Is possible to have someone prosecuted for child abuse twenty years after it stopped?

Answer 1

The simple answer is yes.

You may have heard in the press of cases from years previous, where prosecutions have been successful.

There are many things to consider;
What evidence do you have? Do you want the past bringing back up, in court, in front of the offender? Do you want closure and need justice to be done? Has this person committed offences on others, in the past or present?

These are but just a few of the questions you may need to answer.

Whatever you decide....Good luck.

Answer 2

YES. I worked closely with a Child Protection Unit within my local police force and most of the police cases they were investigating were allegations of abuse dating back 20-30 years. The police know that a victim may only find the strength to tell someone about the abuse years later.

Answer 3

In my line of work, I have ran across this scenario many times. In my state, which is California, you can report child abuse if you know that the abuser still has contact with children. For example, if a child was sexually molested by a neighbor 20 years ago and she still knows where that neighbor lives and knows that that neighbor has children living with him, works at a school, coaching sports, etc. then it's worth a try. You will need to know the exact name and exact location of the individual though. Contact your local police department or child protection agency. If the person is somewhere where they cannot harm a child...like prison or living alone...then they are less likely to accept a report. Good luck...

Answer 4

It depends on how the statute of limitations is written where the abuse happened. Child abuse tends to have a longer statute of limitations in many states. In some states, the statute of limitations for crimes against a minor does not START until the child is a legal adult.

Answer 5

From my understanding I think the child that was abused has to a certain age that they can sue for something that was done to them as a child. Something somewhere between 19 or 22
I think. Then longer depending on the seriousness of the matter as in the case of adults suing priests for molesting them when they were little.

Answer 6

Yes....I would dearly like to think so, just imagine all the children whose lives have been destroyed in the last 20 years because the perv was never prosecuted?

X

Answer 7

It is possible in some jurisdictions, but not all. As others have advised, seek the assistance of a lawyer if this is not a hypothetical question.

Answer 8

yes it is.there have been loads of cases on the news.were
people have committed child abuse years before.

Answer 9

Yes.

Answer 10

You hear of it happening but I would have thought the police or a solicitor would be a better way of going about finding out.