IN THE WAKE OF PENN STATE AND NOW SYRACUSE, NEW YORK CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE TURNS TO THE SECULAR ARENA
By MICHELE M. BETTI | b&a opinions | https://bettiandassociates.com
With the news of Penn State and now Syracuse University, child sexual abuse has become mainstream USA. It is no longer just a “religious” issue.
You readily hear horrific stories from Survivors from all walks of life and all backgrounds accounting their heinous crimes of abuse. In the case of Penn State and Syracuse, team icons are alleged to have committed the abuse. These are not young men doing the abuse, but seasoned adults who are prominent professionals in the sports world.
It has taken a lot of courage for these young men to come forward regarding their sexual abuse. And this should not go unnoticed.
Why the Markey Bill In New York Should Be Passed
Many of the victims are prevented from bringing criminal charges against their abusers, and precluded from filing complaints for damages in civil courts because the statute of limitations has run on their case. People of New York should pass the Markey Bill.
Assemblywoman, Margaret M. Markey, a Queens Democrat, has introduced yet again the Child Victim Act. And again it is receiving opposition in the New York State Senate. The Child Victim Act would extend the statute of limitations time limit to bring a cause of action in court to 10 years. More importantly, it would suspend the statute of limitations altogether for one year.
At present, New York State law enables sexual predators and their employers involved in the cover-up of the abuse to avoid the consequences of their crimes by unreasonably shielding them from criminal prosecution and civil action.
With Penn State, it was the cover-up by that institution that enabled the abuse to go on for years. Had Penn State contacted the police regarding Sandusky, and let the police conduct a thorough investigation, many of the boys could have been spared the sexual violence Sandusky allegedly inflicted on them. But, Penn State did not want to lose its legendary defensive coach, did not want to tarnish its institution, and did not want to bring disgrace to its great football program. Penn State did not want to do anything to hurt the school. What Penn State should have been worried about was protecting innocent children from an alleged pedophile football coach.
What New Yorker’s Can Do To Stop Sexual Abusers From Escaping Justice
- Write their state Assembly representatives and state Senators and tell them to pass the Markey Bill.
Find your New York Assembly Representative Find Your New York State Senator - Contact your local newspapers, radio and tv news stations and tell them to start covering child sexual abuse stories in New York. Moreover, tell them to start reporting, in detail, the way in which employers will stop at nothing to avoid bad press and the lengths in which they will go to cover-up the abuse.Newspapers: NY Times: New York Post
List of NY Radio Stations:
Copyright 2012, b&a opinions.
Betti & Associates is a law firm specializing in representing victims of child sexual abuse in California, New York, Illinois, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Hawaii.
