California Eliminates Statute Of Limitations On Rape Case
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Corey Haim
bel_vegas — 9 years ago(September 29, 2016 11:03 AM)
Hopefully with this passed more people in Hollywood will come forward, without the fear of being sued without justice.
California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that ends a statute of limitations on prosecuting rape cases.
The bill is widely believed to be inspired by allegations against comedian Bill Cosby, after some of his accusers came forward long after the alleged sexual assaults took place. Cosby has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Brown made the announcement without elaborating it simply appeared on a list released Wednesday of bills that he had signed or vetoed.
"Existing law generally requires that the prosecution of a felony sex offense be commenced within 10 years after the commission of the offense," the text of the new law says. The Los Angeles Times says exceptions can be made if "new DNA evidence emerges later." The old law allowed prosecution of felony sex offenses against minors to commence "any time prior to the victim's 40th birthday."
The law states that it allows "the prosecution of rape, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts, continuous sexual abuse of a child, oral copulation, and sexual penetration, that are committed under certain circumstances, as specified, to be commenced at any time."
The new law will apply to crimes committed after Jan. 1, 2017.