Legal Challenges in Jehovah’s Witness Abuse Cases

Survivors of sexual abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses community often face not only the trauma of abuse itself, but also daunting institutional and legal barriers. At Crew Janci LLP, we stand with survivors, and we’re here to help expose systemic failures, challenge harmful religious policies, and hold those in power accountable.

This post explores the unique legal hurdles survivors face in Jehovah’s Witness abuse cases, and how legal action can be a powerful step toward healing and change.

A Culture of Secrecy and Control

The Jehovah’s Witnesses are led by a tightly controlled hierarchy, where local elders report to a central body known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Within this system, allegations of abuse are often handled behind closed doors instead of being reported to police.

Survivors often describe feeling silenced, blamed, or pressured to stay quiet to “protect the congregation.”

“They’d say, ‘You can’t bring reproach on Jehovah’s name’, ‘The congregation is meant to be seen as clean’, ‘We’re God’s chosen people.'”
— Diane Lynn, survivor of abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses (ABC News Australia)

That pressure to stay silent can keep survivors from speaking out for years or even decades.

The “Two-Witness Rule”: A Barrier to Justice

One of the most harmful policies within the Jehovah’s Witnesses is the “two-witness rule.” It says that unless there are two people who saw the abuse happen, the church won’t take action.

But sexual abuse almost never happens with an audience. So in practice, this rule often means that even credible abuse reports are dismissed, and abusers stay in their positions of trust.

This policy has been widely criticized by legal experts, child protection advocates, and even former elders.

Clergy-Penitent Privilege: A Legal Shield for the Church

In several states, Jehovah’s Witness leaders have used clergy-penitent privilege to avoid reporting child abuse. This law allows religious leaders to keep certain spiritual conversations confidential, but it’s often used to hide abuse.

In a well-known Montana case, church elders were instructed not to call the police about a known abuser. When the survivor’s family sued, the court eventually overturned a major verdict against the church on a technicality involving this privilege.

Internal Abuse Records: Hidden from the Public

Jehovah’s Witnesses are known to keep detailed internal files on abuse allegations, but they rarely share those records. In lawsuits, the church has often refused to turn over key documents, claiming religious freedom or confidentiality.

When courts have forced the release of these files, they’ve revealed troubling patterns: long histories of abuse, repeat offenders, and leadership that looked the other way.

This echoes the cover-up scandals we’ve seen in other religious institutions, like the Catholic Church and the LDS Church. 

Statute of Limitations: A Race Against Time

Many survivors wait years before disclosing abuse, often because of shame, fear, or religious pressure. But state laws sometimes limit how long they have to take legal action.

Fortunately, many states are changing their laws. Some now offer “lookback windows” that temporarily reopen old cases, even ones that were previously time-barred.

Track where your state stands: ChildUSA’s State SOL Tracker

How Crew Janci LLP Can Help

At Crew Janci LLP, we focus on helping survivors of institutional sexual abuse—especially in complex cases involving religious organizations like the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Here are 5 ways we can support you:

1. We investigate the cover-ups
   We dig deep into how abuse was concealed by church leadership, uncovering internal policies, training materials, and communications that reveal systemic negligence.
2. We fight to uncover the truth
   We go after internal files, like judicial committee records and elder notes, that show what the church knew and when. These documents can be critical to proving your case.
3. We challenge misuse of privilege laws
   We push back when the church tries to hide behind clergy-penitent privilege. We argue that this protection shouldn’t be used to protect predators or silence survivors.
4. We help you meet deadlines
   Every state has different rules about how long survivors have to file. We’ll help you understand your rights, and act fast if a deadline is approaching or a lookback window is open.
5. We offer confidential, survivor-centered support
   We know how hard it is to come forward. Our team is deeply experienced and proud of our firm’s trauma-informed approach to what can be an intimidating step towards healing. We’ll listen without judgment, respect your privacy, and walk with you every step of the way.

You Are Not Alone

Survivors of abuse in the Jehovah’s Witnesses community deserve to be heard, believed, and supported. You have legal rights, and we’re here to help you use them.

Contact Us

9755 SW Barnes Road, Suite 430, Portland, Oregon 97225
(888) 407-0224
info@crewjanci.com
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