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	Victim's Group Says Ruling Only Part of Solution By Brian Moon Wisconsin Radio Network June 27, 2008 http://www.wrn.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=CAC8BA2C-961C-77E6-B79D834048F95995 The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided Thursday that clergy members cannot escape old sex abuse allegations by leaving Wisconsin before the statute of limitations expires. Ted Thompson, President of the National Association to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Children, says the ruling only affective addresses offenders that leave Wisconsin. He says perpetrators can still "ride the clock" by staying in state and can avoid prosecution by hiding behind the six year statute of limitation. The advocate says statue of limitations reform is important because children can't comprehend the severity of the abuse like an adult victim. "A six year old that's been raped isn't of the same mindset, they don't know the damage that's been done." By the time a victim grows to understand the abuse or is ready to face the accuser, the statute of limitations may have expired. Thompson believes a law needs to be passed to repeal time limits for similar civil lawsuits as well as for offenders that stay in Wisconsin. He supports a bipartisan bill introduced last session by Senator Julie Lassa and Representative Scott Suder that would repeal all time limits for related civil suits.
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