While it’s challenging to know exactly how many sexual assault reports are false, estimates put them in the range of 2% to 8%. The sad reality is that many people make false reports to the authorities about sex crimes that forever have implications for the accused.
A loss of trust is one of the most significant repercussions, with many people struggling to regain it even after they were found innocent of their alleged crimes. If you’ve found yourself in this very position, here are a few actions you can take to potentially regain that lost trust in your family.
Seek Legal Help
Being legally cleared of wrongdoing can often be one of the most effective ways to start fixing broken relationships on the back of a false sex crime allegation. Contact a pornography lawyer or a lawyer who specializes in sex crimes. They are highly skilled in various sex-related cases, from rape and sexual assault to sexual battery, sex offenses against minors, and possession of child pornography.
If you’re not guilty of your crimes, they’ll help you develop a solid case to potentially improve your chances of being cleared. Clearing your name might be much more challenging and stressful without legal help.
Be Ready for Setbacks
As important as it can be for you to regain your family’s trust, it won’t happen overnight. It’s also not a linear process where you continually make gains until you’re a reunited family unit once more. Building trust takes time, and you can experience countless setbacks along the way. It’s crucial to accept these setbacks as part of the process. Be patient and understand that progress takes time.
Seek Family Counseling
Sex crime allegations can tear a family apart, whether the accusations are true or not. When your family is struggling to come to terms with this turn of events, it can make sense to seek family counseling with a licensed professional. They can be the safe space your family needs for open communication. Therapists are also qualified to help your family move toward a resolution. What that resolution looks like can depend on the allegations, legal outcomes, and family preferences.
Stay Calm
Being wrongly accused of a sex crime would make anyone upset and angry. It’s only natural to lash out and do things out of anger. However, reacting impulsively rarely helps a situation as severe as sex crimes.
Staying calm in the face of false allegations is never easy, but it can be crucial for ensuring the situation doesn’t get any worse than it already is. Mindfulness meditation, long walks, and even running might be a few activities you can do to help yourself remain calm and in control.
Respect Your Family’s Boundaries
As much as your family might love you, allegations of a sex crime can be a lot for them to deal with. They might not be ready to engage with or talk to you immediately. As frustrating as it can be to be unable to communicate your side of the story with those who matter to you the most, you must be patient. Respect your family’s boundaries to help them process the situation.
Sex crime allegations are serious, whether they’re true or not. Trust can take a long time to rebuild, so remember to give your family time and space while ensuring you remain calm and prioritizing communication.
