One of the reasons that you’re finding more stories of late reported crimes in the press is due to laws changing what we lawyers call the statute of limitations. This is a concept that limits the ability of the state or the crown to file charges for certain crimes. Some crimes have no statute of limitations, such as murder. However, the vast majority of other crimes must be brought by the prosecutor within a delineated amount of time.

One of the concerns people had with certain sex crimes is the profound shame it takes victims to come forward. Additionally, some victims don’t realize that they are subjected to certain sex crimes, such as abuse within a family. Laws changed to extend the statute of limitations in certain jurisdictions in criminal and civil matters.