Child sex-abuse prosecutions extended in Oregon

OLYMPIA — Victims of child sexual abuse could report their assaults up to the age of 30 under a bill approved today by the Senate.

The bill extends the statute of limitations for charging suspects in child sexual abuse cases, which currently require a victim report the abuse in one to three years, depending on the age of the victim and some other circumstances.

Post traumatic stress disorder can keep a victim from reporting the abuse until after they become adults, Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, said.

“I think we want to catch as many sexual offenders as possible. We want to convict as many sexual offenders as possible,’ Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam.

The bill passed the both the Senate and House unanimously.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2013/apr/09/child-sex-abuse-prosecutions-extended/