D.C. Council Member Marion Barry on Tuesday introduced a bill that seeks to lift time limits for prosecuting childhood sexual abuse cases in the District.
If passed, the District would join Maryland, Wyoming, Rhode Island, North Carolina and South Carolina as jurisdictions that have no statute of limitations for prosecuting such cases.
A number of other states, including Virginia and West Virginia, have no time limits for prosecuting felony child sex abuse cases.
“Unfortunately, many victims of child abuse are not able to report the abuse until well into adulthood,” Barry said. District law currently varies on how child sex crimes are prosecuted.
