As the prime sponsor of the state Senate’s Child Victims’ Reconciliation and Compensation Fund proposal, I must respond to your July 31 editorial concerning efforts to help the victims of child sexual abuse.
There are several incorrect assertions labeled as “facts” which need clarification.
The truth is that the Child Victims’ Fund is the only legislative proposal that would help 100 percent of time-barred victims of child sexual abuse.
No matter the circumstances, victims could apply for compensation to rebuild their lives. My 21 co-sponsors and I believe that any measure to help victims must offer justice for all.
The Democrats’ alternative, the Child Victims Act, would chiefly help victims whose abusers are part of institutions such as churches, summer camps or private schools, by allowing them to file civil suits during a one-year “look-back window.”
That sounds good until you consider this: most cases of child sexual abuse – 80 percent, by some estimates -are committed by family, caregivers and others without financial resources.
That means the Child Victims Act would leave the vast majority of victims with nothing.
Conveniently missing from your editorial is the fact that our bill eliminates the criminal statute of limitations while Democrats’ proposal would only increase it from 23 to 28 years of age.
With most victims unable to confront their abuse until their 40s, Democrats’ criminal statute provision is essentially useless.
The editorial outrageously claims that our proposal would “give family members or friends who raped children a free pass.”
The truth is that crimes of rape are already subject to prosecution as there is no statute of limitations on rape.
Rapists belong behind bars, which is why we successfully fought to remove the statute of limitations in 2006, against the objections of many Democrats.
Lastly, the editorial states that our $300-million victim compensation fund uses taxpayer dollars. Wrong.
These are asset forfeiture monies collected by the Manhattan District Attorney from funds and banks who have broken the law.
Using a portion of this $730 million cache to help victims is just use of these monies. Going forward, five percent of asset forfeiture funds will replenish the program.
The sexual abuse of children is a devastating crime that leaves victims with deep emotional and psychological wounds.
A measure that helps ALL victims and strengthens criminal prosecution of predators is critical.
The bill advanced by Senate Republicans is the only measure that would achieve those goals. That is the real fact.
Senator Catharine Young (R,C,l)
57th Senate District
