‘Injustice has gone on for far too long’
Cuomo signs Simotas’ bill allowing rape victims more time to bring their attackers to justice
BY BILL PARRY
For far too long rapists got
away with their crimes in New
York State due to an extremely
short statute of limitations, according
to Queens Assemblywoman
Aravella Simotas. But
things are about to change.
Governor Andrew Cuomo
signed into law Wednesday legislation
that the Astoria-based
lawmaker sponsored which extends
the statute of limitations
to 20 years for second degree
rape and to ten years for third
degree rape up from 5 years under
prior law, giving survivors
more time to bring criminal
charges or civil claims against
their attackers.
“There has been an ongoing
and pervasive culture of sexual
harassment and abuse in our
society, and it is made word by
the fact that victims of second
and third degree rape only had
five years to bring a legal claim
against their attacker,” Cuomo
said.”Five years is an insult
to these survivors and today
we’re providing them more
time to come to terms with the
trauma they experienced and
to seek justice. This new law
recognizes the injustice that
has gone on for far too long and
honors all women who have
suffered this pain and all the
advocates who had the courage
to come forward and tell their
story so that other women may
be spared the pain.”
The statute of limitations
in the first degree was eliminated
in the legislation. The
bill was sponsored by Simotas
while state Senator Alessandra
Biaggi carried it in the upper
chamber.
“Our culture teaches people
not to be raped instead of teaching
people not to rape. By updating
our laws, we are sending a
strong message that survivors
matter, their stories matter and
New York will not deny anyone
accessible means to justice,”
Simotas said. “I am proud that
we are finally providing survivors
an adequate window of
time to process their trauma.”
As a survivor of sexual
abuse, Biaggi explained, it can
Flanked by actresses Julianne Moore (l.) and Mira Sorvino, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs a law extending
rape state of limitations. Courtesy of Governor’s office
take decades for a person to be
comfortable enough to come
forward and to pursue justice
against their attacker.
“By extending the statute
of limitations for certain offenses
of rape, sexual criminal
acts, and incest, New York
is adopting procedures that
allow survivors of sexual violence
to report on their own
terms,” she said.
Neither Simotas or Biaggi
were at the signing ceremony.
Cuomo, instead, had been surrounded
by celebrity members
of the advocacy groups Time’s
Up and NOW-NYC.
“The signing of this bill is a
watershed moment, a real advance
in the battle against rape
culture not only in New york
but across the country,” actress
Mira Sorvino said. “Because of
it more survivors can now have
their rightful day in court and
a chance for justice.”
There is no statute of limitations
for first-degree rape in
New York meaning survivors
can seek justice in those cases
at anytime no matter when the
attack occurred.
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TIMESLEDGER,26 SEPT. 27-OCT. 3, 2019 BT TIMESLEDGER.COM
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