Virginia SOLs Extended

The new Statute of Limitations law in Virginia, which goes into effect July 1, 2011, allows child sex abuse victims up to 20 years after the incident, or 20 years after the victim turns 18, or 20 years after the abuse becomes known to sue their abusers.

The old SOL limited the filing of suits to two years from the date victims turned 18.

Many clergy sexual abuse survivors came forward during the debate on the new law to tell their stories to lawmakers, who admitted being swayed by personal testimony of survivors who recalled how decades had passed, with devastating effects on their lives, before they could face their abuse.
Casey said in his statement he has listened to countless stories of child sexual abuse, most committed by Catholic clergy.

“Survivors all share two common longings,” Casey said in his statement. “The first is their urgent need to protect other children from similar sexual abuse. The second is their need to obtain a direct acknowledgement of the abuse by their abusers and those responsible for their actions. Most survivors require years before they begin to connect the source of their suffering to the recollection of child abuse. Statutes of limitations are the single biggest impediment to the satisfaction of both these needs.”

The Virginia Catholic Conference opposed the SOL extension.
Casey’s statement can be viewed at http://bit.ly/fevAgs.