Clergy Abuse in New York
New York State, along with the rest of the nation, has found itself in the midst of a clergy sex abuse scandal. The New York Catholic Dioceses, state lawmakers, and victim advocates are taking steps to seek justice for victims and prevent further abuse.
New York Sexual Assault Legislation
In 2002, the Boston Globe exposed a national epidemic of clergy abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. In 2018, a Pennsylvania grand jury report identified 1,000 victims of approximately 300 abusive clergy members. These two events were catalysts for legislative change in many states. New York was one of these states.
New York Child Victims Act (CVA)
In February 2019, New York lawmakers signed the Child Victims Act (CVA) into law. This act expands legal protections for victims of sexual assault. It does this in three significant ways:
The CVA extends the legal deadline to file criminal and civil charges against a sexual abuser.
The CVA created a “look back” window during which any victim can file a civil claim against his or her abuser. A victim can file a claim regardless of his or her age at the time of abuse.
The CVA allows victims to file a lawsuit without filing a notice of claim for sexual offenses committed against a minor.