In 2018, I founded S.A.V.E. (originally standing for, Sex Abuse Victims Emerge) Our Children, a grassroots mission dedicated to advocating for survivors of child sexual abuse. As part of this initiative, I launched a petition on Change.org to raise awareness and push for legislative reforms that would eliminate the statute of limitations for such crimes.

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Since then, Maryland has made significant progress. In 2023, the state enacted the Child Victims Act, a groundbreaking law that eliminates the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to child sexual abuse. This means that survivors can now file claims regardless of how much time has passed since the abuse occurred.

 

Understanding the Legal Changes in Maryland:

 

Previous Law: Prior to the passage of the Child Victims Act, Maryland law imposed a strict time limit for survivors to file civil claims related to child sexual abuse. Generally, lawsuits had to be filed before the victim turned 38.

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Current Law: With the enactment of the Child Victims Act in 2023, Maryland has eliminated the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits concerning child sexual abuse. This transformative legislation allows survivors to file civil lawsuits at any time against perpetrators and their institutional enablers, regardless of when the abuse occurred.​

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While Maryland's progress is commendable, many states still have restrictive statutes of limitations that prevent survivors from seeking justice. Each state has different statutes governing the time frames within which victims can initiate legal proceedings.

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Our Renewed Mission:

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As we reignite the mission of S.A.V.E. Our Children, our focus is to advocate for all states to adopt similar legislation to Maryland's Child Victims Act. Our goals include:

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Raising Awareness: Educating communities about the importance of eliminating statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse cases.

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Supporting Survivors: Providing resources and a platform for survivors to share their stories and seek justice.

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Legislative Advocacy: Collaborating with lawmakers, organizations, and activists to push for the adoption of Child Victims Acts nationwide.

 

Survivors deserve the opportunity to hold perpetrators accountable, no matter how much time has passed. By removing these arbitrary time limits, we acknowledge the profound and lasting impact of abuse and affirm the rights of survivors to seek justice on their own terms.

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Join Us in the Fight:

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We invite you to stand with us as we work towards a future where every survivor has the opportunity to seek justice, and where laws reflect the enduring nature of healing and accountability. Together, we can ensure that no survivor is denied their day in court due to outdated statutes of limitations.

For more information on the current statutes of limitations in your state and how you can get involved, please visit Child USA’s website.