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SALEM — Adult victims of child sex abuse implored Oregon legislators on Monday to eliminate the legal deadline for prosecutors for file charges against alleged abusers.
#Prosecutors are prohibited from filing charges in child sex-abuse cases after the victim turns 30, or 12 years after the child reports the abuse to authorities, whichever comes first.
#The House Judiciary Committee is considering a bill that would eliminate that deadline for certain sex crimes if the victim is a minor and the abuser is an adult. The committee heard public testimony Monday but did not vote on the bill.
#It can take decades for children who are sexually abused to admit they’ve been abused and to be comfortable coming forward to authorities, proponents said, and those people should have the opportunity to pursue justice against their abuser.
#Laura Alexander said she was sexually abused as a child by a relative during family gatherings over the holidays. When she finally was ready to press charges and flew to Texas, where the abuse occurred, a detective told her the statute of limitations had expired, she said during a rally outside the Capitol Monday.
#“I felt betrayed by the law, by the system that was supposed to protect me,” Alexander told The Associated Press.
#Critics worry about a defendant’s right to a fair trial. Witnesses die or their memory fades, and documents are destroyed as time passes, they said.
#The statute of limitations is “not a mere technicality,” Gail Meyer, a lobbyist for the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, told the Judiciary Committee. “It really does underscore and serve and make concrete key foundational principles in our system of justice, which happens to be the best in the world,” Meyer said.
#The measure would apply only to crimes committed in the future, and only to first-degree rape, sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration, sexual abuse and incest. Other child-abuse charges, including child pornography, strangulation and promoting prostitution would continue under the existing statute of limitations.
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.
Most state lawbooks contain statutes of limitations, setting limits on how much time can pass before states can no longer charge a person with a crime, or a person can no longer file a civil suit. After three years, or seven years, or whatever, form some offenses it’s time to move on. There are exemptions, of course. There is no statute of limitations for murder, for example. It is too heinous a crime to simply allow someone to go unpunished if a case can be made even decades later.
Similar consideration should be given to child sex abuse accusations. Last week charges were dismissed against a former Shattuck-St. Mary’s teacher accused of abusing a 14-year-old student some 32 years ago. The state’s statute of limitations, which was three years in 1980 when the crime occured, (the limit was changed to seven years in 1984) had long since passed. So even though the teacher admitted his crime to police, he will go unpunished, outside of the public exposure the crime has received. State law also says a person who suffered sexual abused before they were 18 has only until the age of 24 to file a civil suit.
The state should remove the statute of limitations on such predators. Their young victims suffer emotional damage that may not emerge for years. The victims may hide this knowledge from their parents, even block it from their own memory until it festers up again years later. The emotional pain and suffering don’t stop after seven years, neither should the culpability of the offender.
A bill has been introduced in the Legislature this year to remove the statute of limitations on reporting child sex abuse. It should be approved and signed into law.
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SALEM – Advocates for reforming the statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse crimes in Oregon took to the Capitol steps Monday before a public hearing to discuss HB 3284.
People who described themselves as adult survivors of child sex abuse rallied and held signs describing what happened to them.
Oregon has a six-year statute of limitations on most sex crimes. The law allows for a longer period of time if the victim is under the age of 18. In those cases, the crime can be prosecuted any time before the victim turns 30, or within 12 years after the crime is reported to police or social workers.
Nationwide, 33 states have eliminated the statute of limitations on some or all child sex offenses, but not Oregon. In 2011, the Oregon legislature considered eliminating the statute of limitations, but the bill died in committee.
People who spoke out at Monday’s rally said it often takes victims decades to come to grips with what happened to them and that’s why they support HB 3284.
“If people are finally able to speak out and the statutes of limitations have expired, it can be extremely frustrating,” said abuse survivor Margie Boule. “But, beyond that, those abusers are still out there hurting more children.”
The Oregon House Judiciary Committee was scheduled to begin the public hearing at 1 p.m.
Criminal defense attorneys have argued that statute of limitations were created because over time, witnesses may die, memories may fade, or critical evidence may be destroyed or lost.
Victim advocates noted that these cases must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Studies have found that in the U.S., one out of four girls and one out of six boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18.
http://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpg00SOL Reformhttp://sol-reform.com/News/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hamilton-Logo.jpgSOL Reform2013-04-09 13:00:102013-04-09 13:05:07Child sex abuse survivors rally for change in Ore. statute of limitations
Great ally in fight for SOL reform!
/in Uncategorized /by SOL ReformVictims: Drop Deadline For Child Sex-Abuse Cases (Oregon)
/in Oregon /by SOL ReformSALEM — Adult victims of child sex abuse implored Oregon legislators on Monday to eliminate the legal deadline for prosecutors for file charges against alleged abusers.
#Prosecutors are prohibited from filing charges in child sex-abuse cases after the victim turns 30, or 12 years after the child reports the abuse to authorities, whichever comes first.
#The House Judiciary Committee is considering a bill that would eliminate that deadline for certain sex crimes if the victim is a minor and the abuser is an adult. The committee heard public testimony Monday but did not vote on the bill.
#It can take decades for children who are sexually abused to admit they’ve been abused and to be comfortable coming forward to authorities, proponents said, and those people should have the opportunity to pursue justice against their abuser.
#Laura Alexander said she was sexually abused as a child by a relative during family gatherings over the holidays. When she finally was ready to press charges and flew to Texas, where the abuse occurred, a detective told her the statute of limitations had expired, she said during a rally outside the Capitol Monday.
#“I felt betrayed by the law, by the system that was supposed to protect me,” Alexander told The Associated Press.
#Critics worry about a defendant’s right to a fair trial. Witnesses die or their memory fades, and documents are destroyed as time passes, they said.
#The statute of limitations is “not a mere technicality,” Gail Meyer, a lobbyist for the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, told the Judiciary Committee. “It really does underscore and serve and make concrete key foundational principles in our system of justice, which happens to be the best in the world,” Meyer said.
#The measure would apply only to crimes committed in the future, and only to first-degree rape, sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration, sexual abuse and incest. Other child-abuse charges, including child pornography, strangulation and promoting prostitution would continue under the existing statute of limitations.
#Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2013/apr/09/victims-drop-deadline-child-sex-abuse-cases/
Child sex-abuse prosecutions extended in Oregon
/in Oregon /by SOL ReformOLYMPIA — 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/
Remove limit on child sex abuse in MN
/in Minnesota /by SOL ReformMost state lawbooks contain statutes of limitations, setting limits on how much time can pass before states can no longer charge a person with a crime, or a person can no longer file a civil suit. After three years, or seven years, or whatever, form some offenses it’s time to move on. There are exemptions, of course. There is no statute of limitations for murder, for example. It is too heinous a crime to simply allow someone to go unpunished if a case can be made even decades later.
Similar consideration should be given to child sex abuse accusations. Last week charges were dismissed against a former Shattuck-St. Mary’s teacher accused of abusing a 14-year-old student some 32 years ago. The state’s statute of limitations, which was three years in 1980 when the crime occured, (the limit was changed to seven years in 1984) had long since passed. So even though the teacher admitted his crime to police, he will go unpunished, outside of the public exposure the crime has received. State law also says a person who suffered sexual abused before they were 18 has only until the age of 24 to file a civil suit.
The state should remove the statute of limitations on such predators. Their young victims suffer emotional damage that may not emerge for years. The victims may hide this knowledge from their parents, even block it from their own memory until it festers up again years later. The emotional pain and suffering don’t stop after seven years, neither should the culpability of the offender.
A bill has been introduced in the Legislature this year to remove the statute of limitations on reporting child sex abuse. It should be approved and signed into law.
http://www.nujournal.com/page/content.detail/id/534319/Remove-limit-on-child-sex-abuse.html?nav=5127
Gallery Post Format
/in Uncategorized /by SOL ReformPost multiple images in a single post using gallery post format.
Child sex abuse survivors rally for change in Ore. statute of limitations
/in Oregon /by SOL ReformSALEM – Advocates for reforming the statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse crimes in Oregon took to the Capitol steps Monday before a public hearing to discuss HB 3284.
People who described themselves as adult survivors of child sex abuse rallied and held signs describing what happened to them.
Oregon has a six-year statute of limitations on most sex crimes. The law allows for a longer period of time if the victim is under the age of 18. In those cases, the crime can be prosecuted any time before the victim turns 30, or within 12 years after the crime is reported to police or social workers.
Nationwide, 33 states have eliminated the statute of limitations on some or all child sex offenses, but not Oregon. In 2011, the Oregon legislature considered eliminating the statute of limitations, but the bill died in committee.
People who spoke out at Monday’s rally said it often takes victims decades to come to grips with what happened to them and that’s why they support HB 3284.
“If people are finally able to speak out and the statutes of limitations have expired, it can be extremely frustrating,” said abuse survivor Margie Boule. “But, beyond that, those abusers are still out there hurting more children.”
The Oregon House Judiciary Committee was scheduled to begin the public hearing at 1 p.m.
Criminal defense attorneys have argued that statute of limitations were created because over time, witnesses may die, memories may fade, or critical evidence may be destroyed or lost.
Victim advocates noted that these cases must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Studies have found that in the U.S., one out of four girls and one out of six boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18.
by KGW Staff