| In California, domestic violence laws apply to all crimes that are perpetrated against one’s
child, regardless of whether the parents are heterosexual
or involved in a GLBT relationship. It therefore follows that
a parent who sexually abuses his or her child will be prosecuted
as a domestic abuse offender and will consequently face certain
consequences in addition to the punishment normally imposed
for the specific sex crime committed.
Child sexual abuse is defined as any activity
with a child done for the purpose of sexual gratification.
It includes, but is not limited to, sexual touching, intercourse,
asking a child to expose his or her sexual organs and exposing
a child to pornography. It affects gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender families from every social, economic and ethnic
background and is a growing problem in this country.
Child sexual abuse, when committed against
one’s own child is a type of child abuse that has a
devastating impact on children and will manifest itself in
various ways, depending largely on the age of the child. Some
common types of symptoms seen in victims of child sexual abuse
include physical complaints, such as a headache or stomachache,
genital or rectal symptoms, such as burning or itching, bowel
disorders, such as being unable to control one’s bowel,
eating disorders and social symptoms that include drug and/or
alcohol abuse, high-risk sexual behavior or an inappropriate
interest in or knowledge about sex, withdrawal, excessive
fear and/or anxiety and depression.
Penalties for sexually abusing one’s
child vary depending on the age of the child, on the specific
crime and on the severity of the act(s). Formal probation,
incarceration and registration as a sex offender are among
the most common forms of punishment for a child abuse crime
that involves sexual activity. Custody issues will undoubtedly
arise and it is quite possible that one will lose his or her
child as a result of a sexually related child abuse conviction.
A less common but extremely severe penalty exists when the
child victim is less than 13 years old. When such is the case,
a male parent may be subject to chemical castration upon a
first conviction for specific offenses, including sodomy,
lewd or lascivious acts, oral sex or rape and will undergo
mandatory chemical castration upon a second conviction, regardless
of whether the first victim was his or her child or the child
of another.
Parents or anyone else who suspect that a
child is being sexually abused either by a family member or
by another should immediately report the activity. Several
agencies may offer advice, guidance and resources, including
Childhelp USA at 1-800-4-A-CHILD, the Darkness to Light hotline at 1-800-FOR-LIGHT or the National Children’s Alliance
at 1-800-239-9950.
The trusted, LGBT supportive attorneys at
the Kavinoky Law Firm may also be able to provide assistance
in what can only be described as a horrible situation. With
law offices in Los Angeles and throughout California, they
are available to provide their outstanding legal advice and
services to anyone in need of a gay-friendly California domestic
violence lawyer. Their expertise with respect to same sex
domestic violence, which includes child abuse that takes place
in a home where the parents are involved in gay, lesbian,
bisexual or transgender relationships, enables them to help
educate an individual about what might lie ahead for a family
affected by domestic abuse and, more specifically, a family
affected by the sexual abuse of a child. To learn more, contact them today for a free consultation.
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