cc: Hon Dean G. Skelos, Temporary President and Majority Leader of the NYS Senate
Hon. Sheldon Silver, Speaker of the NYS Assembly
Hon. John L. Sampson, Minority Leader of the NYS Senate
Hon. Margaret Markey, Member, NYS Assembly
According to FBI studies, a startling 1 in 5 of ALL children are sexually abused before age 18! Sadly, many predators are lifelong abusers, with as many as 100 victims. Yet, only 10% of this abuse is ever reported to authorities. Victims are often silenced for years even decades by intimidation or serious post traumatic stress disorders.
That means there are thousands of unknown sex abusers of children living and working silently and harmfully among us all across New York state -- in schools, churches, synagogues, youth groups, and especially in families.
This silent epidemic is heightened by those who have criminally covered up for abusers and are themselves shielded by the state's statute. Special grand juries in Suffolk and Westchester have uncovered orchestrated criminal actions by institutions using deception and intimidation to delay victims from legal recourse until the statute of limitations expired.
"...the NYS legislature should enact a statute similar to the state of California that revives civil actions for damages for a period of one year...." – Suffolk County Special Grand Jury.
When California enacted its law, the state discovered more than 300 undetected predators. Delaware, a much smaller state, has discovered more than 60. Given that predators have multiple victims, thousands of children have now been protected in just these two pioneering states. And states neighboring New York have significantly stronger laws.
The Child Victims Act of New York will:
Enable the detection of UNKNOWN AND SHIELDED predators by suspending the statute of limitations for just one year.
Provide justice for victims who were unfairly or criminally denied their day in court.
Provide an additional 5 years time for future victims to overcome their trauma--to age 28..
Save our state extensive financial as well as social costs. Studies show child sexual abuse costs NYS taxpayers over $1 billion every year.
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