How You Can Respond to Sexual Assault Allegations

Being accused of sexual assault can be a deeply distressing experience that can take an enormous emotional and psychological toll on the accused. Unfortunately, it’s common for people to make unfavorable assumptions about you even before you’ve had the chance to defend yourself. Despite this, you must keep in mind that you are innocent until proven guilty, and your behavior at this point may negatively impact not just your peers but also school administrators who have the authority to convict you.

If you’re facing allegations of sexual assault, here are some things that you should do or avoid doing to maximize your chances of a favorable outcome:

How to Respond
1. Talk to Someone You Trust

It’s easy for respondents receiving false or genuine allegations of sexual assault to feel disheartened by how their peers and school staff treat them. This can make them more vulnerable and easier to influence during legal proceedings. That’s why it helps to talk with someone whom you trust, whether this person is a friend, counselor, or parent. Exploring your emotions surrounding the accusations, without necessarily detailing what happened between you and your accuser(s), helps soothe any aggravation.

2. Get Legal Counsel

While it is possible to go through the school’s processes alone, it is not advisable – nor is it necessary. Getting access to a proficient attorney is a constitutional right that every individual should be granted. Conversations with attorneys are confidential because they fall under attorney-client privilege protections that safeguard communications during legal services provision fundamentally. Consulting an experienced lawyer who has worked on cases of a similar nature as yours could help enhance the likelihood of obtaining favorable outcomes.

Things Not To Do
1. Don’t Reach Out Every time You Feel Like It

The U.S Department of Education mandates issuing no-contact orders against respondents accused of sexual assault crimes so that both parties can get separated throughout investigations and proceedings conducted by schools or litigation teams handling the case. You should not attempt to contact your accuser no matter how tempted you might be—doing so could lead to allegations of unexpected retaliation.

2. Don’t Fiddle With Witnesses

The issue with modifying statements is that it may imply that the witness(s) making the statement is dubious or that you are trying hard to manipulate the narrative. Also, school authorities may perceive this as unreliable testimony, even if it was an accidental misinterpretation of events.

3. Do Not Intimidate Witnesses

Although frustration can make it easy for you to act inappropriately towards witnesses who testify against you, abusive behavior and intimidation never help a case out of such situations. It’s critical defendants stay away from threatening or intimidating witnesses as these actions are reckless and are unhelpful in your case.

4. Don’t Prescribe Words To Witnesses During Interview

It’s essential to understand that telling witnesses what you’d like them to say during interviews can significantly damage your defense team’s credibility if they come off as scripted or forced answers rather than natural testimonies.

Experienced Defense Attorney
If sexual assault allegations have been leveled against you, it becomes increasingly necessary that you speak with a reputable attorney experienced in handling similar cases immediately without delay. Facing degrading legal processes is unfair enough without any more needless disadvantages further crippling your chances of winning the trial due to ignorance on proper legal procedure or faults in representation. Contact attorney Todd Spodek today at 212-300-5196 and hire someone who sees your interests prioritized above all else as they work with determination until justice has been appropriately served.