ILLINOIS
ABC 7
By Sarah Schulte
Monday, August 14, 2017
MOKENA, Ill. (WLS) — Illinois is making it easier to prosecute sex abuse crimes against children. Governor Bruce Rauner signed legislation that removes the statutes of limitation for those crimes.
Sex abuse victims are calling the new law a great step forward. They say pursuing justice criminally will help with the closure process.
Survivors of abuse say eliminating the statutes of limitations will give them the time they need to come forward and report a crime to police.
During his first confession at St. Mary’s Parish in Mokena, David Rudofski said he was sexually abused by Father James Burnett when Rudofski was just 8 years old. But, it wasn’t until he was in his mid-30’s when Rudofski reported the abuse.
“It takes years – sometimes decades – to have the courage to come up and talk about or even realize what happened,” Rudofski said.
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