The call came on a Tuesday evening. A woman, voice barely above a whisper, finally ready to speak about what happened to her 15 years ago. For Heather Brown, a prosecutor with more than two decades of experience, moments like these never get easier. They represent years of carried shame, countless nights of silence and the immense courage it takes for someone to finally break free from trauma’s grip.
‘The hardest part isn’t what happened to them,’ Brown explains. ‘It’s everything that comes after – the fear, the shame, the belief that nobody will listen.’
Why So Many Stay Silent
The statistics are sobering. Over 50% of women sexually assaulted never disclose their trauma, with fewer than 5% reporting to law enforcement. The reasons run deeper than fear – they’re rooted in a culture that still questions survivors’ credibility and blames victims for their assault.
Brown has witnessed this silence up close throughout her career. ‘No one has to carry this burden alone,’ she insists, but the reality is that many do exactly that. Survivors wrestle with self-blame, worry about not being believed or fear retaliation from their attackers. The weight of keeping such a devastating secret often compounds the original trauma, creating layers of psychological damage that can last decades.
The shame factor cannot be overstated. Many survivors convince themselves they’re somehow responsible for what happened, particularly when the assault occurred in a place they trusted or involved someone they knew. This internal dialogue keeps them trapped in silence, believing their story doesn’t matter or that speaking up will only bring more pain. As trauma expert Sherrie Allsup knows, victims struggle to live with shame, guilt and humiliation long after the initial event.
Brown’s Direct Approach to Breaking Free
As a senior attorney at Greenberg Gross LLP and a driving force behind their ‘Fight for Survivors’ practice group, Brown has built her career on giving survivors a platform and holding perpetrators accountable. Her approach is refreshingly direct: ‘Report it to the police. That’s where it starts.’
This advice might sound simple, but Brown understands the complexity behind it. Reporting abuse to authorities sets crucial legal processes in motion and can determine whether there’s grounds for a criminal case. More importantly, it often opens doors for survivors to explore civil action, potentially holding institutions accountable for failing in their duty to protect.
Through her role at Greenberg Gross LLP, Brown tackles cases against schools, churches and other organisations that failed to protect children. Her work extends beyond litigation into advocacy and education, including her position as a board member for Thriving in Freedom and her volunteer work with ministries supporting trafficking survivors.
Brown’s message to survivors wrestling with whether to speak up is uncompromising: ‘There’s an army of people ready to stand by you.’ She’s seen firsthand how one person’s courage to report can inspire others to come forward, creating a domino effect that exposes patterns of abuse and prevents future harm.
When Trusted Spaces Become Dangerous
One of the most devastating aspects of institutional abuse is how it shatters fundamental trust. Brown has seen too many cases where predators deliberately position themselves in roles of authority – coaches, teachers, youth leaders, clergy – to gain access to potential victims.
‘It’s an uncomfortable fact that some of the places we trust the most – schools, churches, youth organisations – are also where abuse often occurs,’ Brown acknowledges. This reality makes reporting even more difficult for survivors, who must confront not just their trauma but the betrayal of trusted institutions. The experience mirrors what domestic violence survivors face when trusted partners become their abusers.
Recent legal developments offer hope. California eliminated the statute of limitations for civil claims related to childhood sexual abuse starting in January 2024, allowing survivors to file lawsuits regardless of how much time has passed. The state also created a ‘lookback window’ running until December 2026 that permits survivors to file civil claims for assaults from 2009 onward, even if previous time limits had expired.
These changes are already having an impact. The Mormon Church agreed to a settlement covering more than 100 sexual abuse lawsuits in California this year, while major Catholic dioceses have paid billions in settlements as courts increasingly hold institutions liable.
‘Institutions must be held accountable,’ Brown states firmly, ‘and survivors deserve to know they have legal options, even years later.’
Creating Voices Beyond the Courtroom
Brown’s influence extends well beyond legal proceedings. As an adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton, she teaches ‘Sex, Crime, and Culture’, helping the next generation understand these complex issues. Her podcast, ‘Defeating the Darkness: True Crime Stories with Downtown Heather Brown’, provides a platform for survivors’ stories and highlights ongoing fights for justice.
Her book, ‘Defeating the Darkness: Survivor Stories and a Prosecutor’s Playbook to Reclaim Power and Find Justice in the Fight Against Sexual Assault in Our Schools and Institutions’, serves as both a guide for healing and a call to action for systemic change. It’s about individual recovery and changing how society responds to abuse.
The support systems available to survivors have evolved significantly. National organisations like RAINN offer 24/7 confidential support through hotlines and online chat services. Local rape crisis centres and advocacy programmes provide trauma-informed care tailored to individual needs. Survivors are finding ways to take back their lives through these expanding resources.
This expanding network of support reflects a broader cultural shift towards believing survivors and providing them with resources to heal and seek justice. Brown emphasises that survivors don’t have to navigate this journey alone – there are trained professionals, legal advocates and peer support groups ready to help at every step.
Finding Hope in the Darkness
After two decades of prosecuting sexual assault cases, Brown has witnessed enough pain to last several lifetimes. Yet she remains optimistic about the future. Legal reforms are expanding survivors’ options, cultural attitudes are slowly shifting and more people are speaking out than ever before.
‘There is a way out. There is justice waiting for you. And you’re not alone,’ Brown tells survivors. These aren’t empty platitudes – they’re backed by concrete legal changes, growing support networks and a generation of advocates refusing to let abuse hide in shadows.
For women who have stayed silent for years or decades, Brown’s message is particularly powerful. It’s never too late to speak up. The legal system has changed dramatically, with extended statutes of limitations and lookback windows providing new pathways to justice. More importantly, the culture of silence that once protected abusers is cracking.
Every survivor who finds the courage to break their silence makes it easier for the next person to do the same. Brown has seen this ripple effect countless times – one woman’s bravery inspiring others to come forward, creating a chorus of voices that can no longer be ignored. Like Marie Sumnicht found her voice after tragedy, speaking up becomes a source of strength and community.
The journey from silence to strength isn’t easy, but Brown’s career proves it’s possible. Through her legal work, advocacy and teaching, she’s helping create a world where survivors’ voices are heard, believed and supported. For the women still carrying their secrets, her message remains constant: you don’t have to carry this burden alone.
