A bill filed in Alabama would change the statute of limitations for victims of child sex abuse. Right now, a victim of child sex abuse has until they are 25 to take civil action, but if the bill passes, they would have until they are 55.
Senate Bill 127 is sponsored by Alabama State Senator Merika Coleman (D- District 19). Coleman said statistics show the average age many survivors of child sex abuse come forward is 52.
“This came as a result of all of the investigation with the Boy Scouts, we’ve also may be aware of what happened with the Catholic Church, so these survivors want to be able to have some type of recourse at this point of time, even though it may have happened when they were 7,8, 9 years old,” said Coleman. “We need to give them some relief in being able to bring those folks to justice.”
Coleman has sponsored the bill previously when she was a representative. It didn’t come out of committee. Coleman said this year, the bill was introduced earlier and has bipartisan support.
“We think it’s fair, but we are willing to go to the table and talk with folks. When it comes to children, I really don’t know what type of excuse you would have for not allowing folks to come back and bring justice to those folks who have hurt them in the past,” said Coleman. “I read a report that called this a moral death, that often times some of these people have impacted so that it changed the trajectory of their lives and they need help.”
Coleman said billions of dollars across the nation is being spent for people who have been abused, to get long-term therapy, foster care, and other services.
“It becomes a responsibly of all of us because we are paying into the tax system, so we are trying to shift the burden of the cost of being able to take care of these kids from the state to the individuals who hurt or harmed them,” said Coleman.
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Lanier Isom is a supporter of the bill.
“This bill is important for a number of reasons. If you look at my experience for instance, you can see why. I ran track and cross country in high school at Altamont. Running was my life. The only problem was the coach was a sexual predator and what most people don’t understand, whether it was me or my teammates, or anyone this has happened to, it’s a lifetime sentence,” Isom explained.
Isom said she and a teammate came forward after college, and again in a group during the 2017 investigation into Altamont, but she explained it was too late.
“There was no recourse because of the statute of limitations,” said Isom. “The whole point of this is to keep children safe, to give recourse to a silenced generation and make sure it never happens again.”
Isom shares this message for anyone who may have gone through a similar traumatic experience.
“Don’t suffer in silence. The silencing, the shame, the fear, is the worst part about the experience,” said Isom.
SafeShelby is one resource available to victims and survivors of sexual assault in Clay, Coosa, Chilton and Shelby Counties.
“There are several resources, don’t hesitate to reach out if you do need help,” said Shelby Hull, sexual assault program director. “We are a program of safehouse, but we specialize in sexual assault and some of those services we provide include SANE exams, counseling, assistance with PFA’s, accompaniment to transportation, court, appointments, all kinds of things.”
Hull explained they can provide help with court dates, emergency shelter, and appointments.
“A lot of people may not know they have these resources, but in going to court, you may need assistance. If you do choose to press charges, they want to get a kit done and you can get that done here with us,” said Hull.
Hull said law enforcement will pick up the kit from them, to relieve some of the stress from the victim.
The Safe House crisis line can be reached at 205-669-7233.
