How to Report Child Abuse in New York
Knowing how to report child abuse in New York can have an enormous impact on the life of an abused child.

The Catholic Church covered-up s exual abuse of children by its clergy member for decade upon decade, and the Boy Scouts of America were complicit in the sexual assault and molestation of young boys by BSA scout leaders. This same apprehension stopped people from going to the authorities about Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assaults. This wealthy predator relied on power and influence to intimidate survivors, forcing them to suffer in silence. Knowing all this still makes it no less shocking to hear that one out of every three girls and one in five boys experience sexual abuse or assault before the age of 18. Even more tragic, most victims of child sexual abuse are too afraid to ever tell anyone.

If you are aware of child abuse, don’t remain silent. Here’s how to report child abuse in New York.

Pick Up the Phone

People struggle with facing potential abusers. Will they lash out? Will an abuser hurt someone who tries to stop them? Don’t let your fears stand in the way of getting help for an innocent and vulnerable child. If you suspect sexual or any other type of abuse, pick up the phone and make the call. You can report your suspicions to the New York State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. The phone line is open 24 hours a day.

Not Completely Positive Abuse is Happening?

Are you afraid to make a call because you only have a terrible feeling that a child may be abused? Don’t let that stop you. There’s probably a reason you have that feeling, and it drove you to search for how to report child abuse. You don’t need hard evidence when you call the hotline. Go with your instincts and dial.

A child protection specialist will answer your call. Speak to them about your concerns. If you don’t help that child now, it may be years before they can speak out for themselves. They may never have the courage at all, and the abuser will continue the pattern of abuse.

The good news is the statute of limitations laws are changing in New York so that more abusers are caught and prosecuted. Victims can see some form of restitution.

But don’t wait if you can help now.

What Will They Want to Know?

Just knowing how to report child abuse makes it far less frightening. When the child protection specialist answers your call, they will ask a handful of questions. Here are a few samples.
- The child’s home address, age, and name.
- What types of injuries have you noticed?
- What is the risk of harm to the child?
- Have there been prior injuries to the child that raised your suspicions?
- What are the parent’s names and addresses?
- Who do you suspect caused the harm?
Answer all questions to the best of your ability. Let the specialists handle it from there.

What Happens Next?

The specialist determines whether there’s enough information for a report of abuse. If the answer is yes, the specialist will notify Child Protective Services (CPS).

CPS initiates an investigation within 24 hours of receiving the report.

Now You Know How to Report Child Abuse

Now you know how to report child abuse. If you suspect someone is abusing your child or any other child, please don’t hesitate to report it.

Our fears, doubts, and other concerns often prevent us from doing the right thing. Your call could stop a long cycle of abuse. It could also change a child’s life forever for the better.

Don’t wait to make the call.

Are you or someone you know a survivor of abuse? You could have a case. Contact us for a free case review or call 716-600-0000.
Steve Boyd

January 26, 2023

Child Victims Act, Priest Abuse, Sexual Abuse

Child Abuse, child sexual abuse, mandatory reporting, Sexual abuse
Why sexual abuse survivors are reluctant to come forward
Many sexual abuse survivors are reluctant to come forward; it sometimes takes decades, and a majority never do. This can make successful trials difficult because the evidence is often long buried. With more and more cases of adults taking on their abusers, why do survivors of sexual abuse stay silent, especially when the heinous crimes of child sexual abuse, sexual assault, and molestation are condemned by our legal system?

Statistics—Child Sexual Abuse Survivors

The number of reported child sexual abuse cases is on the rise across the globe. Yet, sadly, the number of reported cases is estimated to be a mere 20% or less of total child sexual abuse cases.

Child sexual abuse is not limited to a particular group; no economic status, race, or gender is immune to experiencing childhood sexual abuse. However, statistics show that patterns emerge when the abuse risk increases. For example, females are five times more at risk for abuse than males, and foster kids are ten times more likely to be targeted by predators than children not in the foster system.

Why Do Sexual Assault Victims Stay Silent?

There are reasons why sexual assault and molestation cases go unreported, and if they are, often it’s decades later.
- The abuser is a family member.
- The child is dependent on them to supply basic needs.
- The abuser has threatened the child.
- The child feels a sense of guilt or embarrassment.
Understanding Predators, Taboos, and Institutional Trust

1. Predators Target Quiet Children

Sexual predators often groom their victims, meticulously planning whom they will target and how. Most predators will play it safe and target children less likely to talk. Children with obvious vulnerabilities, isolated, insecure, or quiet are prime targets. Therefore, the child’s increased introversion may go unnoticed.

2. Lack of Sex Education or Consent Education

While it may be viewed as inappropriate to talk with young children about sexuality before puberty, the fact that the topic is somehow taboo can silence survivors. If the child believes it is wrong or inappropriate to discuss what is happening to them, they will be less likely to come forward. Abusers know this and capitalize on it.

3. Damage to Institutional Trust

The third and often most damaging is a survivor’s inability to trust. Children look up to adults for guidance in all things. Adults should be the experts and the people who teach and bring comfort. Unfortunately, many abusers are close to the targeted child’s family, holding positions of power where predators gain access to children: trusted clergy members, family friends, immediate relatives, and even one or both parents. The resulting damage to a child’s trust in these adults makes it harder to come forward. Why would a child trust a teacher or a lawyer if they couldn’t trust their family?

This damage is also one of the most significant strains on victims later in life, damaging their ability to build lasting relationships.

How Can You Help?

Dealing with the fallout of child sexual abuse is a painful process. Keep a close eye on the children in your lives for signs of abuse that can help prevent these heinous acts. Learn how to report child abuse so you can contact authorities immediately.

In the meantime, if you or a loved one are attempting to confront a childhood abuser, we are here to help. Find justice and peace of mind with our experienced help. Attorney Steve Boyd has worked with survivors in many cases. He is a strong advocate for the rights of survivors and is committed to fighting for you. Contact our office today to confidentially discuss your situation. We will provide you with a free case review.
Steve Boyd

January 26, 2023

Child Victims Act, Sexual Abuse

child sexual abuse, Sexual abuse, survivors
Young Harvey Weinstein — A Predator’s Buffalo Beginnings
At this point, people everywhere know Harvey Weinstein’s many crimes against up-and-coming and well-known actresses. The New York Attorney General Letitia James recently announced that there would be a compensation fund of about $19 million for survivors of Weinstein’s crimes. He’s spent time at Rikers Island and Wende Correctional Facility, located in Alden, New York. The prison is merely a stone’s throw from Buffalo, but it’s not the predator’s first time in Western New York. To learn more about his life and association with the Queen City, we decided to take a look back at his formative years at the University at Buffalo.

Young Harvey Weinstein at UB

Before he became the rapist known ‘round the world, Weinstein had a reasonably conventional upbringing. Born to second-generation immigrants in Queens, Weinstein and his brother, Bob, grew up in an average American household. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the University at Buffalo. It was during his collegiate years that the convicted sex offender discovered he had a knack for event production. This led him to found Buffalo’s premier concert production company, Harvey & Corky Productions.

Harvey & Corky

If you ask Buffalonians who were around in the 70s, the name Harvey & Corky Productions will undoubtedly ring a bell. Weinstein started the company with Bob and his friend, Corky Burger. The company quickly gained notoriety for bringing some of the most prominent music groups of the decade to Buffalo. Some headliners include:
- The Rolling Stones
- Aerosmith
- The Police
- Frank Sinatra
- U2
- Bette Midler
- John Mellencamp
- Pat Benatar
And many more. After booking a few of the biggest stars of the time, Weinstein bought a Clarence nightclub with Burger, Stage One, to host musical acts. Young Harvey Weinstein was certainly making a name for himself as one of the most promising names in the Buffalo entertainment industry.

Unfortunately, it’s likely that this lust for power is where his predatory behavior started. Patrick Nehin remembers running into Weinstein and Nehin’s girlfriend at the time in a hotel’s coffeehouse early in the morning. According to Nehin, his girlfriend said that Weinstein tricked her into coming over to Weinstein’s apartment to watch Casablanca. After a belligerent and confrontational Weinstein followed him to the parking lot, Nehin decided to take matters into his own hands.

“…I closed my eyes and hit him as hard as I could,” Nehin recalled to the Buffalo News. “His nose exploded.”

Harvey in Hollywood

If Nehin was hoping to leave Weinstein with a lesson in addition to a broken nose, he was sorely mistaken. A few years later, Weinstein founded Miramax, a wildly successful production and distribution company. It quickly went on to become a household name, releasing such popular films as Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love, and Chicago.

However, the success of the business not only earned Weinstein millions; it gave him excessive power, as well. His crimes are well-known now but were merely a dark rumor in the underbelly of the film world. Despite all of the brief allusions to his vulgar reputation — from Gwyneth Paltrow’s reference to Weinstein being a coercer on David Letterman to the mentions of his predatory behavior by 30 Rock character Jenna Maroney — it wasn’t until the MeToo movement gained enough momentum in 2017 to take down this Hollywood star.

What This Means

Many actresses and other acquaintances of Weinstein’s came forward to tell their stories of coercion and rape. He was eventually convicted of sexual assault and rape in New York and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Weinstein is also waiting for a criminal trial in Los Angeles due to his many Hollywood allegations.

What’s become known as the Weinstein effect has taken place, leading women and men in almost every industry to voice their assault and harassment experiences. Since 2017, 83 people have accused Weinstein of harassment and rape, mostly those based in Los Angeles or New York City.

Yet, Buffalonians who can remember the initial rise of a young Harvey Weinstein have remained silent.

Are More Survivors Out There?

Chances are likely that there may be more unheard tales of abuse at the hands of Weinstein. Certainly, Nehin thought that his experience with Weinstein’s darker side might have been foreshadowing.

“Now, after all this, I wonder if he tricked [my girlfriend] into a massage. You think that a person is bad, then you find out it’s much worse than you imagined. I think he is one of the worst people in America.”

If Weinstein abused you or someone you know, please contact us. Steve Boyd has represented hundreds of abuse survivors, and he’s ready to achieve justice for you.
Steve Boyd

July 2, 2020

Sexual Abuse

current events, Sexual abuse
[How to] Protect Your Children From Sexual Predators

Like every good parent, you want to learn the best ways to protect your children from sexual predators. The statistics are chilling. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), child protective services find evidence of child sexual abuse every nine minutes.

There are steps you can take to educate yourself and your child about sexual predators. Sexual predators move and operate in a certain manner, and the sooner you know how to identify these mannerisms, the safer your children will be.

Here is a guide to help you protect your children.

1. Speak with Your Children

Take the time to talk to your kids about their day, every day. At the end of the night, or maybe over dinner, ask if their day went well, what happened and who they spend time with. You have to be the one to identify things that are not right and let them know.

Once talking about their day becomes a routine, you’ll get insight into what is happening, which can help you stop abuse before it starts.

2. Teach Kids That a Bad Touch Can Come from Anyone

Unfortunately, many children are sexually abused by someone they know and trust. You need to teach your children which touches are inappropriate. Let them know that no one should touch them in these ways.

Make children know that this goes for even family members and close friends. Your children should be aware that nobody should ever violate their bodies and make them uncomfortable.

3. Know Who Your Child Is with At All Times

You need to know where your children are at all times. Don’t send your children to sleepovers at friends’ homes unless you know the parents very well and your child is excited to go.

However, you should bear in mind that predators also have ways to befriend parents, so be careful who you let into your life.

4. More Than One Chaperone for Youth Groups

A sexual predator can be in youth groups. Abused children may also abuse children because, sadly, the behavior, to them, has become normal. They might grow up to continue this pattern of behavior.

There should be more than one chaperone for youth meetings to prevent opportunities for abuse. You also need to know who chaperones for youth groups are to protect your children.

Ask intrusive questions about chaperones, do not be afraid. You must be vigilant because the impact of sexual abuse lasts a lifetime.

5. Teach Children Not to Keep Secrets

One of the favorite tactics of a predator is to ask children to keep secrets. They often develop a relationship with children that involves one secret after another.

They depend on the silence of their victims, and this is why many abuse victims are reluctant to come forward. Predators start with small secrets that seem like a game to test the child.

Then they gauge when the time is right for them to molest a child and ask them to keep it a secret. Let your child know that no one should ask them to keep secrets from their parents.

Final Thoughts on How to Protect your Children from Sexual Predators

Your child doesn’t have to become a victim once you educate yourself and inform them as well. The best way to stop sexual abuse and protect your children is to educate them.

You also need to watch out for changes in the behavior of your children. When you stay alert, you can see the plots of predators before they strike and cause damage to your children.

Contact the authorities immediately if you believe that your child has been abused. If you would like to learn more about this sensitive topic, take a look at our personal injury attorney blog to find relevant posts.

Steve Boyd

July 25, 2019

Sexual Abuse

Child Abuse, Child Predators, Sexual abuse
Sexual Abuse Survivors: How to Bring Peace, Healing & Justice

Sexual abuse survivors often find that they don’t get justice in the criminal court system. Learn more about how you can find justice in the civil court system.

Sexual abuse is an atrocity that is horrifyingly common in our society. One in every six women will be sexually assaulted or raped. With those statistics, you will certainly know people in your life who are sexual abuse survivors.

When you find out someone you know has been sexually abused, it can be difficult to know what to say. How do you offer comfort and help that person find healing and justice? Read on to learn more about how you can help in that situation.

Listen to Sexual Abuse Survivors

If you are someone looking for a way to support survivors of sexual abuse, the first and most important thing you can do is listen to survivors. Only about 23 percent of sexual abuse survivors actually ever report their abuse. This is due in large part to the fact that no one, from the criminal justice system to members of their own families, seems to believe that a victim was, in fact, abused and that it was not their fault.

If someone tells you they have been raped or sexually abused, take their word for it and tell them you believe them. Defend them against people who say that they are making it up or that it was somehow their own fault. The victim has already had to suffer through surviving the abuse; they shouldn’t have to fight a battle to convince people it happened, too.

Facilitate Psychological Support

Another crucial step in supporting sexual abuse survivors is to do what you can to make sure they get psychological support. Sexual abuse is an attack on the mind as much as it is on the body; it’s about power and taking it away from the victim. Rape and sexual assault survivors need professional psychological support to move past the trauma of the incident in a healthy way.

Sexual abuse victims are more at risk for a wide variety of mental health issues, including PTSD, depression, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders, and anxiety. They are also thirteen times more likely to commit suicide than non-survivors. So do everything you can to help the survivor get the support and counseling they need, and make sure they know there’s no shame in needing help.

Get the Separate Legal Representation

You can also help a sexual abuse survivor by making sure they get separate legal representation during any court cases. A lot of times, especially in the immediate aftermath, a victim isn’t thinking clearly. They may not think to call a lawyer when they report to the police, or they may worry about how they will afford it.

But making sure a sexual abuse survivor has a lawyer on their side can help ensure that their abuse does not go unpunished. The lawyer will help make sure the case reaches court and that defense attorneys don’t run roughshod over them during the trial. Survivors deserve to have the best defense they can during court proceedings.

Get the Right Defense

Sexual abuse survivors have a long, hard battle ahead of them, both in the criminal justice system and in the mental health arena. They deserve all the support and justice that can be found for them. You can be an important part of that by starting with these little steps.

If you need representation in a sexual abuse case, reach out to us at the Law Offices of Steve Boyd and John Elmore. We will do everything we can to help you find justice, and we won’t charge a legal fee unless we win your case. Contact us today to start seeking justice.

Steve Boyd

July 18, 2019

Sexual Abuse

child victims act, Sexual abuse
Why Sexual Abuse Survivors Stay Silent

There are many complex reasons why sexual abuse survivors stay silent and why some never come forward. Sadly, research shows 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18, and 63% percent of sexual assault incidents are never reported to the police. A German study of 165 adult survivors of child sexual abuse conducted in 2018 shows that, on average, it takes 24 years from the time of the abuse before a survivor will tell anyone they were abused. A 2014 study found the average age for reporting abuse is age 52. So, why do sexual abuse survivors stay silent? Below we discuss a few of the reasons.

Feeling Alone

Survivors of sexual abuse may feel like they’re alone, that the only person this awful thing happened to was them. In the past, our society held educators and clergy in very high esteem. This made survivors of abuse less likely to want to report for fear of being disbelieved.

There is strength in numbers.

Larry Nassar, the gymnastics coach, was a respected member of his community, but look at how many girls and women came forth saying that he abused them. Once a few courageous survivors spoke out, others followed.

Some people are afraid if they speak up, they won’t be heard or listened to, and that can cause feelings of being isolated and feeling like no one will understand what they’re going through. When they’re not listened to or heard when they first try to speak up, this deters them from speaking up again.

Fear of Not Being Believed

A big factor in victims not coming forward is the fear of not being believed.

Sometimes when they come forward, people tell them or imply that what happened was their own fault, that maybe they put themselves in that situation. Sometimes if the abuser seems respectable, people dismiss the accusations without looking into it.

Sometimes when kids tell their parents what happened, the parent doesn’t want to believe them because they think their child is lying or making up stories when, in reality, children don’t usually lie about that sort of thing.

The Abuser is Someone in Power

Sometimes abuse victims don’t come forward because the person who abused them has power or something over them. This is especially true of the clergy. In particular, the view of clergy in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s was much different than it is today. It was only the in the early 1990s that these cases came to light. In 1993, as a TV journalist, I began reporting on these abuses in the Diocese of Buffalo. You can see my first story by clicking here.

If someone is also in a high place of power with money and resources, it may also make them harder to bring to justice if they have money to hire a great lawyer and the accused don’t.

Dealing With Stigma and Shame

There is still a lot of stigma around sexual abuse, and for some people, there is still a lot of shame around sex.

Even though it is not the survivor’s fault, that shame and stigma could still be attached to coming forward, and some may find it easier to keep quiet rather than to speak up.

Sometimes people ask what the survivor was wearing when the abuse happened, implying that the victim incited the incident. This type of skepticism can retraumatize survivors.

Help for Victims of Sexual Abuse

The New York Child Victims Act gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse new rights. There is a one-year window to bring a claim against church schools and other institutions that employed and protected predators.

If you are ready to come forward with your story, we can help. If you are not ready to discuss your case with an attorney, I strongly urge you to consider counseling. Counseling can provide a great deal of healing for people who have lived with the pain of childhood abuse.

If you decide to get legal help, we will hear and help you. We only charge legal fees if your case is resolved. For more information, check us out here.

Steve Boyd

February 8, 2019

Priest Abuse, Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse

Tag: Sexual abuse

Pick Up the Phone

Not Completely Positive Abuse is Happening?

What Will They Want to Know?

What Happens Next?

Now You Know How to Report Child Abuse

Statistics—Child Sexual Abuse Survivors

Why Do Sexual Assault Victims Stay Silent?

Understanding Predators, Taboos, and Institutional Trust

1. Predators Target Quiet Children

2. Lack of Sex Education or Consent Education

3. Damage to Institutional Trust

How Can You Help?

Young Harvey Weinstein at UB

Harvey & Corky

Harvey in Hollywood

What This Means

Are More Survivors Out There?

1. Speak with Your Children

2. Teach Kids That a Bad Touch Can Come from Anyone

3. Know Who Your Child Is with At All Times

4. More Than One Chaperone for Youth Groups

5. Teach Children Not to Keep Secrets

Final Thoughts on How to Protect your Children from Sexual Predators

Sexual abuse survivors often find that they don’t get justice in the criminal court system. Learn more about how you can find justice in the civil court system.

Listen to Sexual Abuse Survivors

Facilitate Psychological Support

Get the Separate Legal Representation

Get the Right Defense

Feeling Alone

Fear of Not Being Believed

The Abuser is Someone in Power

Dealing With Stigma and Shame

Help for Victims of Sexual Abuse