The Time’s Up movement is gaining more ground in the United States since multiple cases of sexual harassment appear in the media. Significantly, the movement became popular when celebrities claimed to encounter sexual crimes throughout their lives, which inspired many U.S. residents to file for similar cases (MsMojo, 2018). Yet, many cases remain unheard if a person is not famous. Sexual assault or rape presumes having sex with a person who did not give consent. Therefore, in instances where a person is made to have sex, the initiator may be charged for sexual violence.
However, the statute of limitations in the United States cannot be applied to all cases. In certain situations, the time for suing for sexual assault is unlimited. These cases include repeated child sexual abuse and sexual violence on a child under 17 (Wang & Wein, 2018). In other instances, the time for filing is limited to 10 years (Wang & Wein, 2018). I believe that this period should be extended since many violent crimes occurred before, and the victims could not speak up solely due to their fear of being judged. Nonetheless, the public expectations to prolong the statute remain invisible because the legislative processes take much time.
There is considerable evidence that can be presented to the court to convict the defendant. For instance, the criminals typically send messages to their victims, which can further prove their correspondence. In the majority of situations of sexual violence, the testimony and credibility of the alleged victim are the essential evidence. Victims’ appellations to healthcare facilities or counselors can also be viewed as evidence since many victims seek medical professionals’ help before going to the police. Undoubtedly, if a rape occurred not long ago, physical injuries can help sentence the offender. If there is no physical evidence and the defendant denies confessing, a person may ask lawyers for assistance. 313 words
References
MsMojo. (2018). Time’s Up movement: Top 3 facts you need to know. YouTube.
Wang, C. & Wein, L. (2018). Analyzing approaches to the backlog of untested sexual assault kits in the U.S.A. Journal of Forensic Science, 63(4), 1110-1121. Web.