California Is Removing the Statute of Limitations for Rape

Women protesting Bill Cosby after a series of rape allegations in 2015. Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Last week, California governor Jerry Brown signed into law the Justice For Victims Act, which will remove the statue of limitations for sex crimes in the state. The law has been referenced as the "Cosby Bill" by media and lawmakers alike, since only one of more than 50 alleged victims of Cosby's can prosecute in criminal court due to statute of limitations on sex crimes in states like California. (The singular criminal case, brought by Andrea Constand, will take place in Pennsylvania.)

California's new law, which follows in the footsteps of 17 other states, allows for the indefinite prosecution of rape, sodomy, and lewd or lascivious acts by anyone, at any age, at any time. Previously, California imposed a ten-year statute of limitations on rape and other sex crimes. Senator Connie Leyva, who introduced the bill into the state legislature, said in a statement that it will "offer victims more time to come to terms with the horrible crime committed against them and then build up the courage to possible to find balance in providing justice to victims while also protecting the civil rights of the accused, particularly if there's evidence, corroboration, and claims can substantiated," Barbara Matthews, a New York-based attorney, told VICE. "The removing of these statutes will act as huge deterrents to people like Bill Cosby and others in power who instill fear in order to exploit and silence their victims."

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