The statute of limitations is the time within which a lawsuit must be initiated by a victim.
Child victims of sexual assault are profoundly affected by the abuse. There is a psychological effect that weighs heavy on a victim. Studies show that many victims report they were unable to deal with what happened to them as a child, until much later in life.
Children do not report because of fear of not being believed or shame. Others never report because the assailant threatens to hurt them or a family member if they do.
Studies show that in 80% of the cases reported the pedophile who assaults children is someone in a position of trust with the child and their family, it may be a family member. It is rarely the stranger in the bushes.
The current statute of limitations in Nevada is ten years for children once they reach 18. Legislation proposed by Krasner and Bustamante-Adams, will extend that Statute of Limitations to twenty years for child victims of sexual assault.
While many children who were sexually assaulted as a child grow up to lead healthy, productive and successful lives, there are many that experience anxiety and depression which leads to later issues in their lives:
• Drug & alcohol abuse: Sexually victimized children are 3 times more likely at risk for substance abuse.
• Violence/arrests: Abused children are 67 times more likely to be arrested than those who were not.
• Women on welfare: Over the last decade, surveys of welfare recipients produced estimates of sexual abuse that are strikingly high. Persons surveyed that were sexually abused as a child: 28% in Chicago, 38% in Washington State, 41% in Utah and 42% in Massachusetts.
• Runaways: Abused children were more than twice as likely to run away from home than non-abused children.
Victims feel betrayed and an unable to trust adults because someone they depended on has caused them great harm or failed to protect them.
We need to insure that child victims of sexual abuse have their day in court and pedophiles do not walk free. The doors of the courtroom must remain open for all victims, so that they may have justice and closure.
Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner is a Republican representing District 26, and Assemblywoman Irene Bustamante-Adams is a Democrat representing District 42
