New York – One day after being sharply criticized for focusing on liquor law reform while seemingly ignoring the plight of adults who had been abused as children, Governor Cuomo announced on Wednesday a plan to extend the statute of limitations on child abuse cases.
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As previously reported on VIN News (http://goo.gl/Cj86El), efforts have been underway in recent weeks to pass the Child Victims Act, also known as the Markey Bill. Currently, New York State law gives child abuse victims only until age 23 to press charges against their attackers. The Child Victims Act would also give older victims a one year window to bring charges against their abusers.
Cuomo’ spokesman Richard Azzopardi said that the governor has been in meetings with both child abuse advocates and victims, with an additional sit down scheduled today, according to Daily News reports. Azzopardi said that the governor wants to completely eliminate the statute of limitations on criminal child abuse cases and is considering modifications to a law that gives those who were abused in a public institution, such as school, a window of just 90 days from the date the abuse occurred to file a notice of intent to sue.
“This is an incredibly important issue and we are serious about addressing it this session,” said Azzopardi.
Just 12 more days remain in the current legislative session, which ends on June 16th.
Assembly speaker Carl Heastie said that he has been speaking with Assembly Democrats to determine their support for a bill that would reform the statute of limitations. Kathryn Robb, who has accused her brother of molesting her at age 9, said that Heastie needs to take a stronger stance on the issue.
“Yes, it’s up to the members, but he doesn’t hold the leadership position for nothing,” said the now 56 year old Robb. “He actually has to be a leader.”
Its a great law but I wish it would come with some protections for those being accused as well.Let me make it clear I am not coming to protect those who really committed crimes nor I am into shaming the victim. But facts are that humans get very emotional when one is accused of child abuse. They immediately point fingers and the guy being accused is assumed guilty prior to obtaining a fair trial. Once that happens he is doomed and its an uphill battle. Often he won’t even have the money to fight he courts as lawyers can charge upwards of $100,000 just to take on the case initially. The system is very rigged against any one who is accused. I am afraid this will just exasperate the broken system.
Disclaimer, I am not advocating for blaming the victim or shutting him/her up from fairly trying offenders. But I am advocating that those accused have a right to a fair and affordable trial. And that they be precieved as innocent till proven guilty just like any other crime in the USA,
Those Menivolim who abuse children should be punished. How and when its hard to say for a frum Yid. As observant Jews there is no Heter to put another yid in prison for 10-20-30-50-100 years.Unless the abuser has a DIN Rodef.To determine who is a Rodef is up to prominent real Rabonim.
Having said,to see who is in the forefront on this issue should make us all puke. Many of these so called child activist are Menivolim themselves. They talk dirty and make up false stories about anyone who doesn’t agree with their twisted views.
But all the laws in the world will not help unless the community recognize the problem and the Rabbaim stop hiding the issue.
How does someone defend himself against an accusation that he did something 10 or 20 years ago?
Example: A. Dershowitz was recently accused of misconduct having taken place over 10 years ago in Florida. Lucky for him his employment records showed to be in Boston at that time otherwise his name would have been “mud”. This was alucky exception.
The jury almost always believes the accuser in these cases with little or no corroborating evidence.
The only way it can be fair is if the accuser must be able to bring corroborating evidence that’s solid. That some others will then show up with similar accusations is meaningless as there are always others who will pile on in the hope of making a quick buck through this.
Extending the time frame, in short, can be very dangerous and unfair.
Why are frum jews so supportive of our pedophiles?