Legal Definitions - secondary abuse

Secondary abuse refers to additional harm or trauma experienced by a victim *after* an initial act of abuse, often inflicted by the very systems, institutions, or individuals who are supposed to provide support, protection, or justice. It is not the original act of violence or neglect itself, but rather the subsequent negative experiences that exacerbate the victim's suffering, such as insensitive questioning, victim-blaming, lack of appropriate support, or procedural failures.

• Example 1: A child who has been physically abused by a caregiver is subsequently subjected to repeated, intrusive, and accusatory questioning by multiple different social workers and police officers, each asking for the same traumatic details without adequate psychological support. The child feels re-victimized and distrustful of adults, compounding the original trauma.

  Explanation: The initial physical abuse is the primary harm. The secondary abuse is the additional trauma caused by the insensitive and repetitive questioning from the very authorities meant to help, making the child feel further abused by the system.

• Example 2: An adult survivor of sexual assault reports the crime to their university, seeking accommodations and support. Instead, they are met with skepticism from administrators, told they "should have been more careful," and subtly ostracized by some peers who doubt their story. This leads to the survivor feeling isolated and blamed for the assault.

  Explanation: The sexual assault is the primary abuse. The secondary abuse comes from the university administration and peers who, instead of offering support, inflict further emotional harm through victim-blaming and lack of empathy, adding to the survivor's distress.

• Example 3: A person experiencing domestic violence finally gathers the courage to leave their abuser and seeks a protective order. However, they encounter significant bureaucratic hurdles, are treated dismissively by court staff, and face delays that leave them feeling unprotected and frustrated by a system that seems designed to impede their safety rather than ensure it.

  Explanation: The domestic violence is the primary abuse. The secondary abuse arises from the systemic failures and insensitive treatment by the legal system, which adds to the victim's trauma and sense of vulnerability by making it difficult to access necessary protection.