As a result of this bill, the new changes open an avenue for more survivors to pursue legal action for the injustices they experienced. As mentioned, Colorado law previously required child sex abuse survivors to file a claim within six years after their 18th birthday. These restrictions severely curtailed legal options for those who were affected by abuse in the past.
One of the main considerations amongchild sexual abuse survivors is a phenomenon known as “delayed disclosure.” This is where survivors refrain from speaking about their abuse until much later on in life. In many instances, this is due to feelings of shame, embarrassment, guilt, and pain associated with the traumatic events.
According to Child USA, the average age of reporting for child sexual abuse is 53 years old. This means that under previous Colorado rules, many survivors have missed their opportunity to bring a legal claim in court.
Under the new rules, more survivors can file lawsuits even later on in life; this has the net effect of exposing more instances of institutional abuse, which is often systemic and recurring over time. The more cases can be brought, the more perpetrators will be brought to light to face justice.