SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Legislation altering the time limit for when prosecutors can press charges in sexual assault cases is advancing in the Illinois Legislature.
The proposal by Democratic state Sen. Michael Noland passed a Senate criminal law committee Wednesday.
Under the legislation, the time taken to enter an evidence kit into a state database wouldn’t count against the timeframe for when sexual assaults must be prosecuted.
Currently a sexual assault must be prosecuted within 10 years after it has been reported. Under proposed legislation, there’s no time limit to prosecute if an evidence testing kit is in the state police database.
Noland says victims shouldn’t be penalized because of police department backlogs of evidence kits.
Opponents say legislation should instead put pressure on police to quickly submit evidence.
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The bill is SB2609.
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