A Long-Term Abuse Problem Within Boy Scouts of America

The dam began to break for BSA in an Oregon lawsuit filed 10 years ago. The plaintiffs discovered records of over 1,200 alleged assaulters kept by leadership. In a recent lawsuit, the organization admitted to holding the names of around 7,800 abusers who may have taken advantage of around 12,000 children in the program. These reports date back to 1944, and some additions were made as recently as 2016.

Whether the abusers were volunteers or staff, BSA holds responsibility for their illegal actions. Though the organization added background checks and other safeguards to their selection process, the sheer number of victims (and recency of some assault claims) shows how often predators are slipping through the cracks.

Further, BSA is under fire for failing to report many of these incidents to law enforcement. They took internal action, removing predators from their positions and banning them from working with the organization again. But, likely in an effort to preserve BSA’s image, leadership did not escalate concerns to anyone outside the organization.

Damages Caused by Sexual Assault

Being sexually abused as a child can affect someone long into their adulthood. Especially when the perpetrator is someone the victim trusts, and their complaint is hushed up or minimized, children are likely to lose trust in the organization and authority as a whole. As they mature, the emotional burden caused by the abuse and subsequent coverup can result in:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Self-harm
• Self-blame and guilt
• Eating disorders
• Substance use disorders
• Disassociation
• Sexual problems
• Difficulty with relationships

Sexual abuse can also cause physical injury. By the time the victims can get medical help, they may be struggling mentally and physically. They may need long-term care to help them return to health.

Between the costs of medical treatment, the decrease in quality of life, and the work or educational opportunities victims might have missed due to mental health complications, damages for child sexual abuse can be high. Anyone who was assaulted as a child deserves compensation to give them a second chance at the things they have lost. Those who have participated in such assaults or helped cover them up should pay for their crimes.

Can I File A Claim Against the Boy Scouts?

Your eligibility to file depends on a few factors; first and foremost is the Maryland statute of limitations for child sexual assault. Though discussions are underway to increase or even remove the time constraints on filing, current eligibility is limited to:

• Minors
• Those who passed the age of majority less than 20 years ago
• Those whose abuser was convicted of assaulting them 3 or fewer years ago

If you think you might have a claim, our attorneys can sit down with you to learn more about your case and offer guidance. We are dedicated to helping innocent victims take on the organizations that injured them. It can be difficult to come forward with a case of child sexual abuse, but we are here to support you if you are ready to seek justice. We can provide the caring and dedicated representation you need.