Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine: End statute of limitation for rape, other sex crimes after abuse by OSU doctor
COLUMBUS – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says it’s time to end Ohio’s statute of limitation for rape and other sex crimes. DeWine’s comments follow a report that found at least 177 men were sexually abused by former Ohio State University doctor Richard Strauss. Strauss killed himself in 2005.
Were Strauss alive today, DeWine said, he would not be charged for his crimes because the statute of limitations would have long expired.
In Ohio, someone can be criminally charged for rape within 25 years of the crime. Civil suits are limited to within two years. Strauss worked at OSU from September 1978 through March 1998, and the report documents abuse as early as 1979.
"If this man was still alive and could not be prosecuted, I think people would be furious," DeWine, a former county prosecutor and state attorney general, said during a Monday news conference.
DeWine said sexual assaults have a different impact on victims than other crimes and should be treated differently. Oftentimes, victims don't come forward right away.
Democrat-sponsored bills to remove Ohio's statute of limitations have failed to gain traction in the GOP-controlled General Assembly. DeWine said he hopes the Strauss case will nudge lawmakers toward changing the law.
A new bill, House Bill 249, seeks to waive the time limits specifically for Strauss' victims. Rep. Brett Hillyer, R-Uhrichsville, sponsored the bill. DeWine declined Monday to comment on the bill.
Michigan lawmakers passed legislation last year allowing victims of former Michigan State University gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar to sue outside the state’s statute of limitations. The university agreed to a $500 million settlement with Nassar’s victims, who call themselves "sister survivors.”
Ohio State launched the third-party investigation last A...
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.
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Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director