Contact an experienced sexual abuse attorney serving New York at Stephen Bilkis & Associates at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Long Island, and Westchester County.