Two state legislators introduced bills today that would eliminate the statute of limitations for sexual abuse of a child.
Under Michigan’s current statute of limitations, perpetrators can only be charged within 10 years after the offense is committed or by the victim’s 21st birthday, whichever is later. In many cases, that’s not enough time. Experts on child sexual abuse assert that many victims are too young to process or talk about the abuse they suffered as children. It can take decades for them to make a report, and by that time, the abuser may have escaped prosecution.
“The sexual exploitation of children is one of the most heinous crimes conceivable,” state Sen. Bieda (D-Warren) author of the Senate bill said. “Michigan law must be able to hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of how long it takes victims to report.”
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), 44 percent of sexual assault victims are under age 18, and 93 percent of them know the perpetrator. That means that many abusers hold a position of trust in relation to the victim, making it that much more difficult for the victim to report the incident.
Eliminating the statute of limitations would give victims an indefinite path to justice and help make it easier to track patterns of abuse over time. That’s especially important when the effects of childhood abuse can span generations, exacting behavioral and societal consequences.
“Arbitrary statutes of limitations deny victims justice,”said Rep. Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor), author of the House bill. “The effects of childhood sexual abuse can last a lifetime. It’s only fair that state law reflects that reality.”
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