Cruise ships are popular vacation venues for families all over the U.S. What these cruise ships don’t want you to know is that statistics are showing that as many as a third of individuals aboard these ships that get sexually assaulted may be minors.

In 2016, 92 alleged onboard crimes were reported aboard a cruise line. A total of 62 of these crimes were sexual assaults. These sexual assault crimes are very rarely brought to justice because they typically occur when the ship is at sea, where jurisdiction can be tricky.

In some instances, the U.S. government has jurisdiction over the ship. When the crime happens on a U.S. National ship departing or arriving in a U.S. port, the FBI will handle all investigations. In other countries, the rules and regulations governing these crimes may differ and offer little assistance when filing charges.

According to an article by NBC, some of the sexual assaults reported were barely investigated, and most were never prosecuted. Even more disturbing is the fact is that these sexual assaults involved minors. Many cruise ships don’t want to admit to these startling statistics, but a 2013 congressional report says otherwise.

In many of the sexual assault crimes, the assailant is part of the staff aboard a cruise ship. These crew members go out of their way to gain the trust of their victims, making them easy targets for the assault. Many don’t report the incident out of shock, confusion or embarrassment. When they do, they are often met with resistance for reporting the crime to officials.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, there is recourse you can take to get compensation for your suffering. Trust in the expertise of the attorneys at The Law Office of Mark A. Smith. We can review your claims and help you understand what your legal rights are under the law.