Remove Statute of Limitations for Child Sex Abuse in Florida

Police evidence has shown it takes an average of 24 years for a survivor of child sex abuse to come forward. An average child molester will offend 200–400 times before being caught, if ever. The vast majority of offenders do not get caught, and they have no criminal records.

According to the FBI, only one out of ten cases of child sexual abuse is reported to law enforcement. Why is this? Once the abuse begins fear works in the perpetrator’s favor. Abusers often explain to the victim, particularly younger victims, that if they reveal the abuse harm might come to family members, pets, or friends. Perpetrators also exploit the children’s feelings of having no power to stop the abuse and no credibility to be believed – they convince their victims that nobody will believe the stories of abuse. By developing a special relationship with the child, the perpetrator lures the child into a trap. The child is trapped in silence. The child is left feeling conflicted, dependent, helpless, and confused. These feelings have the effect of tying the child more closely to the molester. In that environment the child’s experience is that there is no way out and keeping the secret is the only option. These feelings perpetuate the conspiracy of silence that keeps child sexual abuse hidden from the people in a child’s life. It is now known that sexual abuse survivors face a challenging spectrum of physical and mental health concerns including but not limited to, attempting suicide. Today, 6 people will commit suicide due to child sex abuse.

As victims of child sex abuse, the Statute of Limitations buys our silence and here are some statistics;

Child rape occurs every 2 minutes
1 in 3 girls will be molested before age 17
1 in 6 boys will be molested before age 17

90% of molesters abuse children they know
84% of all prison inmates have been abused as a child
59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile
28% more likely to be arrested as an adult
30% more likely to commit violent crime
65% of people in treatment for drug abuse have been maltreated as a child
25% less likely to practice safe sex, putting them at a greater risk for STD's
80% meet criteria for at least one psychological disorder as adults
Long-term consequences such as chronic illness due to untreated wounds

Child molesters know the Statute of Limitations and they know they can get away with it. It is known children block out the molestation due to the trauma it causes and may not remember for many years.

Here is Floridas Current law;
No SOL for Serious Sexual Crimes and Some Felonies Committed Against Minors; 4 or 3 Years for Other Felonies; 2 for Most Misdemeanors : Capital and life felonies may be prosecuted at any time, as may any first degree felonious sexual battery committed against a victim less than 18 years old. Sexual battery against a victim less than 12 years old is a capital felony, while first degree sexual batteries include those committed by a person in familial or custodial authority, and those committed with force or violence. Other first degree felonies, which have an SOL of 4 years, include aggravated child abuse. Felonies that may be prosecuted for 3 years include incest, child abuse that does not cause great bodily harm, and non-violent sexual battery. Luring a child under 12 for an unlawful purpose is a first degree misdemeanor and may be prosecuted for 2 years.

We are asking that the Statute of Limitations be removed for all of these offenses including aggravated child abuse, child abuse that does not cause great bodily harm and non-violent sexual battery. Please do not allow the Statute of Limitations to buy our silence any longer to protect these child molesters.

Sincerely,
[Your name]