NEW YORK
WHEC
[with video]
January 13, 2017
A sex abuse survivor says child victims deserve more time to speak up or file a lawsuit against their abuser.
To do that, it would take a new state law and that’s what Governor Cuomo is asking for.
During one of his State of the State addresses this week, he publicly supported giving victims a longer time period to accuse their abuser in court or bring a lawsuit against an institution. But some fear this could bankrupt school districts, churches or synagogues.
Right now, a victim of child sex abuse has until their 23rd birthday to accuse their abuser of a crime. After that, the statute of limitations runs out. For years, advocates have tried to change the laws, but it’s always been stopped in the legislature.
Now, because of the governor’s support, they think victims will finally get what they deserve.
Jill Knittel is a financial advisor in Rochester who was in her forties before she admitted in public that she was a victim of child sex abuse from the age of 6 to 13. By then, the statute of limitation to prosecute her abuser had run out.
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