A bill that would extend the statute of limitations for misdemeanor sex offenses involving minors from five to ten years after their eighteenth birthday is progressing through the Legislature.
Written by Nadia Ramlagan of Kentucky News Connection
Supporters of House Bill 472, sponsored by Rep. Lynn Bechler, R-Marion, said it will help more survivors be heard and their perpetrators held accountable.
Nationwide, one in four girls and one in thirteen boys will experience sexual abuse, and 34% of all victims are younger than 12, according to data from the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Tonya Jernigan, a licensed clinical social worker at UK Pediatric Forensic Medicine, said most sexual abuse occurs within a family or friends of family.
“So being able to extend the statute of limitations beyond that five-year mark, to that ten-year mark, I think, number one, it gives the individuals the ability to separate from that family of origin, to be able to have some independence so that they feel they are able to tell their stories,” Jernigan contended.
Yes, and make sure to give the accused at least 10 minutes for their “speedy trial” which will consist of emotional drama, a puppet show, balloon animals, comfort animals, a victim goodie bag and a bunch of hearsay (but no actual “proof”) and because of victimhood protections and immunities there will be no way to even confront the accuser who might as well be a phantom at that point. Just a disposable name and face to convince the jury. Good job rAmos and Anderson!
Allow families to heal without the involvement of authorities. How many times has a person lied sending an innocent person to prison? How many kids are used to seek revenge on a former partner? How many times has a victim stating they didn’t want to pursue charges; yet the state went ahead anyway? Let people make their own choices without being a forever victim!!