I Reported School Sexual Abuse to the SFPD, but Nothing Happened: What Now?

If you reported school sexual abuse to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) but nothing seems to be happening, you should know that your experience is fairly common among students, parents, and families. The truth is that teachers often escape criminal charges for the abuse they commit. However, the criminal court is not your only option. You can also file a civil school sexual abuse lawsuit in San Francisco, and this can ensure consequences even if the police do not seem to be doing anything to help.

SFPD Faces Scrutiny Over Low Rape Clearance Rate

In October of 2026, various sources reported that the SFPD was facing serious scrutiny over its apparent failure to solve the vast majority of rape cases in the city. In law enforcement lingo, the “clearance rate” of a crime is the percentage of cases that a department solves. The SFPD’s clearance rate for rape cases is just 14%.

In other words, 86% of rapes reported to the SFPD remain unsolved. This may include sexual abuse and other misconduct committed by teachers, coaches, and other educational staff members in the Bay Area.

Make no mistake: Rapes are usually incredibly difficult to investigate from a law enforcement perspective. They often occur in private, away from the eyes of witnesses. Sometimes, the only real evidence is the word of a victim against their abuser, and that may not be good enough to meet the high burden of proof in criminal courts.

On the other hand, many critics argue that even with the challenges associated with these cases, a clearance rate of 14% is simply too low. In 2022, the SFPD faced controversy for its use of rape kits to investigate rapes after a report found that the detectives were collecting victims’ DNA to gather evidence on crimes in the past.

On at least one occasion, a victim who used a rape kit was herself arrested because her DNA linked her to a crime she had allegedly committed in the past. Critics say that this practice discourages victims from coming forward, and legal observers noted that it may not have been constitutional.

According to CBS News, the SFPD’s rape clearance rate is half the national average when compared to law enforcement agencies across the entire country. The San Francisco Police Department also holds the dubious honor of having the lowest rape clearance rate of any large county in the Golden State.

The local government is starting to take this issue more seriously. During a hearing, survivors complained that investigators are slow to respond after they report rapes. They also complained about investigators who fail to follow up after hearing initial reports of rapes, leaving survivors wondering whether anything is actually happening behind the scenes.

Police Investigators Are Often Instrumental in Holding Abusive Teachers Accountable

With that being said, police investigators often play a crucial role in holding abusive teachers accountable in the Bay Area. While the low clearance rate is alarming, many students and families have benefited immensely from the assistance of detectives and police officers after experiencing school sexual abuse.

Sometimes, the investigative techniques used by these professionals are quite innovative. For example, detectives told one survivor to call her abuser and discuss their relationship on the phone. As the police listened and recorded everything, the abuser unwittingly admitted to the illegal relationship with the minor.

In many situations, it is the police who take school sexual abuse seriously, while school administrators do not. The real issue is when both local law enforcement and school administrators fail to take school sexual abuse seriously, and the victims feel as if they are completely alone.

Steps to Take if the Police are Not Doing Anything to Help

If the police do not seem to be taking your school sexual abuse report seriously, consider contacting a lawyer who has experience with these kinds of cases. Although local detectives may not be willing to gather evidence and help you pursue accountability, your school sexual abuse lawyer in San Francisco can do all of these things and more.

You can also take action yourself by taking screenshots of texts between you and the abuser, writing about your experiences in a journal, and obtaining a rape kit if necessary. If you’re not sure how to proceed, know that legal assistance is always just a phone call away. Even if many years have passed since the abuse occurred, it may not be too late to pursue real accountability in the civil courts.

Can a School Sexual Abuse Lawyer in San Francisco Help Me?

There are few things more frustrating than reporting sexual abuse to the police and seeing no progress in your case. Remember, the criminal justice system is just one pathway toward justice and accountability. Even if criminal consequences seem like they are out of reach, a civil lawsuit against the teacher and the overall district can still provide results. Contact Mary Alexander & Associates at 866-450-3473 to learn more about how school sexual abuse lawsuits in San Francisco work.