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SB 1141

AN ACT CONCERNING THE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mae Flexer and 1 co-sponsor

Connecticut bill extends civil and criminal statutes of limitations for sexual assault cases to increase survivor access to justice despite delayed reporting caused by trauma.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Judiciary
#sexualassault #statuteoflimitations #survivors
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Bill Summary · SB 1141

Legislative bill overview

SB 1141 modifies Connecticut's statutes of limitations for sexual assault cases in both civil and criminal contexts. The bill aims to extend the timeframes within which victims can file lawsuits or prosecutions, recognizing that many sexual assault survivors delay reporting due to trauma, shame, or fear. This represents a significant procedural change to how the state handles these sensitive cases.

Why is this important

Sexual assault survivors often take years or decades to come forward, making traditional statutes of limitations barriers to justice. Extending these timeframes increases accountability for perpetrators and provides survivors more opportunity to seek legal remedies. This aligns Connecticut with a national trend of recognizing the unique psychological dynamics of sexual assault trauma in legal proceedings.

Potential points of contention

  • Defendant fairness concerns: Extended statutes of limitations may disadvantage defendants by allowing prosecution of decades-old allegations when evidence and witnesses may be unavailable, raising due process questions
  • Resource allocation: Reopening old cases could strain law enforcement and judicial resources, potentially affecting the prosecution of other crimes
  • Specificity ambiguity: The bill's exact extension periods are not detailed in this summary, which could dramatically affect its scope—whether it's a modest extension (5 years) versus elimination of limitations entirely creates vastly different impacts

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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