BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Wednesday that extends the statute of limitations to 20 years for for Second Degree Rape and to 10 years for Third Degree Rape.
Before this law was signed, victims only had five years to bring a legal case alleging rape.
"There has been an ongoing and pervasive culture of sexual harassment and abuse in our society, and it is made worse by the fact that victims of second and third degree rape only have five years to bring a legal claim against their attacker. Five years is an insult to these survivors and today we're providing them more time to come to terms with the trauma they experienced and to seek justice," Governor Cuomo said. "This new law recognizes the injustice that has gone on for far too long and honors all the women who have suffered this pain and all the advocates who had the courage to come forward and tell their story so that other women may be spared the pain."
The law also extends the statute of limitations for Criminal Sexual Acts and for Incest.
