Earlier this week, Iowa Gov., Kim Reynolds, signed Senate File 562 into law. This act is related to the sexual exploitation by an adult providing training or
A new Iowa law eliminates the statute of limitations to bring criminal charges for several sexual abuse-related crimes committed against minors. Today, Iowa stands in support of survivors of sexual violence as we become the 14th state to eliminate the statute of limitations for these heinous crimes, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement after signing the bill Wednesday.
The new law, Senate File 562, will eliminate the statute of limitations for crimes against children under 18, including sexual abuse, incest, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Iowa law previously barred charges for those crimes from being brought after either 10 or 15 years had passed since a minor turned 18 years old, depending on the crime. Charges could also come up to three years after an offender was identified through a DNA profile, if that date came after the other statute of limitations period.
By Jason Taylor
May 13, 2021
DES MOINES, Iowa - Victims of sexual abuse as minors will no longer have a time limit for coming forward in Iowa.
A new law does away with the statute of limitations to bring charges for sex abuse and human trafficking of children under 18 years-old.
Previous time limits top out when a victim is 33, and can be just a few years if the abuse was by a counselor or therapist.
Iowa is now the 14th state to eliminate the statute of limitations for reporting sexual abuse against a child.
The bill passed the state Senate unanimously and by an 84-2 vote in the House last Frida.