In a highly unusual move, three top Ohio prosecutors are endorsing a controversial child sexual abuse prevention bill.
And after an eight month delay, proponents of that measure will get a chance to testify next week before a legislative panel about the crimes they experienced and the need for reforming what they call Ohio’s “arbitrary, archaic and dangerously restrictive” molestation laws.
Ohio House Judiciary Committee Chair John Willamowski of Lima has scheduled a hearing this Tuesday for Ohio SB17. In March, the proposal unanimously passed the Senate but is now being vigorously fought by Ohio’s Catholic bishops.
Catholic church officials oppose a provision that would provide a one year “window” during which victims could file civil lawsuits stemming from childhood sex crimes that occurred years earlier.
Advocates maintain that such a “window” would make children safer by exposing dangerous predators who have “run out the clock” on possible criminal charges and are still molesting kids today.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor William Mason and Warren County Prosecutor Rachel A. Hutzel are backing the bill, as are several child protection groups including the Ohio Coalition Against Sexual Assault (OCASA), Voice of the Faithful (VOTF), and the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).
Rarely do prosecutors back proposals that involve civil cases.
“But ever-so-gradually, law enforcement leaders are realizing that if serial child molesters can’t be locked up, we should at least warn vulnerable families about them through the time-tested American civil justice process,” said Barbara Blaine, a Toledo native who founded and heads a nationwide support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
The hearing will take place at 9:30 a.m. in Room 114 of the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio
Dozens of childhood sexual abuse victims and their family members are expected to testify. Many of the victims are expected to bring childhood photos, letters, and other documents showing how they tried years ago to get authorities to remove their perpetrators without success.
"We are grateful that this important child safety proposal is moving forward and hope that the Judiciary Committee will listen with open hearts and minds to us and other child advocates,” said Christy Miller, Co-Leader of Cincinnati’s SNAP chapter.
“This bill will protect Ohio's most vulnerable citizens from predators. It deserves quick but serious consideration,” she emphasized.
“We are sad that Ohio's Catholic bishops continue to fight this reasonable measure,” said Claudia Vercellotti, Toledo’s SNAP director. “But we are confident that our representatives will agree nothing trumps the safety of our children."
SB 17 would:
- Make all clergy mandated reporters of suspected child abuse
- Strengthen the charge of gross sexual imposition to a felony
- Extends the civil statute of limitations on known or reasonably suspected sex crimes against children to 20 years after the age of 18.
- Allow a 12 month window for victims of childhood sexual assault to file a civil claim against their molester and his/her enablers and the institutions that have continued to hide the perpetrators from the law.
Members of the House Judiciary Committee include:
- John Willamowski, Chair, Lima, Ohio
- Lou Blessing, Vice Chair, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Tim Schaffer, Lancaster, Ohio Fairfield County
- Claudette Woodard, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
- Dale Miller, Cleveland, Ohio
- Tim DeGeeter, Parma, Ohio
- Bill Coley, West Chester, Ohio
- Randy Law, Warren, Ohio
- Sandra Harwood, Youngstown, Ohio
- Danny Bubp, Adams County, Ohio
- Matt Dolan, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
For More Information Contact:
Christy Miller, SNAP Cincinnati, (513) 383-2198
Claudia Vercellotti, SNAP Toledo, (419) 350-9234
Dan Frondorf, SNAP Cincinnati (513) 706-7403
David Clohessy, SNAP National (314) 566-9790
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