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	Extend Protection from Abuse to All Children The News Journal July 13, 2009 http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090713/OPINION11/90712007/1004/OPINION Courts, lawyers, even cash settlements can do little to ease the trauma of child sexual abuse. But for mistakes of the past, the legal system represents society’s best means of helping victims of childhood abuse obtain some semblance of justice. Delaware’s Child Victim’s Act was an attempt to make right – as much as society can – the abuse of children by adults who were supposed to care for them. Many of these adults held high moral positions – clergymen, teachers, youth leaders. They were trusted by society. Worse, they were trusted by the children. Yet they used that trust as a cover to sexually abuse children. Too often, society failed to detect these violations, or, unconscionably, chose to ignore them. Even more horrifying, the institutions these adults worked for often covered up these crimes. The statute of limitations on these crimes was over in many cases. Yet the pain and suffering of the victims lingered. Justice cried out for some action. The act, notably sponsored by state Sen. Karen Peterson, gave the victims the chance to find some justice in Delaware’s civil courts. The Child Victim’s Act was in effect for two years. It expired last week. It brought forth 170 lawsuits. The allegations are horrifying. But it is now up to the courts to process the cases. The incidents that have been brought out here in Delaware, throughout the United States and around the world show how serious the outrage was. Many of the institutions involved in the scandals of the past have been held liable and forced to pay for the abuse. As a result, some institutions, such as the Boy Scouts and the Catholic Church, have enacted strict controls and education programs. Society will keep watching to make sure those controls are enforced. However, the story is not complete. Delaware has recently seen a rash of public school teachers sexually abusing students in their charge. The response of the school districts has been to call for more in-service days. That’s hardly enough. The state has to be more serious. One way would be to hold public employees and their employer responsible. Currently, the state is exempt from being sued for failing to protect children in their charge. Liability forced other institutions to finally get serious. Removing the state’s special protection would force the state to do so as well.
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