Child Victim's Act of Delaware

Child Victim's Act of Delaware
July 28, 2008
ChildVictimsVoice

Expert panel to discuss law, answer questions

A panel, featuring survivors of childhood sexual abuse and experts in the fields of law enforcement, constitutional law, victims' advocacy and the counseling of childhood trauma victims, will discuss Delaware's Child Victim's Act at its one-year milestone.

When:
Tuesday, August 5, 7 p.m.
Free and open to the public

Where:

Bernard and Ruth Siegel Jewish Community Center
 101 Garden of Eden Road Wilmington, DE 19803

Who:

Five leading experts on Delaware's civil window and similar laws nationwide, including:

Marci A. Hamilton, a law professor and author of 'Justice Denied'.

Charles F. Gallagher III, Deputy District Attorney of Philadelphia,

Survivor/advocate Joelle Casteix, SNAP's Southwest Regional Director and

Vicki Polin, MA, LCPC, NCC, ATR-BC - Founder/Director, The Awareness Center and survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

Valerie C. Marek, LCSW, CADC, executive director of Survivors Of Abuse in Recovery, Inc. (SOAR).

The Child Victim's Act, which was authored by State Senator Karen Peterson eliminated the civil statute of limitations for sexual abuse of children. It gives child victims of unspeakable sexual trauma the chance to speak up in a way that they were previously unable to. Prior Delaware law only gave victims of child sexual abuse two years from the date of abuse to use the courts for a civil remedy. Under the new law, victims are able to sue both the perpetrators and private and public institutions that are found grossly negligent in their responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse.

On July 10, 2008, Delaware's two-year civil window hit the one-year mark. Numerous victims who were molested as children have already come forward and asked Delaware's court system to help them seek justice, and to keep children safe today by exposing sexual predators.

The civil window closes on July 10, 2009.