Victims of Abuse by Priests Responds to Task Force’s Recommendations to Legislature (audio)

By Jessica Machetta
Missourinet
January 7, 2013

http://www.missourinet.com/2013/01/07/victims-of-abuse-by-priests-responds-to-task-forces-recommendations-to-legislature-audio/

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests — says the Task Force to prevent child sex abuse did a good job of compiling recommendations for the legislature to modify existing statute to make it safer in Missouri for children.

However, it says one key measure was left off the list of 22 recommendations.

“Getting rid of the criminal statute of limitations is a good start,” the group says, “but the civil statute should be gotten rid of, too.”

SNAP says victims themselves have the greatest knowledge of the crimes and the greatest incentives to prevent more of them, so “predator-friendly laws that keep victims from exposing criminals” in civil court should be revoked.

Outreach Director of SNAP Barbara Dorris says most child sex abuse victims don’t start to deal with their abuse until they’re in their 40s, meaning the statute of limitations for seeking justice is typically long past.

“Criminal statutes can’t look backwards, but civil statutes can,” Dorris says. “And so the goal of the civil statute would be to let victims seek justice, warn communities and protect kids.”

SNAP says it is very grateful to the task force who devoted hundreds of hours to this crucial task, but says it will be even more grateful if lawmakers act on the recommendations.