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Speaker pro Tempore Sally Lieber (D-San Jose) has introduced
legislation (Assembly Bill 261) to eliminate the statute of
limitations for serious sexual offenses, including rape,
according to the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA),
which is sponsoring the bill.
The current statute of limitations in California ranges from
three to ten years, depending on the severity of the offense,
with an exception if DNA evidence is conclusively established.
But the current statute is so complex that even experienced
prosecutors disagree about its application. According to CALCASA,
this uncertainty makes it even harder for sexual assault victims
to come forward to report.
Sources:
“Lieber Introduces Bill To Eliminate Statute of Limitations on
Rape,”
press release from the California Coalition Against Sexual
Assault, February 7, 2007.
California Assembly Bill 261
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