Halpin-Backed Law Removing Statute of Limitations on Sexual Assault Cases Now in Effect

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Survivors of sexual assault will have greater opportunities to bring their attacker to justice under a new law supported by state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, which is now in effect.

“The statute of limitations on prosecuting sexual predators is a major weak point in our criminal justice system and a disservice to all survivors of sexual assault,” Halpin said. “The only way to really crack down on this terrible crime is to allow it to be prosecuted at any time. Far too many offenders get away with what they’ve done and that has to stop.”

Halpin backed House Bill 2135, which removes requirements that adult victims report sexual assault within three years of the crime being committed. This change is crucial because, due to trauma-induced side effects and depending on their relationship to the offender, targets of sexual assault often have difficulty coming forward immediately after the event.

“For a variety of reasons, it can take years for survivors of sexual assault to speak up about what happened to them, and that time can mean the difference between justice for a rapist’s crimes and them walking free to do it again,” Halpin said. “We are helping law enforcement do their jobs and helping victims heal by ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice, prosecuted and punished appropriately.”