Legislation Proposed To Remove Sex Abuse Statute Of Limitations

By Chase Cavanaugh
Northern Public Radio
May 3, 2016

http://northernpublicradio.org/post/legislation-proposed-remove-sex-abuse-statute-limitations

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan

Legislation introduced in Springfield would remove Illinois’ Statute of Limitations for prosecuting child sex offenders. 

Attorney General Lisa Madigan called for the measure last week when former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert admitted to sexually abusing teens.  Illinois no longer has a statute of limitations for child sex abuse cases when corroborating physical evidence exists, or when someone legally required to report the crime fails to do so. Thus the new proposal only affects the 20-year cutoff in cases where these circumstances don't apply.  

Madigan says it’s time for the cutoff to end, even if it affects a limited number of cases.

“We’re not saying that by eliminating the Statute of Limitations, we’re going to see a flood of allegations being brought that will result in criminal convictions. But what we are saying, is that there will not be an arbitrary cutoff," she said.  

Madigan says changing the law would not affect cases like Hastert’s, where the Statute of Limitations expired.  But in other cases, she says it would give people victimized as children and teens more time to come forward.