CHICAGO – Police and prosecutors will be able to charge sexually violent criminals at any time under a new law passed by state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, removing that statute of limitations for sexual assault.
“Survivors of the vicious, violent crime of sexual assault deserve justice, regardless of when they are able to come forward,” D’Amico said. “This bill offers sexual assault survivors the time they need to come to police and prosecutors and make their voices heard.”
D’Amico supported House Bill 2135, which eliminates the statute of limitations for sexual assault. Currently, such offenses must be prosecuted within three to ten years, depending on when a survivor reported the offense to law enforcement. This change will assist survivors of sexual assault because the trauma-induced effects of a sexual assault can prevent victims from coming forward in the immediate aftermath of the assault.
The measure receive bipartisan support in the House and the Senate, and was recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
“Too many sexual assault survivors are unable to speak about what happened to them and this feeling can last long past their current ability to seek justice,” D’Amico said. “Removing this roadblock is a major step forward to help ensure that survivors have the ability to receive the justice they deserve.”
Rep. John D’Amico
(D-Chicago)
15th District
Springfield Office:
279-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8198
(217) 782-2906 FAX
District Office:
4404 W. Lawrence Avenue
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 736-0218
(773) 736-2333 FAX