Going to court as a victim can feel overwhelming. You may not know what to expect, how to prepare, or what your rights are in the courtroom. Whether you’re involved in a criminal case, a civil lawsuit, or both, it’s natural to feel anxious about navigating the legal system—especially if you’ve already endured trauma. At […]
What to Expect in Court as a Victim: A Guide to Feeling Prepared and Empowered Read More »
After a criminal conviction, survivors are often left feeling sidelined by a justice system that moves forward without fully acknowledging their harm. But one important exception is the victim impact statement—a chance to speak directly to the court or parole board about how the crime affected your life. This statement can be read aloud or
How to Write a Powerful Victim Impact Statement Read More »
When a student goes through a Title IX investigation for campus sexual harassment, sexual assault, or dating violence, the final decision can feel like the last word. But under federal law, both the complainant and the respondent have the right to appeal. This appeal process plays a critical role in ensuring that Title IX decisions
How to Appeal a Title IX Decision on Campus Read More »
Reporting campus sexual harassment, assault, or stalking is a brave and deeply personal decision. For many students, coming forward is the first step toward reclaiming safety, dignity, and control. But what happens after a report is filed? How do schools respond—and what rights do students have during that process? Title IX is a federal law
What Happens After a Campus Sexual Harassment Report? Read More »
The rise of AI-generated abuse and digital harassment has rapidly outpaced the laws designed to protect victims. Survivors are increasingly targeted through the nonconsensual creation and distribution of deepfake pornography—highly realistic digital depictions that make it appear as if a person is engaging in sexual activity when they are not. Until now, many states, including
Colorado’s New Intimate Digital Depictions Law (SB25-288) Read More »
The internet can be a powerful tool—but in the wrong hands, it becomes a weapon. For too many people, particularly women and girls, intimate images are shared online without consent in an attempt to shame, control, or humiliate. This kind of abuse is known as image-based sexual abuse, or IBSA. It includes revenge porn, sextortion,
The Take It Down Act: A Powerful New Law to Help Survivors of Cyber Sexual Abuse Read More »
Let’s be honest—college isn’t just about classes and campus life. It’s also a place where lines can get crossed. Sometimes badly. Whether it’s unwanted comments from a professor, pressure from someone you’re dating, or outright sexual assault, navigating these experiences while trying to stay on top of your education is a lot. Add in confusing
Title IX for College Students: Know Your Rights, Use Your Voice Read More »
College is supposed to be one of the most exciting times of your life—a fresh start, new friendships, maybe your first real relationship. But what happens when the person you’re dating—the one who’s supposed to care about you—starts to control you, isolate you, or hurt you? It happens more often than most people think. And
Dating Violence in College: When Love Turns Dangerous—What to Do Read More »
The Hidden Crisis No One Talks About There’s a crisis happening in the foster care system that few people acknowledge, and even fewer take action to fix. Foster care is supposed to be a place of protection, a second chance for children who have already endured unimaginable hardships. But for too many, it becomes another
The Silent Epidemic of Foster Care Abuse—And What We Can Do About It Read More »
Illinois’s Foster Care System Has Been Failing for Decades—And Children Are Paying the Price Illinois’s child welfare system has been in crisis for years. In the 1980s, the ACLU sued the state for having a constitutionally defective foster care system—decades later, Illinois remains under a court-monitored consent decree intended to rectify these failures. Despite ongoing
How to Fight Back If a Child You Love Is Being Abused in Illinois Foster Care Read More »
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