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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
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    5

    Default What's the Statute of Limitations on Child Abuse

    My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: arizona

    Please just give me a straight answer. I was victimized by my father at a young age and would like to press charges. I just recently became an adult.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    19,901

    Default Re: What's the Statute of Limitations on Child Abuse

    Depends what the "victimization" entailed.

    Certain sexual offenses have no limitation.
    Other felonies are at seven years.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: What's the Statute of Limitations on Child Abuse

    Well, would it be too late to sue him? The abuse was more emotional than everything. However, he has spit on me, if you could call that physical abuse. This all occurred when I was underage though, and he is still being emotionally abusive. I was seeing a psychologist who supported the fact he was emotionally abusive. The reason I kept it to myself is because I didn't wanna go to a foster home. Now that I'm an adult and don't have to worry about that, I would like some justice for the stuff he has done to me. If I can't press charges, I would like to sue him.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Somewhere near Canada
    Posts
    35,894

    Default Re: What's the Statute of Limitations on Child Abuse

    Were there any convictions?

  5. #5

    Default Re: What's the Statute of Limitations on Child Abuse

    Emotional abuse, unless it ALSO involved criminal acts, isn't going to be prosecuted as a crime. No DA is going to bring criminal charges for an acusation of spitting that occurred years ago. They simply have no way to get a conviction on that. You'll say he did it, he'll say he didn't, and the case will end there. Crimes and what elements make up a crime are specific, and no state prosecutes for ONLY emotional abuse. In Arizona, those crimes and their elements are spelled out until Title 13 (Criminal Code). You can find the exact things that are crimes, and what actions make up those crimes here:

    http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedS...s.asp?Title=13

    Specifically, check Chapter 12, Chapter 35, and Chapter 37. If you're not sure, you can always go to police and make a report and let THEM determine if the specifics of your situation fit under any of your state's criminal code, but be emotionally prepared for them to tell you that there's no probable cause for arrest.

    To sue in a civil case, what EXACT damages (dollar amount) can you prove to the jury? What PROOF or EVIDENCE can you submit? If you win a civil case, what do you expect to happen next? Does he have any assets from which to pay a judgement? Do you know how to put leins on any property he might own? Are you prepared to spend a good deal of time and money to try to collect?

    Unless there was some criminal conviction associated with all of this, the sad reality of such cases, where reports weren't made or abuse documented AT THE TIME, is that "justice" is, in all probability, highly unlikely, and that your emotional and financial resources are better spent doing what you're already doing by going to therapy and learning to come out of your childhood as a happier and healthier adult.

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