CHILD SEX ABUSE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS REFORM
THE SEAN P. McILMAIL STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT CHILD USA
The Sean P. McIlmail Research Institute at CHILD USA was founded in 2018 with a generous donation from the parents of Sean McIlmail. Sean was a brave clergy sex abuse victim who passed away when the stress of prosecuting Fr. Robert Brennan triggered his struggle with opioids. Sean was the only victim in Philadelphia who could prosecute due to Pennsylvania’s exceedingly short child sex abuse SOLs. The Institute, which will help preserve Sean’s legacy, is dedicated to studying and analyzing SOLs to fight for access to justice for all child sex abuse victims. Deborah and Michael McIlmail have turned their tragedy into a mission for the greater good.
WHAT IS A STATUTE OF LIMITATION (SOL)?
Statutes of limitations (SOLs) set the deadline for pressing criminal charges or filing a civil lawsuit for child sex abuse (CSA).
Most victims miss the SOLs for obtaining justice because trauma affects them in a way that causes them to delay disclosure of their abuse until they are older. Not all victims disclose, but the vast majority of CSA victims who do disclose need decades to come forward.
Shining light on the evidence-based pattern of delayed disclosure is a crucial component in the fight for SOL reform nationwide.
CHILD USA LEADS THE SOL REFORM MOVEMENT
SOL reform is the key to attaining justice for survivors and preventing future abuse
CHILD USA leads the national SOL reform movement to change SOLs to prevent child sex abuse and empower victims. CHILD USA partners with lawmakers, advocates, and victims across the United States to change SOLs to reflect the science of delayed disclosure and serve the public interest. Our goal is to eliminate civil and criminal SOLs for child sex abuse crimes, and revive civil claims that were unfairly blocked by short SOLs.
CHILD USA OPENS WINDOWS TO JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS
Revival windows are recognized as the best way to give survivors access to justice and expose hidden predators. A window is a law that revives previously time-barred civil claims for child sex abuse and allows survivors of all ages to file suit while the window is open. Similarly, a revival age limit law allows many survivors to bring suit for previously expired claims up until they reach a certain age.
Already, 33 U.S. States and Territories have windows or age limit revival laws for child sex abuse claims and new revival legislation is proposed each year. Revival windows are now open or opening soon for survivors to file claims for past abuse in Arkansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New York City, Vermont, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. Limited windows are also open in Ohio, Indiana, Alabama, and Iowa only for Boy Scout survivors.
Window laws give child sexual abuse survivors, whose time already ran out, a chance to sue their abusers and the institutions that endangered them. They encourage survivors to come forward and tell us their stories to protect your children today. To learn more check out our one-pager for parents on why every state needs a window.
States opening revival windows for time-barred claims against all types of defendants have seen a modest and manageable number of lawsuits and brought long overdue justice to victims of child sexual abuse.
Revival windows have exposed hidden predators and the institutions that enabled them, making their states safer for future children.
CHILD USA TRACKS AND STUDIES SOL REFORM
CHILD USA is the leading organization tracking and studying child sex abuse statutes of limitations. We provide weekly tracking of every SOL reform bill introduced in state legislatures nationwide. Our 2024 SOL Reform Tracker gives an overview of all pending SOL bills, along with their status in legislatures, and reports when new laws are passed.
Child Sex Abuse Statutes of Limitation Treatise (2002-2024)
A resource book outlining everything you need to start your statutes of limitation legal research for every U.S. jurisdiction, including federal, state, and U.S. territories.
Become an expert in CSA Statutes of Limitation when you combine CHILD USA’s SOL Tracker with this legal resource book, which will significantly reduce your SOL research time.
Ideal for every Law Firm!
Use the e-book to navigate directly to your client’s state with one click and quickly get the answers you need to pursue justice.
CHILD USA SOL REFORM RESOURCES
THE SURVIVOR TOOL KITS
The guide to help survivors understand their rights during the legal process of filing a civil lawsuit under a revivial window.
SOL TESTIMONY
Legal testimony provided by CHILD USA in favor of reforming the Statutes of Limitation.
Child Sex Abuse Statutes of Limitation Treatise
(2002 – 2024)
The most comprehensive information on SOL research across the country.
SOL RANKINGS
Graphs, Charts, and other visual aids to help in understanding Statute of Limitation Reform in the United States.
STATUTE OF LIMITATION TESTIMONY
Legal testimony provided by CHILD USA in favor of reforming the Statutes of Limitation.
THE SURVIVOR TOOLKITS
The guide to help survivors understand their rights during the legal process of filing a civil lawsuit under a revival window.
NEWS/ DATA ARCHIVE
Reports and Data on Statutes of Limitation reform from CHILD USA and others.
SOL RANKINGS
Graphs, Charts, and other visual aids to help in understanding Statute of Limitation Reform in the United States.
AVAILABLE NOW: Child Sex Abuse Statutes of Limitation Treatise: 2002 to Today
A resource book outlining everything you need to start your statutes of limitation legal research.