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. Studies show over half of CSA survivors first disclose they were abused at age 50 or older.
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 our sister organization, CHILD USAdvocacy, 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 chid 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, 29 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, Colorado*, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New York City, Vermont, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
CHILD USA TRACKS AND STUDIES SOL REFORM
CHILD USA is the leading national organization tracking and studying child sex abuse statutes of limitations. We provide weekly tracking of every SOL reform bill introduced in state legislatures across the country. Our 2023 SOL Reform Tracker, accessible via the first button below, gives an overview of all pending SOL bills along with status in legislatures and reports when new laws are passed.
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.
Our annual SOL report, History of Child Sex Abuse SOL Reform Since 2002, tracks the progress of the SOL reform movement for CSA. It provides a national overview of the current criminal and civil SOL laws for CSA in each U.S. State and Territory and tracks the improvements every jurisdiction made to its SOLs since 2002. Jurisdictions are compared to one another and graded based on how far they have advanced toward the 3 goals of SOL reform: (1) elimination of criminal SOLs, (2) elimination of civil SOLs, and (3) revival of expired civil SOLs.
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.
SOL NEWS & DATA
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.
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.
SOL REFORM IN THE NEWS
Angeles County shelter for kids waiting placement in foster homes
Iowa woman sues her father over sexual abuse, but faces legal hurdles
Clark Kauffman | June, 2022
For Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Assault, AB218 Is a Chance for Justice
Tribe amends criminal statute of limitations
Wolf, legislative leaders agree to prioritize constitutional amendment for child sex abuse victims
Ohio bill would allow Boy Scout sexual abuse victims to receive full settlement
Kevin Landers | August 16, 2022
For Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Assault, AB218 Is a Chance for Justice
Tribe amends criminal statute of limitations
Derrick James | February 16, 2022
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