Laws About Rape

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/18/opinion/laws-about-rape.html

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To the Editor:

Re “Cosby Accusers Help Reshape Laws in 3 States” (front page, Nov. 7):

As a child rape survivor who was threatened into silent terror for 20 years by a gun barrel, and as a lawyer who now represents sexual assault survivors, I celebrate any legislation giving survivors the time needed to expose attackers.

Despite detractors’ disingenuous cries of “stale” evidence, like faded memories, the quality of evidence matters, not time. The prosecutor or plaintiff must prove his or her case with admissible evidence, as with any case.

There are no statutes of limitation for murder, and most people support that for such a serious crime. Rape also often results in untimely death. I personally knew three child rape victims who died by their own hand because the trauma destroyed their mental health.

I told their stories to Florida legislators for years before persuading them in 2010 to repeal all civil and criminal limitation periods on child sexual battery.

Since then, I haven’t heard of any unjust prosecutions resulting from that repeal; I have seen child rapists brought to justice before they could offend again.

The country should follow Florida.

MICHAEL DOLCE

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.