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| Bill to End Time Limit on Abuse Cases By Christine Lee WWLP September 27, 2011 http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/politics/state_politics/Bill-to-end-time-limit-on-abuse-cases Bill to end time limit on abuse cases: wwlp.com BOSTON (WWLP) - Survivors of child abuse are asking for tougher laws against their abusers. In Massachusetts there is a statute of limitations, or a time limit, in which a criminal case can be launched against a child abuser, which is 27 years past a victim's 16th birthday, or from when the child abuse is reported. A coalition of child abuse survivors and advocates gathered on the State House steps to ask lawmakers to eliminate those time limits altogether. They're urging lawmakers to support the Protection from Sexual Predators Act 2011, which also strikes out time limits for past and future child abuse claims in civil court so that survivors can identify their abusers in a public forum. The bill eliminates the charitable immunity defense, which caps penalties on hospitals, schools or other non-profits that fail to protect children at $20 thousand. "All we're asking for is that when adult kids become adults and want to confront their abusers that they get a fair fight," abuse victim attorney Carmen Durso said. Donald Roy of Chicopee, who says that he was an abuse victim, said that the current system prevented him from getting justice. "Very vulnerable to know that this is just an ongoing situation. As an adult in life, there are a group of us that got together and decided to bring forth criminal action against this physician that did this to several of us, and we were limited. The bill also provides compensation funds for mental health treatment to childhood abuse victims who are now adults. Proponents of the bill say a majority of the Legislature supports their bill, and it would pass if it reached a vote on the floor. |
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