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Politics & Government

Delegate Supports Bill that Aids Victims of Sexual Assault

Delegate Jackson Miller (R-50) of Manassas votes yes on bill that extends the limitation period for victims of sexual abuse to sue their alleged abusers.

The Virginia House of Delegates voted to pass house bill 1476, which extends the limitation period for victims of sexual abuse to sue their alleged abusers.

The bill originally called for a 25-year extension, but was modified to eight years from, ‘removal from infancy or incapacity or from the time the cause of action otherwise occurred.'

Delegate Jackson Miller (R) of Manassas voted to support the bill.

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Miller couldn't be reached for comment for this report, despite several attempts by Patch.

Currently, Virginia law affords victims two years to file lawsuits in civil cases.

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‘Two years is a short amount of time.  Most other states have an average anywhere from 8 to 10 years, so Virginia is very strict on this and we do support extending this," Gena Boyle, Advocate for Virginia Sexual and Domestic Action Alliance said. “We support giving victims more time to grapple with what’s happened, especially when dealing with repressed memory."

Boyle noted that repressed memory was a very common occurrence in victims of sexual assault, most especially in child sexual abuses.

Boyle encouraged those suffering as a result of domestic or sexual assault to reach out and seek help. 

“People coming to terms with abuse can come to our hot line, 24 hours a day.  We provide free and confidential services,” Boyle said.

The bill has been sent to the Virginia Senate for consideration.

There is also a myriad of local support resources for those living in the Manassas area. Such resources include Sexual Assault Victims Advocacy Service or SAVAS an agency that falls under the umbrella of  the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Action Alliance. SAVAS was founded in 1983 as a private non-profit agency to aid sexual assault victims in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park. 

SAVAS provides a 24-hour crisis hot line, one-on-one crisis intervention, information and referral to local allied professionals and agencies, support groups, and court and hospital accompaniment 365 days a year.

Like the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, all SAVAS services are free and confidential.

Hospital Accompaniment SAVAS companions are available round the clock to meet survivors and their loved ones at area hospital emergency rooms, offer crisis counseling and attend all legal and court proceedings.

SAVAS also works toward prevention and education.  The organization offers Self-Defense education and training; the RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) Program, Advanced RAD and RAD kids classes to the community. 

In addition, SAVAS provides sexual assault advocate/companion training to interested citizens though our bi-yearly training sessions. 

Resources for training and details on the services offered can be found by accessing their website: savasofpwc.org. The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance hot line is 1-800-838-8238.

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