When most people think of child sexual abuse, they imagine an adult harming a child. However, abuse can also occur between minors. Known as peer-to-peer sexual abuse, these cases are often overlooked or misunderstood. They can happen in schools, youth programs, sports teams, and even within families.
Although one child may be the direct abuser, adults and institutions who failed to supervise or intervene can still be held responsible. Attorney Grant Boyd and O’Brien Law Firm represent survivors and families in these complex cases, helping them pursue justice through Missouri’s civil courts.
Understanding Peer-to-Peer Sexual Abuse
Peer-to-peer sexual abuse occurs when one minor engages in harmful sexual behavior toward another. This can include inappropriate touching, coercion, or assault. While the perpetrator may also be a minor, the harm to the victim is no less severe.
Children who commit these acts are often influenced by exposure to violence, prior victimization, or a lack of proper supervision. What makes these cases especially challenging is that they occur within environments where adults have a duty to protect every child in their care.
Where Peer Abuse Commonly Occurs
These incidents often happen in settings where children spend significant time under adult supervision, including:
- Schools and classrooms where staff overlook bullying or inappropriate behavior
- Sports teams and locker rooms with little adult oversight
- Church groups or youth ministries that fail to enforce boundaries
- Daycare centers or camps where caregivers are distracted or poorly trained
- Foster homes or group facilities with inadequate monitoring
In nearly all cases, the abuse could have been prevented if adults had acted responsibly.
When Institutions Can Be Held Accountable
Even though the abuser is a minor, civil law allows survivors to file lawsuits against the adults and organizations who enabled the abuse. Missouri courts recognize that institutions owe a duty of care to the children they supervise.
A school, church, or youth organization can be held liable if they:
- Ignored warning signs of misconduct
- Failed to separate or supervise children appropriately
- Did not report prior incidents or complaints
- Hired or retained unqualified staff
- Created environments where abuse could occur unnoticed
Attorney Grant Boyd investigates how the abuse was allowed to happen, focusing on whether those in charge failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm.
Why These Cases Are Often Mishandled
Peer-to-peer abuse is sometimes dismissed as “kids experimenting” or “roughhousing.” This response minimizes the trauma experienced by the victim and allows unsafe situations to continue. Schools and youth programs may avoid reporting incidents out of fear of public scrutiny.
This inaction can have lasting consequences for the survivor. They may face lifelong emotional challenges such as anxiety, depression, or difficulty trusting others. Civil lawsuits bring accountability to institutions that ignored or mishandled these incidents.
Missouri Civil Statutes of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse
Missouri law provides specific deadlines for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file a civil claim. These deadlines apply to both peer and adult abuse cases:
- Against the abuser: Survivors may file until age 31
- Against a negligent institution or non-perpetrator: Survivors may file until age 26
Certain circumstances, such as delayed disclosure or newly discovered evidence, may extend these deadlines.
Important Note: Statutes of limitations can be complex and may depend on the specific facts of a case. Survivors should speak with an attorney as soon as possible to understand their legal options and filing deadlines.
Because every case is unique, survivors should not assume too much time has passed before consulting a lawyer.
Gathering Evidence in Peer Abuse Cases
Building a civil case for peer-to-peer abuse requires evidence that adults or institutions failed in their duty to protect. Important documentation may include:
- Witness statements from teachers, coaches, or classmates
- School disciplinary records or incident reports
- Emails or text messages acknowledging the incident
- Medical or counseling records
- Expert testimony from trauma specialists
Even when no physical evidence remains, credible witness accounts and institutional records can demonstrate negligence.
How Civil Lawsuits Help Survivors and Families
A civil lawsuit does more than assign blame. It provides survivors and their families with the opportunity to seek closure and ensure accountability. Legal action can:
- Provide compensation for therapy and recovery expenses
- Expose negligent institutions and prevent future harm
- Offer validation and acknowledgment of the survivor’s experience
- Encourage reforms in supervision, training, and reporting policies
For many families, pursuing justice is also about protecting other children from suffering the same trauma.
Trauma-Informed Legal Advocacy
Because peer-to-peer cases often involve children on both sides, sensitivity is crucial. Attorney Grant Boyd approaches each case with compassion and professionalism, prioritizing the survivor’s emotional safety.
At O’Brien Law Firm, the legal process is handled with care, ensuring that survivors and families:
- Are supported by mental health professionals when needed
- Understand each step before decisions are made
- Have full control over how their story is shared
- Receive guidance that promotes healing rather than retraumatization
The goal is to restore dignity while pursuing justice.
Taking the First Step Toward Justice
Peer-to-peer sexual abuse can leave deep emotional scars that last into adulthood. Survivors and their families deserve to know that someone is responsible for preventing these acts. Civil lawsuits hold institutions accountable and help create safer environments for all children.
If your child was harmed by another minor under the supervision of a school, church, or youth program, O’Brien Law Firm can help. Attorney Grant Boyd will listen, explain your options, and fight for accountability through the civil justice system.
Every survivor’s story matters. Justice can begin today.