Justice Should Not Expire
In too many states, survivors of sexual violence are blocked from seeking justice because of an arbitrary deadline: the statute of limitations.
RAINN supports eliminating criminal and civil statutes of limitations for all sex crimes.
Federal Action Spotlight
H.R.5560: Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act
This bipartisan bill would encourage states to eliminate criminal and civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse and revive expired civil claims, ensuring more survivors can seek justice when they are ready.
“State legislatures should come forward to collaborate with their respective Congressional delegations concerning HR5560 and other related bill packages. We, the survivors, deserve access to justice. The cost burden of our abuse remains on our shoulders.”
– S.O., survivor
Learn About Statutes of Limitations (SOLs)
What are statutes of limitations?
A statute of limitations (SOL) is a law that sets deadlines for bringing legal action.
These deadlines vary widely by state, by offense, and, in sex crime cases, by the survivor’s age at the time of the abuse.
When a statute of limitations expires, the law can stop a case from moving forward—even when new evidence emerges, another survivor comes forward, or investigators identify a pattern of abuse.
What’s the difference between criminal and civil statutes of limitations?
Criminal SOLs determine how long the state has to bring charges against a perpetrator.
Civil SOLs determine how long a survivor has to file a lawsuit.
FAQs About Criminal SOLs
Why are criminal cases important for survivors?
Criminal charges allow the state to pursue accountability through the criminal justice system on behalf of survivors and the public.
How can the criminal statute of limitations block justice for survivors?
A state’s criminal statute of limitations for sex crimes can limit how long police and prosecutors have to investigate and charge a perpetrator.
Why should states reform their criminal statute of limitations for sex crimes?
By reforming their criminal statute of limitations for sex crimes, states can help ensure perpetrators can be prosecuted whenever a case can be proven.
“There should be no statute of limitations for rape.”
– Susie, survivor
FAQs About Civil SOLs
Why are civil claims important for survivors?
Civil claims (lawsuits) can help survivors seek financial accountability from the person who harmed them or from an organization that enabled, concealed, or failed to prevent the abuse.
How can the civil statute of limitations block justice for survivors?
A state’s civil statute of limitations for sex crimes can limit how long a survivor has to file a lawsuit against the person who harmed them or against an organization that enabled the abuse.
Why should states reform their civil statute of limitations for sex crimes?
By reforming their civil statute of limitations for sex crimes, states can help expose institutional failures and shift the cost of harm away from survivors and taxpayers and onto those responsible.
Discover RAINN’s Reform Recommendations
Criminal Statute of Limitations
Stand with survivors by ending your state’s arbitrary limits for reporting and prosecuting sexual violence.
Learn MoreCivil Statute of Limitations
Enable justice by reforming your state’s civil statutes of limitations on pursuing civil justice for sex crimes.
Learn MoreAt RAINN, we support reforms that ensure evidence determines whether a sex crime case can proceed—not how much time has passed.
FAQs About SOLs Reform
Why should we urge states to reform their statutes of limitations for sex crimes?
Justice should depend on facts, evidence, and accountability—and it should not expire before survivors are ready to come forward.
Eliminating statutes of limitations gives survivors a chance to be heard and gives courts the opportunity to evaluate evidence.
- Reforms give survivors more time to heal, disclose, report, and decide whether to pursue legal action.
- Reforms give law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and communities a better chance to hold perpetrators accountable when evidence supports a case.
- Reforms allow for accountability when critical evidence (such as DNA) emerges after the sexual violence occurred.
How can federal laws prompt states to reform their statutes of limitations?
Congress can use federal funding, grant programs, and national policy standards to encourage states to eliminate their civil and criminal statutes of limitations for sexual violence.
What are RAINN’s recommendations for reforming statutes of limitations?
RAINN supports reforms that:
- Eliminate the state’s criminal statutes of limitations for sex crimes.
- Eliminate the state’s civil statutes of limitations for sex crimes.
- Ensure the state’s existing statutes of limitations allow civil suits and prosecutions when new evidence is discovered.
- Ensure the state’s civil statute of limitations reform applies retroactively to all survivors.
- Allow survivors in the state to bring claims against organizations and individuals who enabled the assault or abuse.
Will eliminating SOLs hurt an accused person’s right to due process?
No, due process is NOT erased when states eliminate their criminal and civil statutes of limitations for sex crimes.
- Prosecutors still must prove criminal cases beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Survivors bringing civil claims still carry the burden of proof.
What Survivors Say
“There should be no limitations to prosecuting sexual assault. Telling someone about it is very hard, and sometimes takes years to come out. It happened to me at 7 years old, and I just came forward; I’m 61. The statute of limitations means that monster will get away with it.”
– Bobo, survivor
“When I tried to disclose the … abuse to teachers, therapists, and friends’ parents, I was dismissed as being too sensitive. As an autistic young person, my feelings were often pathologized and dismissed. I quickly learned to stop trying to get help.”
– Claire Lovelace, survivor
Did a statute of limitations prevent you from seeking justice?
Your story can motivate lawmakers to act and ensure no survivor feels alone.
“When I was ready, I tried to get the help I needed. I was able to make a report, and I tried to seek justice. I went to many different lawyers, but none would help me, and now it is too late for me to get that justice.”
– justasurvivor, survivor of kidnapping and rape
“I feel like it was my fault for not saying something sooner. Because I didn’t press charges in enough time, he was hired as a janitor at an elementary school. Who knows how many others he did that to.
“[There should be] no statute of limitations. By the time most victims feel like they can speak up, they can’t do anything about it.”
– Alauni Asbury, survivor of childhood sexual abuse
Delayed Reporting: Why Survivors Don’t Always Call Police
Some survivors need years before they can disclose or report sexual violence. Learn why delayed reporting happens—and why survivors deserve time.
Prepare To Advocate
When survivor-centered legislation starts to move, preparation helps us turn urgency into action.
For Allies & Advocates
RAINN works with lawmakers across the country to advance bipartisan legislation that prevents sexual violence, improves justice, and holds perpetrators accountable.
For Legislators: Example Legislation
RAINN’s policy memos and issue briefs help lawmakers draft bills that promote justice for survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.
Take Action
The Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act already has bipartisan support—but we need Congress to prioritize this bill.
Ask your U.S. representative to co-sponsor H.R. 5560.
Bipartisan Support for the Statutes of Limitation for Child Sexual Abuse Reform Act
U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-FL)
“Survivors of child sexual abuse often carry their pain in silence for decades.
“Too many are denied justice because the clock runs out before they are ready to speak. This bill says loud and clear: time will never protect predators, and the law will never fail survivors again.
“I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to give victims their day in court, make sure monsters who abuse children can never hide behind legal loopholes, and protect children across America.”
U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA)
“Child sexual abuse survivors should be able to come forward and seek justice without a deadline.
“We must take legislative steps to support survivors instead of upholding a system that works against them. Far too many child abuse survivors have been denied justice due to these arbitrary barriers.
“I am proud to lead legislation that empowers child abuse survivors and holds abusers accountable.”
Do your state’s laws support survivor justice?
Learn your state’s stance on timelines for justice so you can take action.
Did you help reform your state’s statute of limitations?
Your courageous work can inspire others to take action for survivor justice.
Join RAINN’s Policy Action Community
We’ll keep you informed and ready to act with clarity, urgency, and purpose to advance survivor-centered bills.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you are not alone. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Español.
Call 800.656.HOPE (4673)
Chat at RAINN.org/hotline
Text “HOPE” to 64673