To: The New York State Senate and Governor Andrew Cuomo
Support the Child Victims Act
Support A5488 the Assembly's Child Victim Act
We the undersigned urge the Senate and Governor to support A5488, the Child Victim's Act. We believe the following well-documented facts illustrate why this is so important.
Twenty percent of American children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Child sexual abuse produces many damaging lifelong effects for it's victims. Unfortunately, many victims are unable to seek justice in the criminal or civil courts because of New York's statute of limitations. Studies show that over 90% of children are sexually abused by someone close to them, often a family member or someone close to their family. 80-90% of victims won't tell anyone about their victimization before they become adults. In at least ten percent of cases, there is a non-offending adult who is aware of the abuse and does nothing to stop it. And this doesn't take into account the children who tell an adult who may take some action, but that action falls short of a call to the police or CPS. In short, it is impossible for many dependant children to use the court system to seek justice. They need to wait until they are adults, and adults who have accomplished a certain amount of healing, and have social, financial and health resources at their disposal. Things that are almost impossible for them to accomplish by the tender age of 23, the age at which the current statute of limitations prohibits them from seeking justice.
This is one of rare opportunities the legislator gets to pass a bill that can empower victims, remove sex offenders from the street, and protect children. We the undersigned urge the Senate and governor to support this bill.
We the undersigned urge the Senate and Governor to support A5488, the Child Victim's Act. We believe the following well-documented facts illustrate why this is so important.
Twenty percent of American children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Child sexual abuse produces many damaging lifelong effects for it's victims. Unfortunately, many victims are unable to seek justice in the criminal or civil courts because of New York's statute of limitations. Studies show that over 90% of children are sexually abused by someone close to them, often a family member or someone close to their family. 80-90% of victims won't tell anyone about their victimization before they become adults. In at least ten percent of cases, there is a non-offending adult who is aware of the abuse and does nothing to stop it. And this doesn't take into account the children who tell an adult who may take some action, but that action falls short of a call to the police or CPS. In short, it is impossible for many dependant children to use the court system to seek justice. They need to wait until they are adults, and adults who have accomplished a certain amount of healing, and have social, financial and health resources at their disposal. Things that are almost impossible for them to accomplish by the tender age of 23, the age at which the current statute of limitations prohibits them from seeking justice.
This is one of rare opportunities the legislator gets to pass a bill that can empower victims, remove sex offenders from the street, and protect children. We the undersigned urge the Senate and governor to support this bill.
Why is this important?
Twenty percent of American children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Child sexual abuse produces many damaging lifelong effects for it's victims.
Unfortunately, many victims are unable to seek justice in the criminal or civil courts because of New York's statute of limitations. Studies show that over 90% of children are sexually abused by someone close to them, often a family member or someone close to their family. 80-90% of victims won't tell anyone about their victimization before they become adults.
In at least ten percent of cases, there is a non-offending adult who is aware of the abuse and does nothing to stop it. And this doesn't take into account the children who tell an adult who may take some action, but that action falls short of a call to the police or CPS. In short, it is impossible for many dependant children to use the court system to seek justice. They need to wait until they are adults, and adults who have accomplished a certain amount of healing, and have social, financial and health resources at their disposal.
Things that are almost impossible for them to accomplish by the tender age of 23, the age at which the current statute of limitations prohibits them from seeking justice.
This is one of rare opportunities the legislator gets to pass a bill that can empower victims, remove sex offenders from the street, and protect children.
Unfortunately, many victims are unable to seek justice in the criminal or civil courts because of New York's statute of limitations. Studies show that over 90% of children are sexually abused by someone close to them, often a family member or someone close to their family. 80-90% of victims won't tell anyone about their victimization before they become adults.
In at least ten percent of cases, there is a non-offending adult who is aware of the abuse and does nothing to stop it. And this doesn't take into account the children who tell an adult who may take some action, but that action falls short of a call to the police or CPS. In short, it is impossible for many dependant children to use the court system to seek justice. They need to wait until they are adults, and adults who have accomplished a certain amount of healing, and have social, financial and health resources at their disposal.
Things that are almost impossible for them to accomplish by the tender age of 23, the age at which the current statute of limitations prohibits them from seeking justice.
This is one of rare opportunities the legislator gets to pass a bill that can empower victims, remove sex offenders from the street, and protect children.