Is there a Statute of Limitations on Pedophilia?

Question

For criminal and/or civil cases?

Answer 1

In most states yes.
However, also in most states the statutes usually starts to toll from the point when the victim "realized, or should have reasonably realized" that they were abused, or from the point when the victim reaches 18 years of age.
So if someone was abused at 7, they can still bring the claim, or file a criminal complaint at 18, and several years after that, however they would not be able to bring a claim when they are 30.
Check your local state's law for details.

Answer 2

Yes, that's why many of the Catholic Church cases couldn't go to trial, the statute of limitations had kicked in.

Answer 3

I don't think so - here in Australia there have been lots of cases where people have come forward after 30 years and the offender has been jailed

Answer 4

There usually is but doesn't begin until after the victim turns eighteen. That's why so many of the priests were not prosecuted.

Answer 5

You need to check the local laws for your state regarding child molestation and sexual abuse since it differs in some states. For the most part the statute is seven years from the time the crime was committed, but, the law does allow for certain situations to be prosecuted beyond that time frame.

In Washington State for example:

iii) Violations of RCW 9A.44.040 or 9A.44.050 if the rape is reported to a law enforcement agency within one year of its commission; except that if the victim is under fourteen years of age when the rape is committed and the rape is reported to a law enforcement agency within one year of its commission, the violation may be prosecuted up to three years after the victim's eighteenth birthday or up to ten years after the rape's commission, whichever is later. If a violation of RCW 9A.44.040 or 9A.44.050 is not reported within one year, the rape may not be prosecuted: (A) More than three years after its commission if the violation was committed against a victim fourteen years of age or older; or (B) more than three years after the victim's eighteenth birthday or more than seven years after the rape's commission, whichever is later, if the violation was committed against a victim under fourteen years of age.

(c) Violations of the following statutes shall not be prosecuted more than three years after the victim's eighteenth birthday or more than seven years after their commission, whichever is later: RCW 9A.44.073, 9A.44.076, 9A.44.083, 9A.44.086, *9A.44.070, 9A.44.080, 9A.44.100(1)(b), or 9A.64.020.

(h) No other felony may be prosecuted more than three years after its commission; except that in a prosecution under RCW 9A.44.115, if the person who was viewed, photographed, or filmed did not realize at the time that he or she was being viewed, photographed, or filmed, the prosecution must be commenced within two years of the time the person who was viewed or in the photograph or film first learns that he or she was viewed, photographed, or filmed.

Answer 6

I hope not, I think those people need to be victimized to the point where they scream apologies on uncaring ears.

Answer 7

those people who commit such horrible crimes need to be eliminated period, and don`t tell me they have some sickness and need help , don`t buy it , they prey on child weakness that's sick

Answer 8

well obviously you are a pedophile and i will search you out and take you to jail you sick f.u.c.k.

Answer 9

I hope not.

Answer 10

DEATH