UPDATE:  On December 1, 2019, the New Jersey Sexual Abuse Survivor Law went into effect. This law opens up a two-year window for sexual abuse survivors to file lawsuits, regardless of when the abuse took place. Read more here!

New Jersey Sex Abuse Laws

Democratic State Senator Joe Vitale is the lead sponsor of a New Jersey bill expanding the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual abuse. The new law could benefit those who suffered at the hands of members of the New Jersey dioceses.

According to Senator Vitale, bills like this one have been introduced every Senate voting session for almost the past two decades. However, these bills have been stalled for years by opposition from the Catholic Church.

If New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signs this latest bill, it will become law. The governor has previously stated that he supports this sexual abuse legislation, but has not yet signed it.

The New Jersey abuse legislation follows similar recent updates to New York laws, expanding civil statutes of limitations and giving victims an easier route to pursuing justice. The legislation would expand New Jersey’s current statute of limitation for civil suits from two years to seven years. It would also allow adults who were sexually abused as children by members of the New Jersey dioceses to file civil lawsuits against individuals or institutions, including non-profits and churches, up until the age of 55.

In a statement released by the bill’s sponsors, Annette Quijano, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, and Miley Jasey said: “Many survivors need the time to find the strength to confront their abusers and get the justice they need and deserve. We must recognize the incredible stress, turmoil and pressure victims feel when dealing with their abuse and adjust the law accordingly to allow enough time for them to begin to heal.”

What are the Victims’ Rights?

Victims of sex abuse may soon have several options to pursue compensation and accountability. The new legislation will allow victims to launch civil suits against their individual abusers, as well as the Catholic Church and the dioceses that allowed these abuses to occur.

For victims who do not want to go through lengthy litigation, which may result in further traumatization, there may be another option. Many dioceses around the nation have recently established victims compensation funds, through which abuse victims may apply for monetary awards and reparations.

In addition to the proposed legislation, earlier this year the New Jersey dioceses voluntarily released the names of almost 200 priests and deacons accused of sexual abuse. These instances of alleged abuse date back to 1940. Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark made a statement regarding the name release, calling the release “an effort to do what is right and just.”

If you are a victim of childhood sexual abuse by a member of the New Jersey Catholic clergy, you may be eligible to pursue compensation through litigation or through a victims compensation fund.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.