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March 07, 2005
Bill would extend statute of limitations on child sex abuse
March 7, 2005 [Associated Press]
SALEM, Ore. - Oregon House members have approved a bill that would extend the statute of limitations on criminals who sexually abuse children.
Currently, prosecution is allowed until the victim is 24 years old - or about six years from when the crime was reported.
But the new bill would extend that to 12 years - or until the victim turns 30.
House Speaker Karen Minnis, a Republican from Wood Village, is the sponsor of the bill.
She says she decided to push the bill after hearing stories about child molesters who never faced prosecution.
Opponents of the measure contend that statutes of limitations prevent prosecutions that rely on faulty memories.
Still, the House voted 49-to-10 to send the measure to the Senate.
Posted by Nancy at March 7, 2005 05:57 AM