Statute of Limitations
The issue of the Statutes of Limitations (SOL) is a bone of contention for victims of sexual abuse. Many States, if not most states, have such a short time span on the SOL that the victim is revictimized.
A lawyer who has studied hundreds of cases of sexual abuse has noted that a person who is abused as a child by a parents, relative, classmate, neighbor etc. will often take 20-30 years to come to the realization that the abuse happened and that it has had a detrimental effect on their life. If the same child is abused by a "person in authority" (athletic coach, scout leader, clergy, teacher, police, fire etc.) then the average time it takes is 30-40 years. In the latter case it is the issue of TRUST that complicates the healing process.
Now, laws exist to protect the rights of citizens, or "the common good." If the SOL is of such a short time span that the victim is prevented from being able to seek justice, isn't the SOL PUNISHING the victim and REWARDING the perpetrator?
In the case of "clergy" sexual abuse victims the Roman Catholic Church yells and screams that to go to court (and loose) would force them to discontinue services to the poor and needy. How emotional! How dramatic! NONE of the (Arch)Dioceses that settled has had to cease ministry to the poor and needy. When they yell and scream "foul," or that they (the church) is being "singled out" they do nothing but play on the sympathy of their congregants.
The call today to remove the SOL is to protect ALL children and vulnerable adults who have been abused -- by ANYONE.
I encourage you to individually contact your legislators, encouraging them to push for the abolishment of the SOL, or at least making the time span sufficient for victims to have time to recover and begin healing. Aren't children and vulnerable adults worth it?
A lawyer who has studied hundreds of cases of sexual abuse has noted that a person who is abused as a child by a parents, relative, classmate, neighbor etc. will often take 20-30 years to come to the realization that the abuse happened and that it has had a detrimental effect on their life. If the same child is abused by a "person in authority" (athletic coach, scout leader, clergy, teacher, police, fire etc.) then the average time it takes is 30-40 years. In the latter case it is the issue of TRUST that complicates the healing process.
Now, laws exist to protect the rights of citizens, or "the common good." If the SOL is of such a short time span that the victim is prevented from being able to seek justice, isn't the SOL PUNISHING the victim and REWARDING the perpetrator?
In the case of "clergy" sexual abuse victims the Roman Catholic Church yells and screams that to go to court (and loose) would force them to discontinue services to the poor and needy. How emotional! How dramatic! NONE of the (Arch)Dioceses that settled has had to cease ministry to the poor and needy. When they yell and scream "foul," or that they (the church) is being "singled out" they do nothing but play on the sympathy of their congregants.
The call today to remove the SOL is to protect ALL children and vulnerable adults who have been abused -- by ANYONE.
I encourage you to individually contact your legislators, encouraging them to push for the abolishment of the SOL, or at least making the time span sufficient for victims to have time to recover and begin healing. Aren't children and vulnerable adults worth it?
It is imrotant to have well difened laws or it will be a mess. Thanks to your blog i start to learn more about law and regulations in teh USA.
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your article is so informative and interesting. nice shared.
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