Hoffman Law Firm Advocates for the Defenseless: Our Children
Did you know that there were 33 child sexual abuse investigations launched in 2022 in Charleston County alone? These tragic cases devastated the families involved, shedding light on the prevalence of abuse right here at home. Berkeley County followed closely behind with 25 investigations, while Dorchester County reported 3 investigations. 2021 reports revealed similarly heartbreaking data, with 34 investigations in Charleston County, 27 in Berkeley County, and 6 in Dorchester County.
At Hoffman Law Firm, we are proud to call the Lowcountry home. In addition to representing our clients in the courtroom, we advocate for our community in other ways. Our local lawyers are particularly committed to supporting organizations that protect our children, who are often the most vulnerable members of our community.
In 2015, Hoffman Law Firm allocated a portion of our advertising budget to producing public service announcements about child sexual abuse. Our goal was to inform locals about this issue – and the need for our community’s collective efforts to protect our children. The PSAs were met with an overwhelmingly positive response, which inspired us to continue to spread awareness.
Every Parent’s Nightmare: The Reality of Child Sexual Abuse
Becoming a parent brings a whole host of worries, with your child’s safety claiming the top spot on your list of priorities. Some parents imagine the worst-case scenario as an illness or injury that lands them in the emergency room, but another threat lurks nearby. Child sexual abuse is much more common than many parents dare to imagine, impacting one in 10 children before they reach age 18 (National Children’s Advocacy Center), with over 20% of victims under eight years old (Bureau of Justice Statistics).
In fact, every nine minutes, CPS finds evidence for a child sexual abuse claim (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). And the most horrifying statistic of all? Only 12% of child sexual abuse is reported (National Sexual Violence Resource Center). That means that countless children are suffering in silence at this very minute, all around the country – and right here at home in South Carolina.
And while it may be tempting to assume that predators can be kept at bay behind locked doors, it’s crucial to acknowledge that 93% of sexually abused children know their abusers (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network).
While these statistics are incredibly alarming, it’s the survivors’ personal accounts of abuse that really hit home. Resources like RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) provide heartbreaking testimonials detailing decades of abuse, making the percentages much more personal.
But there is hope – for our children, for our families, for our future. It comes in the form of local organizations dedicated to combatting child sexual abuse and protecting our community’s most vulnerable members. Making a difference requires us to know the signs and take a stand – and ultimately, to change a life.
That’s why Hoffman Law Firm is proud to support organizations, both local and national, working to combat childhood sexual abuse. Together we can stand up for defenseless children and stand beside survivors.
For additional information, please visit these helpful organizations:
https://www.nationalcac.org
https://bjs.ojp.gov
https://www.rainn.org
https://www.nsvrc.org
https://www.cdc.gov
