SEXUAL ABUSE

Sexual abuse usually occurs in one of two circumstances. It can occur when a person engages in sexual activity with someone who is willing, but unable to legally consent. For example because they are under age (the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) defines the age of consent as 16). Or, it can occur when a person forces someone into sexual activity against their will. Probably the form of sexual abuse that most commonly comes to mind involves physical touching. However, a person exposing their genitalia to someone, or exposing them to pornography, also qualifies as sexual abuse.

THE CLERGY

There have been numerous admissions by certain members of the clergy that they engaged in the sexual abuse of minors. And, churches have paid millions of dollars to compensate victims many years after these incidents occurred.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

A Statute of Limitations limits the time a victim has in which to bring a claim against the person(s) who injured them. For victims who were under 18 years of age when the abuse occurred, the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) has a lengthy Statute of Limitations. It is 30 years after the victim reaches the age of majority (generally until they are 48 years old). For victims who were 18 years of age or older when the abuse occurred, the Statute of Limitations is 2 years from the date that the abuse occurred. The time limit may even be longer, if the age of majority was 21 at the time of the incident, or if the victim was in the military.