Sexual abuse victims’ rights Raleigh, North Carolina

Sexual abuse victims’ rights Raleigh, North Carolina

Sexual abuse victims’ rights Raleigh, North Carolina

Sexual abuse victims' rights in Raleigh, North Carolina are an important issue that shouldn't be ignored. People who have endured such traumas should be supported and given access to resources which can help them move forward with their lives. It's crucial that victims' rights are protected and that they are granted the necessary services to aid in their recovery! For more information about an experienced sexual abuse law firm in North Carolina, visit our Abuse Guardian for North Carolina website.

The first right all sexual abuse victims have is the right to seek counseling without any financial burden. There are many organizations in Raleigh, North Carolina which offer free or low-cost counselling services for those who have been affected by sexual assault or abuse. These programs provide a safe place for survivors to explore their feelings and begin the healing process. Additionally, these facilities often provide support groups and educational workshops so individuals can learn more about how to cope with this traumatic experience.

Furthermore, every victim of sexual abuse has a right to justice. It is imperative that abusers face legal consequences for their actions through criminal proceedings. The court system provides protection from further harm as well as a platform for survivors to speak up about what happened to them and get closure on the situation at hand. All too often, perpetrators of these crimes go unpunished due to lack of evidence or difficulty in filing charges; therefore it's essential that victims have access to an advocate or legal representative if needed during the trial period.

Finally, each survivor has a right to privacy when it comes to discussing past experiences with friends, family or employers. No one should feel pressured into divulging information about their trauma if they don't feel comfortable doing so; instead they should be allowed autonomy over how much (or how little) information they wish share regarding their ordeal. This freedom ensures safety while still allowing individuals some control over how they handle these sensitive matters.

It's obvious that sexual abuse victims' rights must be respected and upheld at all times; no person should ever feel ashamed or embarrassed about coming forward after suffering such a violation--and proper support systems must be put in place so that survivors can receive the care they need without fear of judgement or retribution! By taking appropriate measures on both individual and societal levels we can ensure maximum protection against such heinous acts, ultimately creating safer environments for everyone involved.

Sexual abuse victims’ rights Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh
Nickname(s): 
City of Oaks, Raleigh Wood, Oak City[1][2]
Raleigh
Location in North Carolina, United States & North America
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Raleigh
Raleigh (the United States)
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Raleigh
Raleigh (North America)
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Coordinates: 35°51′15″N 78°45′43″W / 35.85417°N 78.76194°W / 35.85417; -78.76194
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesWake, Durham
CharteredDecember 31, 1794
Named forSir Walter Raleigh
Government
 • TypeCouncil–Manager
 • BodyRaleigh City Council
 • MayorMary-Ann Baldwin (D)
 • Council
Members
  • Jonathan Melton at-large (D)
  • Stormie Forte at-large (D)
  • Mary Black-Branch (A) (D)
  • Megan Patton (B) (D)
  • Corey Branch (C) (D)
  • Jane Harrison (D) (D)
  • Christina Jones (E) (D)
Area
 • State capital149.6 sq mi (387.50 km2)
 • Land147.12[4] sq mi (381 km2)
 • Water1.07 sq mi (2.77 km2)
Elevation331 ft (101 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • State capital467,665
 • Estimate 
(2022)
476,587
 • Rank41st in the United States
2nd in North Carolina
 • Density3,148.33/sq mi (1,215.57/km2)
 • Urban
1,106,646 (US: 43rd)
 • Urban density1,994.6/sq mi (770.1/km2)
 • Metro1,413,982 (US: 42nd)
DemonymRaleighite
Time zoneUTC– 05:00 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC– 04:00 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
276XX
  • 27601, 27603, 27604, 27605, 27606, 27607, 27608, 27609, 27610, 27612, 27613, 27614, 27615, 27616, 27617
Area code(s)919, 984
FIPS code37-55000[8]
GNIS feature ID2404590[6]
Websiteraleighnc.gov

Raleigh is an early example in the United States of a planned city.[17] Following the American Revolutionary War when the U.S. gained independence, the area was chosen as the site of the state capital in 1788 and incorporated in 1792 as such. The city was originally laid out in a grid pattern with the North Carolina State Capitol at the center, in Union Square. During the American Civil War, the city was spared from any significant battle. It fell to the Union in the closing days of the war and struggled with the economic hardships in the postwar period, related to the reconstitution of labor markets, over-reliance on agriculture and the social unrest of the Reconstruction Era. The establishment of the Research Triangle Park (RTP) in 1959 helped create tens of thousands of jobs in the fields of science and technology. By the early 21st century, Raleigh had become one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Most of Raleigh is located within Wake County, with a small portion extending into Durham County.[16] The towns of Apex, Cary, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon are some of Raleigh's primary nearby suburbs and satellite towns. Raleigh is home to North Carolina State University (NC State) and is part of the Research Triangle together with Durham (home of Duke University and North Carolina Central University) and Chapel Hill (home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). The name of the Research Triangle (often shortened to the "Triangle") originated after the 1959 creation of Research Triangle Park (RTP), located in Durham and Wake counties, among the three cities and universities. The Triangle encompasses the U.S. Census Bureau's Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 2,037,430 in 2013.[14] The Raleigh, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated population of 1,390,785 in 2019.[15] Raleigh (/ˈrɑːli/; RAH-lee)[9] is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeast, the 41st-most populous city in the U.S., and the largest city of the Research Triangle metro area. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees, which line the streets in the heart of the city.[10] The city covers a land area of 147.6 sq mi (382 km2). The U.S. Census Bureau counted the city's population as 467,665 in the 2020 census.[11] It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.[12][13] The city of Raleigh is named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who established the now-lost Roanoke Colony in present-day Dare County.

About Raleigh, North Carolina


Bath, the oldest town in North Carolina, was the first nominal capital of the colony from 1705 until 1722, when Edenton took over the role. The colony had no permanent institutions of government until the new capital, New Bern, was established in 1743. In December 1770, Joel Lane successfully petitioned the North Carolina General Assembly to create a new county. On January 5, 1771, the bill creating Wake County was passed in the General Assembly. The county was formed from portions of Cumberland, Orange, and Johnston counties, and was named for Margaret Wake Tryon, the wife of Governor William Tryon. The first county seat was Bloomsbury. New Bern, a port town on the Neuse River 35 mi (56 km) from the Atlantic Ocean, was the largest city and the capital of North Carolina during the American Revolution. When the British Army laid siege to the city, that site could no longer be used as the capital. From 1789 to 1794, when Raleigh was being built, the state capital was Fayetteville. Raleigh was chosen as the site of the new capital in 1788, as its central location protected it from attacks from the coast. It was officially established in 1792 as both county seat and state capital. The city was incorporated on December 31, 1792, and a charter granted January 21, 1795. The city was named for Sir Walter Raleigh, sponsor of Roanoke, the "lost colony" on Roanoke Island. No known city or town existed previously on the chosen city site. Raleigh is one of the few cities in the United States that was planned and built specifically to serve as a state capital. Its original boundaries were formed by the downtown streets of North, East, West and South. The plan, a grid with two main axes meeting at a central square and an additional square in each corner, was based on Thomas Holme's 1682 plan for Philadelphia. The city was developed on the land of various plantations including Crabtree, Mordecai, Oak View, Pine Hall, Pullen, Spring Hill, and Wakefield. The North Carolina General Assembly first met in Raleigh in December 1794, and granted the city a charter, with a board of seven appointed commissioners and an "Intendant of Police" (which developed as the office of Mayor) to govern it. After 1803, city commissioners were elected. In 1799, the N.C. Minerva and Raleigh Advertiser was the first newspaper published in Raleigh. John Haywood was the first Intendant of Police. In 1808, Andrew Johnson, the United States' future 17th President, was born at Casso's Inn in Raleigh. The city's first water supply network was completed in 1818, although due to system failures, the project was abandoned. In 1819 Raleigh's first volunteer fire company was founded, followed in 1821 by a full-time fire company. In 1817, the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina was established and headquartered in Raleigh. In 1831, a fire destroyed the North Carolina State House. Two years later, reconstruction began with quarried gneiss being delivered by the first railroad in the state. Raleigh celebrated the completion of the new State Capitol and new Raleigh & Gaston Railroad Company in 1840. In 1853, the first State Fair was held near Raleigh. The first institution of higher learning in Raleigh, Peace College, was established in 1857. Raleigh's Historic Oakwood contains many houses from the 19th century that are still in good condition. North Carolina seceded from the Union during the American Civil War on May 20, 1861. After the war began, Governor Zebulon Baird Vance ordered the construction of breastworks around the city as protection from Union troops. Near the end of the Civil War, Governor Vance arranged his evacuation to avoid capture as Union General William Sherman's forces approached the city. Before leaving, Vance met with former governors Graham and Swain to draft a letter of surrender for Raleigh. Their intention was to protect Raleigh from the destruction inflicted on other cities by Union troops. Graham and Swain departed to meet the advancing Federal forces on the morning of April 12, 1865, and were to return by that evening. The evening struck, but Graham and Swain had not returned due to train delays and their temporary capture by Sherman. Governor Vance left the evening after Graham and Sherman failed to return, leaving behind a letter giving Mayor William H. Harrison the authority to surrender. On the morning of April 13, Mayor Harrison among others went to the southern Wake County area to meet General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick and propose surrender. Kenneth Rayner, a long-time resident of Raleigh, delivered the proposal including a promise of no resistance. Kilpatrick agreed to accept the surrender and protect Raleigh from destruction. Kilpatrick's cavalry occupied Raleigh and removed the flagpole from the state capitol, replacing it with a United States Flag above the dome. Sherman arrived shortly after and established his headquarters in the governor's mansion. The city was spared significant destruction during the war. As Confederate cavalry retreated west, Union soldiers followed, leading to the Battle of Morrisville nearby. Due to the economic and social problems of the post-war period and Reconstruction, with a state economy still heavily dependent on agriculture, the city grew little over the next several decades. Shaw University, the South's first African American college, began classes in 1865 and was chartered in 1875. Its Estey Hall was the first building constructed for the higher education of Black women, and Leonard Medical Center was the first four-year medical school in the country for African Americans. In 1867, Episcopal clergy founded St. Augustine's College for the education of freedmen. The biracial Reconstruction legislature created new welfare institutions: in 1869, it approved the United States' first school for blind and deaf Black people, to be located in Raleigh. In 1874, the federal government constructed the Federal Building in Raleigh, the first federal government project in the Southern U.S. following the Civil War. In 1880, the newspapers News and Observer combined to form The News & Observer. It continues to be Raleigh's primary daily newspaper. The North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now known as North Carolina State University, was founded as a land-grant college in 1887. The city's Rex Hospital opened in 1889 and included the state's first nursing school. The Baptist Women's College, now known as Meredith College, opened in 1891, and in 1898, The Academy of Music, a private music conservatory, was established. In the late nineteenth century, two Black Congressmen were elected from North Carolina's 2nd district, the last in 1898. George Henry White sought to promote civil rights for Black citizens and to challenge efforts by White Democrats to reduce Black voting by new discriminatory laws. He and his allies were unsuccessful. Based on a White supremacy campaign that returned Democrats to dominance, in 1900 the state legislature passed a new constitution, with a suffrage amendment that raised barriers to voter registration, resulting in the disenfranchisement of most Black citizens and many poor White citizens. Loss of the ability to vote also disqualified Black men (and later women) from sitting on juries and serving in any office—local, state or federal. The rising Black middle-class in Raleigh and other areas was politically silenced and shut out of local governance, and the Republican Party was no longer competitive in the state. It was not until after federal civil rights legislation was passed in the mid-1960s that the majority of Black citizens in North Carolina would again be able to vote, sit on juries and serve in local offices. By that time many African Americans had left the state in the Great Migration to northern industrial cities for more opportunities. No African American was elected to Congress from North Carolina until 1992. In 1912, Bloomsbury Park opened, featuring a popular carousel ride. Relocated to Pullen Park, the Pullen Park Carousel is still operating. From 1914 to 1917, an influenza epidemic killed 288 Raleighites. In 1922, WLAC signed on as the city's first radio station, but lasted only two years. WFBQ signed on in 1924 and became WPTF in 1927. It is now Raleigh's oldest continuous radio broadcaster. In 1923, the Raleigh Fall Festival was formed. The Festival was reorganized as the North Carolina Debutante Ball in 1927. Following immigration by Catholics, on December 12, 1924, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh was officially established by Pope Pius XI. The Sacred Heart Cathedral became the official seat of the diocese with William Joseph Hafey as its bishop. The city's first airport, Curtiss-Wright Flying Field, opened in 1929. That same year, the stock market crash resulted in six Raleigh banks closing. During the difficult 1930s of the Great Depression, government at all levels was integral to creating jobs. The city provided recreational and educational programs, and hired people for public works projects. In 1932, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium was dedicated. The North Carolina Symphony, founded the same year, performed in its new home. From 1934 to 1937, the federal Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the area now known as William B. Umstead State Park. In 1939, the State General Assembly chartered the Raleigh-Durham Aeronautical Authority to build a larger airport between Raleigh and Durham, with the first flight occurring in 1943. In 1947, Raleigh citizens adopted a council–manager form of government, which is still the city's current form of government. Council members are elected from single-member districts. They hire a city manager. The Dorton Arena, a 7,610-seat multi-purpose arena designed by Matthew Nowicki, was opened in 1952 on the grounds of the North Carolina State Fair. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Raleigh experienced significant damage from Hurricane Hazel in 1954. In 1953, WNAO-TV, channel 28, became the city's first television station, though it folded in 1957. With the opening of the Research Triangle Park in 1959, Raleigh began to experience a population increase, resulting in a total city population of 100,000 by 1960. In 1960, the Census Bureau reported Raleigh's population as 76.4% White and 23.4% Black. Following the passage of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the main achievements of the Civil Rights Movement and the Lyndon B. Johnson presidency, political participation and voting by African Americans in Raleigh increased rapidly. From the early-to-mid 20th century East Hargett Street was known as Raleigh's "Black Main Street" and hosted numerous Black-owned businesses. The area declined after the city desegregated its establishments. By the early 1970s people in Raleigh were growing increasingly concerned about growth and urban sprawl. Community organizations felt that municipal offices were being too heavily influenced by business interests when the city's population was rapidly growing and various development projects were being proposed. At their behest, the municipal elections were altered so that the mayor was to be directly elected, instead of being selected by the city council. Most city council seats were then made responsible to districts, instead of being held at-large. The 1973 elections were the first contests affected by the reforms. City Councilman Clarence Lightner defeated Raleigh Merchants bureau Executive Director G. Wesley Williams to become Raleigh's first Black mayor, and thus the first Black mayor in a major White-majority city in the South. In 1976, the Raleigh City and Wake County schools merged to become the Wake County Public School System, now the largest school system in the state and 19th largest in the country. During the 1970s and 1980s, the I-440 beltline was constructed, in an attempt to ease traffic congestion and providing access to most major city roads. The first Raleigh Convention Center (replaced in 2008) and Fayetteville Street Mall were both opened in 1977. Fayetteville Street was turned into a pedestrian-only street in an effort to help the then-ailing downtown area, but the plan was flawed and business declined for years to come. Fayetteville Street was reopened in 2007 as the main thoroughfare of Raleigh's downtown. During the 1988 Raleigh tornado outbreak of November 28, 1988, the city was affected by the most destructive of the seven tornadoes reported in Northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia between 1:00 am and 5:45 am. The Raleigh tornado produced over $77 million in damage, along with four fatalities (two in the city of Raleigh, and two in Nash County) and 154 injuries. The damage path from the storm was measured at 84 mi (135 km) long, and .5 mi (0.8 km) wide at times. The tornado was rated F4. In 1991, two large skyscrapers in Raleigh were completed, First Union Capitol Center and Two Hannover Square, along with the popular Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Southeast Raleigh. In 1996, the Olympic Flame passed through Raleigh while on its way to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Also in 1996, Hurricane Fran struck the area, causing massive flooding and extensive structural damage. In addition, WRAL-TV became the first High-Definition broadcast station in the world. In 1997, the National Hockey League's Hartford Whalers announced their intention to move to Raleigh as the Carolina Hurricanes, becoming the city's first major league professional sports franchise. In 1999, the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena (later renamed the RBC Center and now called PNC Arena), opened to provide a home for the Hurricanes and the NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team, as well as an up-to-date major concert venue. In the first decade of the 21st century, Raleigh was featured prominently in a number of "Top 10 Lists", including those by Forbes, MSNBC and Money magazine, due to its quality of life and favorable business climate. In 2001, the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium complex was expanded with the addition of the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Meymandi Concert Hall, Fletcher Opera Theater, Kennedy Theatre, Betty Ray McCain Gallery and Lichtin Plaza. Fayetteville Street reopened to vehicular traffic in 2006. A variety of downtown building projects began around this time including the 34-story RBC Bank Tower, multiple condominium projects and several new restaurants. Additional skyscrapers are in the proposal/planning phase. In 2006, the city's NHL franchise, the Carolina Hurricanes, won the Stanley Cup, North Carolina's first and only professional sports championship. With the opening of parts of I-540 from 2005 to 2007, a new 70 mi (110 km) loop around Wake County, traffic congestion eased somewhat in the North Raleigh area. Completion of the entire loop is expected to take another 15 years. In 2008, the city's Fayetteville Street Historic District joined the National Register of Historic Places. In September 2010, Raleigh hosted the inaugural Hopscotch Music Festival. In January 2011, Raleigh hosted the National Hockey League All-Star Game. In April 2011, a devastating EF-3 tornado hit Raleigh, and many other tornadoes touched down in the state (ultimately the largest, but not the strongest outbreak to ever hit the state), killing 24 people. The tornado tracked northeast through parts of downtown, East Central Raleigh and Northeast Raleigh and produced $115 million in damages in Wake County. There were 4 fatalities in the city. In September 2015, Holy Trinity Anglican Church was opened; the first church to be built in downtown Raleigh since 1958. On July 26, 2017, the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh dedicated its new cathedral, Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, the fifth-largest in the United States. On October 13, 2022, a spree shooting occurred in Raleigh's Hedingham neighborhood. Five people were killed, and two others were injured. The suspect, a 15-year-old boy, was detained after being cornered by police at a nearby residence and is in critical condition from injuries sustained during the incident.

Reviews for Edwards Beightol, LLC


Edwards Beightol, LLC

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(5)

now NEW I have an extremely difficult case so I have been trying to find an attorney to help me for quite some time now. Unfortunately, Kristen was unable to as well but she is the first attorney to personally return my call, let me know she believed in my case and to keep going. She is extremely smart and compassionate. To care enough to take the time to call a stranger when you so not have to says a lot about her character.

Edwards Beightol, LLC

Alex Coughlin

(5)

I'm very pleased with my decision to hire Kristen. She is very hard-working and very well organized. I always felt I was in good hands. I was impressed that she routinely made herself available for guidance and to answer questions, often after business hours and on weekends. I was continually apprised of what was happening and never left to wonder. She seems to care very much about what she does and those she represents. I appreciate her and her team and would certainly recommend her to others.

Edwards Beightol, LLC

Jasmine Vaughan

(1)

Kristen was very rude during our consultation phone call. While I appreciate honesty, there is a way to talk to people that would potentially be paying you for your services. Especially people who are injured and are seeking help. Bedside manner needs a lot of work. Would not recommend.

Edwards Beightol, LLC

Kerry Knight

(5)

Cate and Kristen are absolutely incredible! They are tactful, sharp, and phenomenally well-versed in their areas of law. They make themselves easily available to their clients because they truly care; they are in this field for individuals that need them, and their actions make that apparent. I felt listened to and safe with them, and as a young woman that’s SO important to me. They will take care of YOU, not just your case

Edwards Beightol, LLC

Phillip d'Erizans

(5)

Kristen represented my family and she was amazing. It was during a hard time for me and she was very caring, listened, and explained everything which is very important to understand how things work. She will fight for what's right and is a go getter and that's what you need. I can't say enough good about her. I would recommend her in a heartbeat for anyone needing help with representing them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Victims of sexual abuse in Raleigh, North Carolina may pursue civil or criminal legal action against their abuser. This can include filing a personal injury lawsuit to seek damages for physical and psychological harm caused by the abuse, as well as pursuing criminal charges if applicable.

In North Carolina, victims typically have three years from the date of their 18th birthday or from the date they knew or should have reasonably known that an injury or illness resulted from the sexual abuse to file a civil lawsuit seeking damages.

Yes, it is possible to file suit against an institution when one of its employees was responsible for your sexual abuse. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to bring claims against both the individual perpetrator and the organization itself.

A lawyer can provide advice and representation throughout all stages of your case. This includes helping you understand and navigate your legal rights and options; gathering evidence and preparing documents; negotiating with opposing parties; appearing with you in court proceedings; and advocating on behalf of your interests throughout each stage of your case.

No, many lawyers representing victims will work under contingency agreements which means that they will only charge fees upon successful resolution or settlement of your case.