ALBANY, NY, April17, 2013
- Assemblywoman Margaret Markey At a press conference held here in Albany April 17,2012
to report on her new expanded Child Victims Act that will completely eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse offenses.
to report on her new expanded Child Victims Act that will completely eliminate the criminal and civil
The program was held in conjunction with a Lobby Day Which now has 40 co-sponsors in the Assembly. The Senate bill is S3809.There is no limit on what is a life-time of suffering and anguish for so many victims of child sexual There is no limit on what is a life-time of suffering and anguish for so many victims of child sexual abuse said Assemblywoman Markey
Institutions and organizations that have deliberately protected and hidden perpetrators. Their actions make it possible for pedophiles to continue to prey on new victims."
The Assemblywoman announced a new initiative today to press for passage of the legislation. It is
state-wide campaign, "Family & Friends of Survivors", family members of child
to visit every member of the Assembly and State Senate in their
offices
to visit every member of the Assembly and State Senate in their
offices
Among the speakers at the program were representatives of organizations announcing their support for the legislation
Mrs. Mary DeSantis
of Niskayuna, NY, mother of survivor Michael DeSantis.
 |
| MS MARY DeSANTIS RABBI YOSEF BLAY |
of Niskayuna, NY, mother of survivor Michael DeSantis.
Julie Kay
Foundation for Women
PROFESSOR MARCI HAMILTON
author and expert on the changes
underway across America to update archaic statute of limitations codes in all states
MARK MEYER APPEL
PRESIDENT OF THE VOICE OF JUSTICE
reported on the nechemia weberman caseof sex abuse on a minor and on victim intimidation in the Orthodox Jewish community .We must have the child victims act enacted in New York state.N.Y is behind all states in legislation protecting our children said Appel.
reported on the nechemia weberman caseof sex abuse on a minor and on victim intimidation in the Orthodox Jewish community .We must have the child victims act enacted in New York state.N.Y is behind all states in legislation protecting our children said Appel.
Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg, who was assaulted over his support for a young Brooklyn woman abused by a rabbi in a sex abuse case talks about his personal fight for justice
Several speakers reported about their testimony before a public hearing of the Assembly Codes
Committee on childhood sexual abuse in March. They included:
Christopher Anderson,
Director of .the Male Survivor organizations
Melanie Blow of the Prevent Child Abuse America
Also speaking was attorney
Also speaking was attorney
Tina Weber, who was involved in a landmark case
where seven New Yorkers had to take their accusations of abuse against a priest to the courts in
where seven New Yorkers had to take their accusations of abuse against a priest to the courts in
Massachusetts to get justice. The 2011 conviction was recently upheld on appeal.
In announcing the "Family & Friends for Survivors" group, Assembywoman Markey and Mary DeSantis said: "Child sex abuse not only has a life-long impact on the child who has been assaulted,
but also on the entire family. Because of the burden a child carries as a result of their abuse many
They said that mothers and other family members of child sex abuse survivors are pledging to come
suffer problems as they are growing up and later in life. The entire family is affected as a result of that abuse to Albany from all across New York State on June 4-5 to tell our representatives that we want them to
They said that mothers and other family members of child sex abuse survivors are pledging to come
to Albany from all across New York State on June 4-5 to tell our representatives that we want them to
The Child Victims Act legislation, A 1771, has been adopted by the Assembly four times since 2006,
but has not yet advanced in the State Senate. It would completely eliminate the criminal and civil
statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes in New York State (which now expires only 5 years
after a victim turns 18) and also completely suspend the civil statute of limitations for one year to
to Albany from all across New York State on June 4-5 to tell our representatives that we want them to
act now to change the statute of limitations codes by enacting the Child Victims Act.
The Child Victims Act legislation, A 1771, has been adopted by the Assembly four times since 2006,
but has not yet advanced in the State Senate. It would completely eliminate the criminal and civil
statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes in New York State (which now expires only 5 years
after a victim turns 18) and also completely suspend the civil statute of limitations for one year to
provide justice for older victims and unmask abusers and those who have hidden them.
Assemblywoman Markey said: "Eight years ago, I first introduced the Child Victims Act of
NewYork to extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse for an extra five years
Beyond current law." That bill would have extended the time for a victim to come forward
with allegations of abuse to the age of 28. "Even though we were aware that so many
victims of abuse are not able to come to grips with what happened to
them until they
older, we thought that modest extension would be a good first step toward a more equitable law
them until they
older, we thought that modest extension would be a good first step toward a more equitable law
"Over the past few years we have seen shocking new revelations about child sex abuse emerge in
the U.S. and around the world. They clearly demonstrate why adding a few years to the statute of limitations is no longer enough. These include incidents involving Penn State and SyracuseUniversities, Sesame Street, the Boy Scouts, the Diocese of PhiladelphiaHorace Mann School, and Yeshiva University High School.What we are inadequate, but that real justice
is that the current law is not just woefully
is that the current law is not just woefully
requires more than a modest extension of statutes of limitations. That is why my new legislation nowseeks to completely eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes in New York State."
As with previous versions of the Child Victim's Act, this 2013 legislation includes a one-year "window"that completely suspends the civil statute of limitations for old crimes. Assemblywoman Markey
explained, "This is how we make it possible for older victims i
"
.
"What we are leinadequate, but that real justice
seeks to completely eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes in
New York State."
As with previous versions of the Child Victim's Act, this 2013 legislation includes a one-year "window"
that completely suspends the civil statute of limitations for old crimes. Assemblywoman Markey
explained, "This is how we make it possible for older victims in earlier cases to receive a measure of
justice and how we expose perpetrators whose crimes have been hidden."
n
J. McGrath is President of Call to Action Metro-NY Chapter, a Catholic lay organization.
~e
Among press conference speakers were Cardozo Law School
Professor Marci Hamilton, author and
Professor Marci Hamilton, author and
expert on the changes underway across America to update archaic statute of limitations codes in
nany states. Hamilton has created a website that tracks SOL reform activities state-by-
;state. It may be accessed at www.SOL-Reform.com.
Mark Meyer Appel,PRESIDENT OF The Voice OF JUSTICE reported on the weberman case and on victim intimidation in the Orthodox Jewish community
Rabbi Nachum Rosenberg, who was assaulted over his support for a young Brooklyn
woman victim who bravely testified in a successful case against a religious counselor who raped her.
Several speakers reported about their testimony before a public hearing of the Assembly Codes
Committee on childhood sexual abuse in March. They included:
Christopher Anderson, Executive
Director of .the Male Survivor
organization; and Melanie Blow of the Prevent Child Abuse America
New York chapter. Also speaking was attorney
Tina Weber, who was involved in a landmark case
where seven New Yorkers had to take their accusations of abuse against a priest to the courts in
Massachusetts to get justice. The 2011 conviction was recently upheld on appeal.
In announcing the "Family & Friends for Survivors" group, Assembywoman Markey and Mary
DeSantis said: "Child sex abuse not only has a life-long impact on the child who has been assaulted,
but also on the entire family. Because of the burden a child carries as a result of their abuse many
suffer problems as they are growing up and later in life. The entire family is affected as a result of that
abuse."
They said that mothers and other family members of child sex abuse survivors are pledging to come
to Albany from all across New York State on June 4-5 to tell our representatives that we want them to
act now to change the statute of limitations codes by enacting the Child Victims Act.
The Child Victims Act legislation, A 1771, has been adopted by the Assembly four times since 2006,
but has not yet advanced in the State Senate. It would completely eliminate the criminal and civil
statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes in New York State (which now expires only 5 years
after a victim turns 18) and also completely suspend the civil statute of limitations for one year to
provide justice for older victims and unmask abusers and those who have hidden them.
Assemblywoman Markey said: "Eight years ago, I first introduced the Child Victims Act of
NewYork to extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse for an extra five years
Beyond current law." That bill would have extended the time for a victim to come forward
with allegations of abuse to the age of 28. "Even though we were aware that so many
victims of abuse are not able to come to grips with what happened to them until they are
older, we thought that modest extension would be a good first step toward a more equitable
law."
"Over the past few years we have seen shocking new revelations about child sex abuse emerge in
the U.S. and around the world. They clearly demonstrate why adding a few years to the statute of
limitations is no longer enough. These include incidents involving Penn State and Syracuse
Universities, Sesame Street, the Boy Scouts, the Diocese of Philadelphia, the BBC, Poly Prep Day
School, Horace Mann School, and Yeshiva University High School.
"What we are learning is that the current law is not just woefully inadequate, but that real justice
requires more than a modest extension of statutes of limitations. That is why my new legislation now
seeks to completely eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes in
New York State."
As with previous versions of the Child Victim's Act, this 2013 legislationincludes a one-year "window"
that completely suspends the civil statute of limitations for old crimes. Assemblywoman Markey
explained, "This is how we make it possible for older victims in earlier cases to receive a measure of
justice and how we expose perpetrators whose crimes have been hidden."
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