Child Sex Victims Fight Time Limits

By Christine Lee
WWLP
March 14, 2012

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/politics/state_politics/wwlp-chlid-sex-victims-fight-time-limits-cl


[with video]

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Kathy Picard of Ludlow and Lisa Foster of Longmeadow are among a group of child sex abuse survivors turned advocates, demanding that Massachusetts eliminate the statute of limitations that protects their abusers from facing justice in a court of law. Together, Picard and Ludlow lobbied support from lawmakers Wednesday at the Massachusetts State House.

"Our laws shouldn't be protecting the abusers. They should be ensuring that the victims get to have their say and their justice when they are able to seek it," said Foster.

The statute of limitations puts a time limit on when an accused child abuser can be criminally prosecuted. In 2006, Picard played a role in extending the time limit from 15 to 27 years past a victim's 16th birthday, or from when a sex crime is first reported. In both cases, she was a year past the deadline.

"People to this day still do not understand, they're like, well why hasn't she come out? You know she's old enough to realize, why didn't she? Because victims are ashamed, there's the disbelief," said Picard.

"Repression, there's protecting of other family members and so when that individual either gets the memories or is able to come forward, there shouldn't be laws that keep them from doing that," said Foster.

Critics say there needs to be a lime limit, otherwise anyone can claim sex abuse at anytime and there may be a backlog of cases in court. But advocates say the law should be on the side of the survivors.

"Three states …have no time frame – Maine, Florida and California. What is wrong with Massachusetts? We need to be a leader and stop following," said Picard.

By the end of the day, Picard said they had the support of 100 lawmakers in the Legislature, but support from two key figures, Judiciary Committee Chairman Eugene O'Flaherty and House Speaker Robert DeLeo remains unknown. A hearing for the bill is scheduled for next Wednesday, March 21.