North Carolina Supreme Court Upholds the SAFE Child Act, SNAP applauds
For Immediate Release: February 3, 2025
On January 31, 2025, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the state's civil window for survivors of child sexual abuse. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is grateful that the state’s highest court upheld the SAFE Child Act. However, we cannot help but wonder how many victims were discouraged from filing lawsuits when the constitutionality of the law was challenged.
The SAFE Child Act was unanimously adopted by state legislators on October 31, 2019. It allowed victims of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits in 2020 and 2021 against their perpetrators and the organizations who employed them. Years of work by many went into this law. Then Attorney General Josh Stein has stated that were it not for the testimony of North Carolina SNAP Leader Charles Bailey, the measure would not have passed.
Charles says in response to this decision, “My wife Sue and I attended the Supreme Court hearing on whether or not to uphold this law. It is so important to all involved that we can now move forward. The only way to eradicate this evil and crime is to expose those responsible and hold them accountable. Many thanks to the Supreme Court of North Carolina!“
Delayed disclosure of child sexual abuse is the rule. Some trauma-informed experts say more survivors disclose between the ages of 50-70 compared to any other age group. When archaic laws limiting victims’ access to the courts are overturned or even lifted for a time, communities are safer. Knowledge about who the hidden predators and their enablers are not only helps to safeguard today’s children, the exposure of perpetrator names can also be the first step to healing for those still suffering alone and in silence.
Many of those who initiated litigation in the state have waited for decades to expose their abusers, as well as the groups that protected them. We are grateful that the North Carolina Supreme Court did not dash their hope for justice and accountability.
CONTACT: Charles Bailey, North Carolina SNAP ([email protected], 315-657-5073), Sue Bailey, North Carolina SNAP ([email protected], 315-657-3446), Carol Yeager, North Carolina SNAP ([email protected]), Melanie Sakoda, Survivor Support Director ([email protected], 925-708-6175), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board President ([email protected], 814-341-8386)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)