Note:
The reference in this story is to the article
How the Legal System Doesn't Address the Problem of Abuse,
and was sent to me by a very courageous Survivor who feels as I do
about the legal system's failure to protect those who need it the most.
Many thanks for permission to use it on this site.
Whoever wrote the above stated article on http://www.hdtl.org could not be more on the money. Those are my thoughts EXACTLY. The justice system is mor e involved in getting drugees and homeless in jail than they are sex offenders. At age 16 I was molested by a 30 year old man. According to the law in the state of California (where I live), molesting a child 14 years old or younger is considered a felony child sexual abuse, and molesting a child at 15, 16, or 17 is considered a "misdemeanor" child sexual abuse (misdemeanor in quotes because what makes it such a small crime? Does the fact that I was 16 mean it bothered me less? That's another story entirely). The statute of limitations in my state dictates that victims of felony child sexual abuse cases is ten years, while victims of "misdemeanor" child sexual abuse cases is one year. It took me thirteen months to finally want to admit to "law enforcement" that I had been molested, and because I surpassed the statute of limitations by one month, there was absolutely nothing that could be done about it. I think if the word "justice" belonged in the phrase "American Justice System" they would do something about child sexual abuse, one year is cutting it way too short. People who harm themselves are one thing, people who harm children are another entirely. Thank you for taking your time to read this email. Sincerely, Ryan J. Shields P.S. You have my permission to reprint any of this letter, in part or in whole, anywhere at anytime. I would like people to know that the American "Justice" System doesn't always serve justice.