Quote From: kathleen27In New York, we have a wonderful State Senator, Malcom Smith, who has been a force in trying to change the statute of limitations. I had the pleasure of speaking with him at a victims' meeting, but out of four political officials invited, Sen. Smith was the only one who showed. He arranged a bus for us to take up to Albany, and slated closed hearings with the members of the State Government so they could hear our concerns. It was an eye-opening experience to learn of SIGNIFICANT opposition to changing the Statute in New York, on the part of lawmakers. Why? Their answers were basically that if they were extended, too many allegations would come forth for reasons other than truth...and as people grow older, and have more knowledge of what sex actually entails, the descriptions would not be impressive...and the lack of evidence would still be an issue. They claim it to be protection of innocent people from being arrrested with false claims.
I would really like to see a show on Dr. Phil that deals with the system, not to negate the powerful statements being made by the victims, but if we cannot move to the next level, we will just wallow in stagnant waters.
Where are shows bringing forward the lawmakers, the D.A.s the SVU detectives? How about the CPS case workers? I'd like for the American public to hear stats, not from me...from the agencies being paid by our tax dollars as to the reality of how we really handle this epidemic. It isn't fair that I speak of any other location, as my entire life has been spent in New York...and as far as our dealings with this crime, I'm sadly disappointed.
I watched the show SAVING GRACE, when it aired in April '07. Again, there was an uproar on the forum, yet it seems that it where it begins and ends. We cannot allow this. Children who DO come foreward must have their day in Court. Defense attorneys must do their job, and that is to raise reasonable doubt in facor of their client. In no way do I suggest that we violate the Constitution, but since CHILDREN are handled differently in every other walk of life, why not in Court? From MY personal experience with my two, I felt that the system expected by far too much from them, given their ages...10 and 12...and the sensitivity of the crime...my God! I hear non-victims say they cannot talk about this openly, and they are adults. Victims...children, and to silence the testimony of a 12 year old because he stoppped at the time when she was 7...putting her outside our 5 year statute? The judges would not even allow her testimony in to support her brother's accounts, not for prosecution, but to serve as another complaining witness. No one in our family was even questioned as to the number of times he was here...if it was noticed that he was alone with one of the children during a family party...and yes, as we thought about it, often he'd play video games with my son when there was company...policemen included, as our family does have a fair share of them. Not one was even asked to speak to the D.A. to establish opportunity. All they wanted were medical records...since it was oral, they showed regular childhood illnesses, good nutrtion, and appropriate growth rate. The therapist was interviewed, but he was "only" an opinion. Some investigation.....THIS is what belongs on T.V. We say they know how to decieve, and they are good at it...they belong in your home, they are family...and had I had a "nanny cam" in our family room, I'd have had him on tape. Never having had a "nanny" why would I need one? I did, however have many other family membes who could have put him alone with my son, and in cross referencing the time frames, I feel we had a shot were we to have been afforded a jury trial. Why are these lawmakers and prosecuters allowed to hide behind the scenes? They are all we have to prosecute, and if only half (us) of the equaion is cooperating, justice cannot be served. Supposedly, we lacked sufficient evidence. To this day, I disagree.
Yet, from listening to others, and facing off against the opposition to extending the statute, first hand, I honestly feel that they either don't believe it is rampant, or they are chosing not to believe. The rights of the "WRONGLY ACCUSED" take greater precident than the rights of the victims.
What motive would a 10 year old boy have...a 12 year old girl have...to lie about their brother-in-law, when their school records proved them as excellent students, absolutely no behavioral problems, they had no pror history of story-telling...no trouble...and the motive to lie would be....? His motive to lie, could it be to avoid jail time?
All of this needs to be heard, questions need to be asked and answered of those who are supposed to enforce our laws and protect our children...but nobody's doing it.
How about a Dr. Phil Show with these issues being the topic...I'm ready to go...and I'm surely not alone...but I'd want law enforcement present and accountable. Victims have done their part...and yes, it has to go to the next level!
It does seem as though the public and political eyes would rather act as though child abuse does not exist. It's as if society as a whole still view children as possessions to do with as they choose. I, like you am limited on my knowledge of laws other than the state I live in. In Alabama, RC vs Alabama changed the laws to where parents get multiple "tries" with their children to be parents even if DHR steps in. If, after 3 times of giving the child back, the child is still alive then they will finally be taken away from the parents permently, hopefully. I know for myself that I was actually relieved when the 5 year statue of limitations ran out after my rapes because I felt so guilty for not reporting the rape because I feared that he would do it to others but I was so terrified of the threats he made and I just could not go on a stand and be raped all over again by some defense attorney. He had already gotten away with rape before me in another state, why was I to think that it would be any different with my case? Ironically, on a local news channel they did an interview with a young lady. Here's her website, http://www.survivorsafehaven.org/index2.html I was going to try to copy and paste the interview but I couldn't find it on the news channel's website any more. I've looked at a little on this site but not all so I can't say how good or bad it is but it might be worth looking at.
