Illinois eliminates statute of limitations on major sex crimes

[TexasTowelie]

Prosecutors in Illinois will no longer face a time limit on bringing charges for major sex offenses, regardless of the alleged victim’s age, under a measure Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law Friday.

The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, removes the statute of limitations on criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Previously, prosecutors had 10 years to bring charges if an offense was reported to law enforcement within three years after it occurred.

The change comes as victims are coming forward with allegations of sexual assault and abuse dating back years or even decades, prompted in many cases by the #MeToo movement. The measure was sponsored by Republican state Rep. Keith Wheeler of Oswego and Democratic Sen. Linda Holmes of Aurora and passed unanimously in both chambers of the General Assembly this spring.

Illinois eliminated the statute of limitations on major sex offenses against anyone under 18 in 2017 after it came to light that former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert had abused several boys while working as a wrestling coach at Yorkville High School in the 1960s and ’70s.

Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-sexual-assault-statute-of-limitations-20190726-pe7hwzphovf2vnvtfoddhmhlby-story.html

[gtar100]

1. Good. There already was no statute of limitations on the consequences to the victims.

Seems only fair.

[murielm99]

2. Hooray for my state.

We are becoming more liberal all the time.

The rumors about Hastert were always there. People ignored them. Now his seat is held by a new freshman Congress person, a woman of color.