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As punishment for certain sex crimes, the State of Kansas requires the convicted individual to be registered on the state’s Sex Offender List. Under the Kansas Offender Registration Act, a defendant will need to comply with significant obligations for reporting his or her status as a registered sex offender. In addition, anyone with access to the internet will be able to look…

Potential sex crimes or incidents of abuse or neglect are required to be reported by certain people in Missouri, known as mandated reporters. The purpose of mandated reporters is to protect vulnerable populations from sexual offenses, such as sexual assault, child molestation or rape, and to connect victims to the resources that they need. Mandated reporters are required to seek protective services…

An individual must be of a certain age to legally consent to sexual activity or intercourse in Missouri. Children who are younger than the age of consent are not viewed as having the capacity to give their consent or agree to sexual contact with another person. This means sexual activity with someone below the age of consent could result in prosecution for…

Abuse often occurs among populations that are vulnerable or defenseless to protect themselves. This includes young children, the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Studies estimate that people with intellectual disabilities face a 4 to 10 times higher risk of becoming victims of sexual abuse than those without intellectual disabilities. This sad reality is due to several factors that make people with intellectual…

Bullying has a new platform thanks to modern technology. Kids today have to deal with cyberbullying – instant messages, texts, photographs, videos and posts – that can cause significant psychological damage. While there has been some debate as to whether cyberbullying is equally as damaging as traditional bullying, the threat to those victimized online is indisputable. If your child is suffering from…

If you are a survivor of sexual abuse or assault, you may wish to put it all behind you and set your sights only on the future. Many survivors find it difficult, however, to move forward without first closing the traumatic chapter of abuse in their lives. One of the most effective ways to find closure is by pursuing civil litigation against…

Hazing is a dangerous practice that has existed in schools, universities, colleges, sports and clubs for many years. Despite organizations making pledges to stop and prevent hazing, it is unfortunately still a part of many group activities. Hazing can be extremely dangerous and endanger the lives of those who undergo abuse, assault and humiliation as part of a hazing ritual. As a…

From the very beginning of the rideshare industry, consumers have been concerned about the risk of sexual assault and violent crimes committed by Uber and Lyft drivers. These fears were confirmed after Uber made a pledge of transparency and began publishing annual reports identifying assault incidents. In its 2019-2020 U.S. Safety Report, Uber reported 998 incidents of sexual assault – even with…

When someone has gone through something as traumatic as sexual abuse or assault, it is important for others to communicate with that person in a manner that is sensitive and sympathetic to what the victim has endured. Engaging correctly with a survivor of sexual trauma can help him or her navigate the difficult aftermath of abuse. Trauma-informed communication is a system for…

Hazing activities refer to dangerous and often abusive initiation rituals used for admission into a group, such as a sports team or fraternity or sorority. Despite being prohibited by most schools, hazing continues to take place secretly on thousands of campuses each year. The effects of hazing go far beyond basic bullying. Hazing can be psychologically detrimental, extremely physically harmful and even…