Speak Out Against Child Sex Abuse

I have written about this before. I discussed the problem of child sex abuse when the scandal was hitting the Penn State Football program and the Boston Red Sox Recently I told the story of how some Catholic Bishops are trying to financially destroy the organization that supports sexual abuse survivors.

Now I am going to ask you to do something about this problem right here in our Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I am going to ask you to support the Protection from Sexual Predators Act (H 469) which will eliminate the Statute of Limitations for sexual abuse of children.

Studies show that 1 in 4 girls, and 1 in 6 boys, may experience sexual abuse by their 18^th birthday.  An estimated 90% of child sexual abuse goes unreported.

Lack of reporting may be attributed to a number of factors:

• Victims feel guilt and shame, and while they may be aware that “something” is wrong, the perpetrator tells them the molestation or rape is right, or threatens repercussions against them or their families, causing confusion and preventing them from speaking out.
• Societal or family influences are often considerations for both the child and the adults to whom a child might disclose the abuse. 

Boston attorney Carmen Durso surveyed 39 clients who survived being sexually abused as minors. On average, their abuse began when they were 12.9 years old- but they didn't tell anyone until they were 44.7 years old. Average length of time it took this group to disclose was 32.3 years. It took Catholic Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit 60 years to report his abuse as a teenager.

Here are some reasons why I think you should support this bill:

1. Eliminating all statutes of limitations will reduce the number of sexual offenders at large in Massachusetts. Eliminating all statutes of limitations on sexual crimes against children is a simple but powerful legislative reform. It opens the courthouse doors and lets victims expose perpetrators through peaceful, legal means.
2. Yesterday's predator is today's predator. Psychological studies have shown that there is no "statute of limitations" for molester's attraction to children. Molesters usually continue victimizing children until they are caught and imprisoned or they die.
3. Statutes of limitations protect pedophiles. In the 2002 Catholic child abuse crisis, only 2% of the abusers were ever jailed. Many of these confirmed abusers are now living in our communities, unidentified. They almost certainly are preying on more Massachusetts children. They constitute the largest group of unregistered sex offenders in the state.
4. There is no "statute of limitations" on the suffering of victims—for many, the pain is pervasive and on-going, ever after years of therapy. Often, molesters have threatened to hurt the victims or their families if they reveal the abuse. When these victims are finally able to come forward, it should not be the state's role to protect a pedophile or to shield institutions that facilitated abuse.
5. At least 15 states have no criminal statutes of limitations for serious sex crimes.
6. The current statutes in Massachusetts protect predators, not children. 
7. If the statutes are eliminated, sexual offenders will get the treatment they need. Eliminating statutes will get more sexual offenders involved in the criminal justice system, where they will get access to much needed treatment.

Swampscott’s State Rep. Lori Ehrlich, a co-sponsor of this bill said: “Victims are usually very young and feel powerless at the time of abuse and the suffering stays with them for life. When they are empowered enough to come forward, usually when they have grown and feel some sense of empowerment, the state should be there for them with a process by which they can seek justice. It's good for the victims and good for society.”

Here’s what you can do:

1. Contact your legislator and tell them how you feel.  (Swampscott’s Senator Tom McGee is a member of the Judiciary Committee which is hearing this Act.) Use the “Find a Legislator” tool to get current information on all the members of the legislature.
2. Email this column to your family and friends
3. Attend a rally at the State House -- 4th Floor, (near balcony outside House Chambers and Room 437) on Wednesday, March 14 @ 11:00 AM
4. Support efforts aimed at preventing child sexual abuse from happening in the first place.  This is what Massachusetts Citizens for Children, lead agency for the Enough Abuse Campaign, has been working to do since the Campaign was launched in 2002. http://www.enoughabuse.org/