What is institutional abuse?

Institutional abuse, also known as organizational abuse, is when individuals are harmed by the structures or hierarchy of an institution or care setting. Examples include places like churches, schools, prisons, rehab or mental health facilities, and workplaces (including the armed forces).

In instances of sexual abuse cases, institutions may close ranks and hide wrongdoing instead of punishing it. They may also intimidate, threaten, or otherwise silence those victimized because they believe open honesty would harm the reputation of the organization.

Church leadership may prioritize the image of the institution over the well-being of parishioners, moving sexual predators around to unsuspecting congregations. In this way, the church itself becomes the perpetrator of sexual crimes, which is why the institutions themselves are frequently named in lawsuits from survivors. If you have a case to bring against a religious institution, contact the Pride Law Firm at 619-514-2968 to hold them accountable.