Moves are afoot to end the five-year statute of limitations on bringing rape charges in Indiana.
Two state lawmakers, Republican Sen. Michael Crider and Democratic Rep. Christina Hale are pushing legislation that would allow rape charges to be filed no matter how much time has gone by, the Indianapolis Star reports.
The bill has been dubbed “Jenny’s Law” after Jenny Wendt Ewing. The Star reports she was a victim of a man who tried to turn himself in 2013, but because the incident occurred in 2005, he was set free.
The Associated Press doesn’t typically identify victims of sexual assault. But Ewing has taken her story public to call attention to the issue and advocate for changing the statute.
The versions of the bill from Crider, a Greenfield Republican, and Hale, an Indianapolis Democrat, also would set tougher sentences, with some variations in how each would go about it.
Both legislators say there’s notable support for abandoning the five-year statute of limitations. But some people have concerns that the change could open the floodgates to allegations that go back many years.
Crider said a deluge of new rape allegations shouldn’t happen.
“It’s not like we are going to overload the prisons,” he said. “But at the same time we are trying to open the window for cases like Jenny’s.”
Lawmakers limit time periods some charges can be brought, in part, to help ensure allegations aren’t brought so long after the fact they would be difficult or impossible to prove.
Ewing, who did not report the rape when it occurred, has said she was fearful of the man..
Hale praised Ewing for her advocacy of the proposed legislative change.
“The strength that she showed to stand up and say, ‘I’m going to do something to change this law so that people who come behind me don’t have to face this travesty,’ is just remarkable,” she said.
Associated Press
