Carrie Baker, a gender and law expert from Smith College, sheds light on New Jersey's recent legal reforms extending statutes of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases. She discusses the newfound avenues for survivors to seek justice, especially against institutions like the Catholic Church. Baker highlights the societal and legal hurdles survivors face, the emotional toll of navigating the justice system, and the push for institutional accountability. Her insights reveal a significant shift in societal attitudes towards historical injustices.
This week New Jersey joined a growing number of states that are extending statutes of limitations, making it easier to report childhood sexual abuse decades after it occurs.