TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Legislation filed at the state capitol would remove the statute of limitations for prosecuting rape cases involving victims who were under age 18 when the sexual assault occurred.
Under current law, a first degree felony case involving rape cannot be prosecuted more than four years after a crime is committed. The proposed bill would remove that deadline.
Democratic State Senator Linda Stewart is sponsoring the measure. She says many young sexual battery victims do not come forward when a rape happens for numerous reasons, including embarrassment, feeling ashamed and because the attacker is often an authority figure in the child’s life.
“By the time they reach adult age, it takes them that long to really consider what had happened to them and have the courage to come forward and tell people what had happened to them," said Stewart. "I don’t think that there should be a time clock.”
Stewart’s bill will be considered during the 2019 legislative session which begins March 5. If approved, it would take effect next July 1.
