Courts Deal Blow to Sex Abuse Victims: Victims Respond

By Joelle Casteix
SNAP
March 29, 2012

http://www.snapnetwork.org/courts_deal_blow_to_sex_abuse_victims_victims_respond

We are sorely disappointed that the California State Supreme Court did not agree with the legislative intent of the law and have now deprived many victims the right to use the civil courts for justice and accountability.

When California State Legislators wrote the law, they understood the devastation of child sexual abuse on a child and the community. They also knew that, according to studies and the US Department of Justice, it takes many victims 10, 20 or even 30 years to come forward and report. During that time, predators are still hurting children and communities have no warning of the danger.

One in four girls and one in eight boys are molested. So we must make it easier for victims to expose predators. In light of this tragic ruling, California lawmakers have to get busy revising predator-friendly laws so that more child molesters can be caught and jailed, so that our kids will be safer.