What is a statute of limitations?
A statute of limitations is like a legal stopwatch that counts down the time to file criminal charges or a civil lawsuit. It is important to know when the clock starts ticking, when the clock stops ticking and whether anything restarts the clock.
What is our goal?
Our goal as an organization is to educate victims and lawmakers and promote public awareness of the varying laws in each state as well as current initiatives related to changes in the statute of limitations law.
States Leading the Fight to Protect Children from Sexual Predators
Hover over any state to see statistics about the estimated number of victims in each state and the current statute of limitation laws. Click on any state in the map to see more detailed information.
Advocating for Public Policy Changes to Hold Abusers—and the Institutions That Harbor them—Accountable
Incentivizing institutions to root out child sexual predators also requires a change in the law. Too often, institutions avoid being held accountable because the restrictive state-level statute of limitation laws prevent victims from getting justice. These narrow limitations let far too many predators off the hook and have actually incentivized institutions to cover up abuse, knowing that after just a few short years the institution can continue to cover up abuse unpunished. This is unconscionable since children suffer lifelong harm from abuse.
Zero Abuse Project advocates for changes to this fatal flaw in our legal system by advocating for legislation that would extend and reopen statutes of limitation at the state level. We are also working at the national level to establish a National Plan that would both stop child sexual abuse and implement policies to meet the needs of the millions of survivors nationwide.
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What resources have helped you heal?
What has helped me heal is the strength of the other survivors who speaks out in self-help groups. If it wasn’t for that, I would probably be still suffering in silence. I am so glad that there were other survivors out there who spoke up and have become a big part of my support system. Now, I even go around
What is the first step I need to take to come forward about sexual abuse?
The first thing you need to know is when it happened, generally, and where. We dont need a date but it could be as little as I was at Saint Marks School in the third grade. Its also really helpful to know who was the perpetrator. It doesnt mean you need their full legal name but if you can identify
This experience may bring out old traumas. What counseling services are available to me?
Theres a lot, and if you call the National Sexual Assault Hotline they can put you in touch with resources in your community. Not all of them are fee based; some of them are free. Depending on when your abuse happened you might also be entitled to crime victim compensation from the state which can reimburse you for some of
The person who abused me is still a powerful person in the organization. I’m scared. Will my past be used against me?
I wish I could tell you that it’s easy to come forward against somebody powerful, I wish I could tell you that the case would go forward easily. I wish I could tell you that none of your past will be used against you but unfortunately I cannot. I faced backlash myself when I came forward about my abuser and
The person who abused me is still a powerful person in the organization. I’m scared. Will my past be used against me?
I totally understand someone being scared about coming forward because their abusers are still powerful in that institution. It is the same situation for me. Your past doesn’t have to be used against you. Proceed with the help of support from your family, local resources, and a good attorney that can help you navigate these waters.
