SNAP Applauds as SOL Reform Passes in Kentucky
A bill that would give survivors of childhood sexual abuse more time to report and seek justice has just passed both chambers and now heads to the governor’s desk. We applaud the legislators and advocates responsible for this important legislation and hope it encourages other states to follow suit.
HB 472 would extend the criminal statute of limitations for misdemeanor sex offenses involving minors and give survivors 10 years after their eighteenth birthday to bring a complaint forward. Critically, this change also applies retroactively which means any victims who have missed the current five-year window for reporting their abuse would now be eligible to make a report.
This bill is an important step in recognizing the realities of childhood sexual abuse. Delayed disclosure is the norm, not the exception, and so amending laws to be more in line with reporting trends allows more survivors to seek justice. This helps to prevent future cases of abuse by getting information about perpetrators and enablers into the hands of police, prosecutors, and the public.
We applaud the passage of this bill and are grateful to its sponsor, Representative Lynn Bechler, for bringing this important reform forward. We hope that legislators in other states are inspired by Rep. Bechler’s example and will introduce reform measures of their own. Allowing survivors to have their day in court leads to healing, justice, and prevention.
CONTACT: Cal Pfeiffer, SNAP Kentucky ([email protected]), Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director (517-974-9009, [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
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