{"id":1874,"date":"2025-05-20T12:01:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T16:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/singh\/?p=1874"},"modified":"2025-05-20T12:03:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T16:03:11","slug":"hold-sexual-abusers-accountable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/singh\/2025\/05\/20\/hold-sexual-abusers-accountable\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan Senate Passes Comprehensive Package to Hold Sexual Abusers Accountable, Provide Justice for Survivors\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Legislation led by Sen. Hertel would make Michigan safer for all potential victims of sexual assault and child sex abuse<\/i><\/div>\n
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<\/i>LANSING, Mich. (May 20, 2025) \u2014 Fighting to give survivors of sexual assault greater access to the criminal justice system, the Michigan Senate passed the \u201cJustice for Survivors<\/a><\/u><\/span>\u201d package today. Spearheaded in the Senate by Sen. Kevin Herte<\/b>l (D-St. Clair Shores), Senate Bills 257<\/a><\/u><\/span>–261<\/a><\/u><\/span> would fix Michigan\u2019s broken statute of limitations for civil claims and repeal immunity for educational institutions that conceal systemic abuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor too long, survivors of sexual assault have been denied their day in court, silenced by arbitrary deadlines and a system that failed to hear them. No more,\u201d said Sen. Hertel<\/b>. \u201cAt their core, these bills are about justice, accountability, and finally giving survivors the voice they deserve. With this legislation, we are shattering that silence and making it clear: Michigan will no longer be a place where assault is ignored and abusers get to walk free to continue their cycle of harm.\u201d<\/p>\n

In recent years, Michigan has made national headlines with high-profile sexual abuse cases \u2014 ranging from Michigan State University\u2019s Larry Nassar to the University of Michigan\u2019s $490 million settlement involving Robert Anderson, as well as Attorney General investigations into abuse within the Catholic Church<\/a><\/u><\/span> and the Boy Scouts of America<\/a><\/u><\/span>. These cases have exposed the pervasiveness of sexual assault as well as the legal loopholes that abusers and institutions exploit to escape accountability. Despite this alarming reality, Michigan has the narrowest revival window in the nation and some of the most restrictive statutes of limitations for seeking damages for criminal sexual conduct that fail survivors and shield abusers.<\/p>\n

\u201cMichigan\u2019s criminal justice system must be reformed to prioritize protecting survivors of sexual assault, not shielding abusers,\u201d said Sen. Mallory McMorrow<\/b> (D-Royal Oak). \u201cWith the passage of this legislation out of the Senate, we\u2019re one step closer to securing the access to justice that survivors deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senate Bills 257-259, introduced by Sens. Hertel<\/b>, McMorrow<\/b>, and Sam Singh<\/b> (D-East Lansing), <\/b>seek to address the issue and better support victims by:<\/p>\n

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