"This statute of limitations stuff has to go! These crimes are often not addressed by the victims for decades! The statute is ONLY to protect the perps!"
It is VERY difficult to prove a case that is years old, especially one that heavily relies upon testimony (of now-dead witnesses) and DNA evidence (that has now degraded).
I am not apologizing for the perps, just pointing out the legal realities.
SOME SoL is a good thing, but they could -- and certainly should -- increase the window of time in which to file.
if the evidence is lacking then there won't be a conviction or even a trial. Why stop them from bringing the case outright? If you have it on vid w/ a signed confessions and SoL is up it's a no go- how does that make any sense? There is more to this.
There is a false assumption that a person doesn't remember their whole lives.... that a sex crime victim cannot tell what happened needs extra witnesses. This has been disproven in recent decades as untrue. Crime victims can and do recall crimes from childhood and they are not less crimes because of the passage of years.
One very effective tool that gets high percent guilty verdicts is testimony from perps - tape recorded by victims confronting them years after.
They are so conceited and sure of thier un-touchable-ness they confirm the crimes with thier own words, and they hang themselves so to speak.
Today prosecutors have many tools like that to use in court. I think some states have better rules about this than other states.
It burns me up when I see that statute thing. They IRS never lets old, uncollected taxes go just because someone got away with it for years. It is a power thing in our society I figure.
I highly agree. Who wants to remember these horrible things? Many times most victims push this out of their minds and do not remember either through shock or choice because, hey, IT IS VILE. Some do not remember until they are adults and even middle aged. I wish we could start some kind of movement for this. A Push for No Limits.
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flyingcuttlefish ago
This statute of limiations stuff has to go! These crimes are often not addressed by the victims for decades! The statute is ONLY to protect the perps!
equineluvr ago
"This statute of limitations stuff has to go! These crimes are often not addressed by the victims for decades! The statute is ONLY to protect the perps!"
It is VERY difficult to prove a case that is years old, especially one that heavily relies upon testimony (of now-dead witnesses) and DNA evidence (that has now degraded).
I am not apologizing for the perps, just pointing out the legal realities.
SOME SoL is a good thing, but they could -- and certainly should -- increase the window of time in which to file.
notdivided ago
if the evidence is lacking then there won't be a conviction or even a trial. Why stop them from bringing the case outright? If you have it on vid w/ a signed confessions and SoL is up it's a no go- how does that make any sense? There is more to this.
flyingcuttlefish ago
There is a false assumption that a person doesn't remember their whole lives.... that a sex crime victim cannot tell what happened needs extra witnesses. This has been disproven in recent decades as untrue. Crime victims can and do recall crimes from childhood and they are not less crimes because of the passage of years.
One very effective tool that gets high percent guilty verdicts is testimony from perps - tape recorded by victims confronting them years after.
They are so conceited and sure of thier un-touchable-ness they confirm the crimes with thier own words, and they hang themselves so to speak.
Today prosecutors have many tools like that to use in court. I think some states have better rules about this than other states.
It burns me up when I see that statute thing. They IRS never lets old, uncollected taxes go just because someone got away with it for years. It is a power thing in our society I figure.
carmencita ago
I highly agree. Who wants to remember these horrible things? Many times most victims push this out of their minds and do not remember either through shock or choice because, hey, IT IS VILE. Some do not remember until they are adults and even middle aged. I wish we could start some kind of movement for this. A Push for No Limits.
flyingcuttlefish ago
I bet if you look around on the net you will find such a group.
Child sex abuse survivors of US catholic chuch institutionalized abuse teamed up for big legal action and won.
And in Ireland the 'shatter boys' is a brave group of sex abuse survivors.
a nice interview about them (with Ed Opperman hosting)
https://youtu.be/b31dohG22O8