NJ moves from the Worst to One of the Best for Statute of Limitation Laws
Today, New Jersey advances the safety of victims of sexual abuse with the expected approval of reform bills in NJ house and senate.
NJ bill A3648 to be heard this Monday March 11, 2019 before the New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee. The hearing will take place at 1 pm in Room 11 on the 4th floor of the NJ State House Annex building.
Many survivors of sexual abuse will be testifying in support of this long overdue legislation, that will modify NJ's Statute of Limitation (SOL) laws for both child victims and adults. The Bill will create a two-year window for victims regardless of age beginning Dec 1, 2019 thru Dec 1, 2021. After which the SOL will be extended to age 55 or 7 years from discovery whichever is later.
When these bills, Senate S477 and Assembly A3648, pass it will move NJ from having one of the worst SOL laws in the country to one of the best. Since 2002, forty other states have already modified its SOL laws for child sexual abuse. Survivors of sexual abuse, both child victims and adult survivors, will have a fairer opportunity to seek justice in this state.
We thank the Bills’ sponsor Senator Joseph Vitale, District 19, and co-sponsor Senator Nick Scutari, whose Senate Judiciary committee just advanced the senate version S477 out of committee and is now scheduled for a vote by the full NJ Senate.
We urge all survivors and supporters to contact their respective NJ Assembly members in support of A3648 to restore justice, protect the citizens of NJ from sexual predators and hold accountable all institutions which have played a role in putting our children in harm’s way.
CONTACT: Mark Crawford, SNAP New Jersey ([email protected], 732-632-7687) Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009) Tim Lennon, SNAP President, ([email protected])
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director