To want to prosecute my mother :TW child abuse

[DogGoneCrazyNow]

Hi,

Posting here for traffic.

Try not to be too outing but I was sexually abused by my step-dad and took him to court finally as an adult with the aid of the police. He died before we got there.

My mother knew, allowed it. Encouraged some truly awful behaviour and did some herself (think pimping my sister, drunk and on drugs). She was neglectful at best and enabling.

Does anyone know if I can take her to the police? I am so angry still and to be honest it's infuriating she's not faced justice (and yes I'm in therapy, have been for years ).

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Of course you can take action against her.

No crime should go unpunished x

I’m sorry this happened to you.

Of course you can and should, if you want to, report it to the police giving as much evidence as you can.

After that I imagine it’s up to the police to investigate and the CPS ultimately to decide if there is scope for a prosecution. As you obviously already know this can take a very long time and will bring up a lot more trauma for you. Are you feeling strong enough and supported enough to face this?

Good luck with your decision and I wish you well.

Yes you can obviously report any crime and it's never too late. I hope you have recieved help and support for the abuse you suffered.

I’m so sorry this happened to you and your sister. Have you got support? If you feel safe and strong, then yes definitely report her to the police.
I hope you heal.

I'm so sorry such awful things were done to you.

Yes you can and should report it.

There are sexual abuse survival groups who could help you make your decision. Crimes have got to meet legal thresholds, be in the public interest and costs are looked at before the CPS will give the go ahead. It's often very frustrating for the Police and SWs. A lot of child abuse goes unpunished, including sexual abuse. As said it will bring up a lot of trauma, which is why I suggest a support group first. Is your Sister onboard?

Also during the time you were being supported by the Police, did you explore with them your Mother's role?

I've got lots of support but I'm not sure if my sister will be on board. However there will be hospital records which coincide with certain events so hopefully that will be useful. It may not come to anything but I feel I have to try. Sort of feels like unfinished business.

I think reporting historical abuse can be healing even if nothing comes from it in terms of going to trial. Heaving someone hear your experience and record it helps to know the wrongness of what happened - speaking up for your child self who couldn’t speak at the time.

While it may bring up old trauma, for me it was one of the most freeing things I did, I’d done a lot of work on myself by that point and felt the injustice of me being the one to hold it all. Reporting to the police was fine, the officers were sensitive and affirming of my decision to do so even though we knew after such a time it would be unlikely to end in criminal proceedings.