June 12, 2012: Abuse Headlines Give Needed Exposure To Complex Child Sexual Abuse Laws
By MICHELE M. BETTI | b&a opinions | https://bettiandassociates.com
Increased media attention on the explosion of child sexual abuse allegations overtaking the Jewish Orthodox community is shedding tremendous light into the pedophilia crisis — Making clear that this is not just a Catholic issue as has long been contended by victims and advocates of child sexual abuse.
Proponents for victims of child sexual abuse are glad to see the amount of coverage and press time these Jewish cases are receiving. It only makes it easier to get the statute passed. I tell reporters over an over that today, we need as much publicity as possible to shed light into these devastating crimes against our children. The more we can have the media focus attention the better it is for our legislature and the Governor to finally pass a pro-child protection bill. By doing this, we stop cover-ups by institutions and expose child predators to the community.
New York Assemblywoman, Margaret Markey has introduced a bill that would put changes in the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse crimes in New York. Markey has had the support of her fellow assembly members, but the bill has always died in committee in the state Senate.
An on-line petition (www.nychildvictimsact.org) urges the Governor to support the law. The on-line petition is sponsored by the Coalition to Protect Children. It calls on New York citizens to ask Governor Andrew Cuomo to support the Child Victims Act of New York.
When California enacted a similar law, more than 300 undetected predators were identified; and 50 in Delaware, a much smaller state.
Assemblywoman Markey’s bill, the Child Victims Act of New York, would extend the criminal and civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes by five additional years, from age 23 to age 28. It would also create a one-year window that will completely suspend the civil statute of limitations for one to make it possible for older victims to get justice. The window will also expose pedophiles that have been hidden, protecting future generations of children. And will expose institutions that covered up the abuse for so many years allowing other children to be sexually abused. This legislation has been adopted four times by the NY State Assembly since 2006, but has not been able to get a vote in the State Senate.
Copyright 2012, b&a opinions.
