Structural abuse is the process by which an individual or group is dealt with unfairly by a social or cultural system or authority.
This unfairness manifests itself as abuse in a psychological, financial, physical or spiritual form, and victims often are unable to protect themselves from harm.
An individual's inability to protect themselves may lead to their entrapment in the system, preventing them from seeking justice or recompense for crimes endured and damages incurred, creating a feeling of isolation or helplessness.
Systems containing abusive structures are primarily designed to control individuals or manipulate them for material gain.
[1] Structural abuse can be found on a very small scale, such as in instances of bullying involving more than one perpetrator, or in cases of malfeasance, a common example of which is individual police officers conducting investigations without direct evidence, or ignoring formal complaints made by victims.