By Bob Katzen
A new poll shows 84 percent of Massachusetts voters support eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, and that 67 percent say this should be a high priority for legislators. The poll was conducted for and released by the Bay State-based organization Enough Abuse, the nation’s oldest citizen-based child advocacy organization.
The poll comes on the heels of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s report detailing the findings of her office’s investigation into child sexual abuse in the Catholic Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield and Worcester. The investigation found evidence that more than 270 Catholic clerics abused nearly 1,000 children at the three dioceses.
The House and Senate in July approved two different versions of a primary care and health care affordability bill. The House version includes a provision that would eliminate the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse. The Senate version does not include that provision. A House-Senate conference committee is working on hammering out a compromise version of the two bills.
Under current law, effective for abuse that took place after June 26, 2014, survivors must sue within 35 years of the abuse, or within seven years of discovering that the abuse caused them psychological harm. However, the clock does not start ticking until the survivor turns 18. In practice, that caps most claims around age 53 and leaves survivors whose window has already closed with no path back into court.
“We are grateful to Speaker Mariano for his leadership in support of healing for survivors and stopping future crimes, and we are gratified to see such strong support among voters for getting this effort over the finish line,” said Jetta Bernier, executive director of Enough Abuse. “We urge Senate colleagues to stand with the House and keep these provisions in the final bill.”