Commentary: Should gag orders be imposed on all cases of sexual abuse?

For the similar reason, some gag orders cover the accused’s workplace or even school: Disclosing that information might lead to disclosure of the victim’s identification.

If the accused is found responsible, the gag purchase over their name will not be lifted. The victim’s identity still needs to be protected, even if it means protecting the criminal’s identity too. The same applies even after the abuser completes their sentence – meaning they might go back straight into society with their details concealed.

That may alarm members of the public – one would want to know if a sex offender is definitely living next door. Yet our society works on the principle that if someone has done time and paid for the crime, they should have a fresh start.

WRONGLY ACCUSED CAN SUFFER PUBLIC INTEREST

It is important to keep in mind that gag orders are meant to protect the victim, and never the particular accused. Yet opinions are divided on if the accused has a directly to anonymity during demo.

On one hand, the idea of open justice indicates the public should have the perfect to know if someone is accused of the crime.

However, our legal program assumes that the accused is innocent until proven guilty. Whenever we name the arrested before the trial is over, they will suffer unwanted public attention – even when they are cleared of charges later .

Case in point is the Mount At the Hospital doctor, who else in August 2021 was acquitted of molesting a woman after the girl admitted that the girl lied in the girl allegations. The doctor stated that the trial, which usually lasted four yrs, were an challenge for him, in addition to his family, close friends, staff and patients .