How Often Do Priests Go to Jail for Sexual Abuse?

Priests do go to jail for sexual abuse—but not as often as you might think. Many cases never reach a courtroom, and others are dismissed due to legal deadlines or lack of evidence. 

In Georgia, survivors have limited time to take legal action, which can make it harder to hold abusers accountable through the criminal justice system. If you or someone you love has survived sexual abuse by a priest or another clergy member, you deserve justice. 

Our clergy sexual abuse lawyers in Atlanta help survivors take legal steps toward healing. We help them seek damages and challenge institutions to acknowledge the harm they allowed to happen. 

What is Clergy Sexual Abuse?

Clergy sexual abuse happens when a religious leader—like a priest, pastor, or minister—uses their position of trust to hurt someone sexually. This can happen to children, teens, or adults. It’s a betrayal of power that often causes deep, lasting trauma.

Examples of clergy abuse may include:

• A priest touching someone inappropriately
• Making someone perform or watch sexual acts
• Pressuring someone into sexual contact through threats or spiritual guilt
• Abuse during confession or counseling sessions
• Covering up abuse or passing an abuser to another parish

It’s important to know that abuse is never your fault. You did nothing wrong. The harm you experienced deserves to be acknowledged.

Why Don’t More Priests Go to Jail?

Many priests are not criminally convicted for many reasons, even when they have abused others:

• Time limits: Georgia has filing deadlines for criminal and civil cases, which can stop survivors from taking action if too much time has passed.
• Lack of evidence: Abuse cases often rely on testimony, which can be hard to prove after many years.
• Church protection: Some institutions hide abuse, move clergy to new areas, or discourage reporting.
• Fear and shame: Survivors may feel scared or ashamed to come forward, especially if they were taught to trust the church.

Even if a priest isn’t arrested or convicted, you still have the right to file a civil case. That allows you to seek damages and make your voice heard.

Georgia Sets Filing Deadlines for Clergy Abuse Lawsuits

The Georgia statute of limitations controls how long you have to take legal action. For civil cases involving sexual abuse:

• For children who were abused: You have until age 23 to file a civil lawsuit. This is under Ga. Code § 9-3-33.1.
• For adults: You typically have two years from the date of the abuse or the date you realized the harm to file.

These deadlines can change based on your case. A lawyer can explain your options and make sure your rights are protected.

Who Can File a Lawsuit for Clergy Sexual Abuse?

You may be able to file a lawsuit if:

• You are a survivor of clergy abuse.
• You are a parent or guardian of a child who was abused.
• You are the representative of someone who died from trauma related to the abuse.

Taking legal action isn’t just about money. It’s about being heard. It’s about holding powerful institutions accountable for the damage they allowed to happen.

What are the Recoverable Damages in a Clergy Abuse Case?

Each case is different, but survivors may seek damages for:

• Emotional distress and trauma
• Therapy and mental health care
• Medical expenses
• Lost wages or loss of future income
• Pain and suffering

Our personal injury lawyers in Atlanta work with care and respect. We believe survivors deserve justice, and we’re here to help you move forward.

What if the Priest is No Longer in Georgia or has Died?

You can still take legal action. Even if the individual abuser is no longer available—whether they’ve moved out of state, retired, or died—you may still have a case. These situations are more common than people realize, and they do not stop survivors from seeking justice. 

What matters is whether a church, diocese, or other religious institution failed to protect you or knowingly allowed the abuse to happen. Many civil cases focus on how these institutions covered up the abuse, ignored warning signs, or moved priests to different locations instead of taking action.

Even without the priest present, the damage is real—and so is your right to be heard. Filing a civil case can help uncover the truth, push powerful institutions to take responsibility, and create space for healing.

Who Else Can be Held Liable for Sexual Abuse Caused by a Priest?

Priests are not the only ones who may be responsible for clergy sexual abuse. In many cases, the institutions around them—such as religious organizations—knew or should have known about the abuse and failed to stop it. 

These groups can be held legally accountable for the harm caused. Other parties that may be held responsible include:

• The church or diocese: If leaders ignored reports, moved abusive priests to new locations, or failed to report abuse to the authorities, they can be held liable.
• Religious schools or camps: If the abuse happened during a school or church event, the organization in charge may be responsible.
• Supervisors and staff: Anyone who helped cover up abuse, discouraged victims from speaking out, or failed to protect vulnerable people may share the blame.
• Church boards or national organizations: Larger religious groups that oversee local churches may also be liable if they allowed abuse to continue.

Taking legal action is not just about one person—it’s about revealing patterns of cover-up and making sure institutions face the truth. We will work to uncover who allowed the abuse to happen and fight to hold all responsible parties accountable.

Our Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawyers will Stand with You and Fight for Your Recovery

If you have experienced sexual abuse or misconduct from a priest or another clergy member, you may feel afraid or unsure of what comes next, and that’s OK. You don’t have to face this alone. 

Our personal injury lawyers in Atlanta will listen to your story and guide you through every step.

At our firm, we:

• Work with compassion and care
• Help you understand your legal rights
• Handle all the paperwork and deadlines
• Don’t charge you anything unless we win your case

You’ve already been through enough. Let us help you find a path forward that puts the focus on healing, truth, and accountability.

Call Us for Help Filing a Sexual Abuse Case Against a Priest or Another Clergy Member

If you’re ready to speak with someone about your situation, John Foy & Associates is here for you. You don’t have to decide everything today—just take one step. When you are ready to talk, we are available for a free consultation. 

While it’s painful to realize how often priests don’t go to jail for sexual abuse, pursuing a civil case can still hold them and the institutions that enabled them accountable.

With over 350 years of combined experience and $1 billion recovered for clients, we are ready to stand with you. Call us today for a free, private consultation. There are no fees unless we win your case.