Proposed legislation would remove the civil statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases. Professor Marcie Hamilton is a Princeton law professor and board member of the National Association to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Children, or NAPSAC. "The predators have had the benefit of the law. They have been able to know that they are free from prosecution and liability, not long after the abuse of each victim." Advocates like NAPSAC's Ted Thompson say the civil statute of limitations needs to be lifted, because criminal cases are extremely difficult to prove.
State Representative Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) and Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) are cosponsoring the Child Victims Act. They say lifting the statute of limitations is the only way many victims of child sexual abuse will ever be able to get justice, and the only way many perpetrators will ever be identified.