Why have statute of limitations on child molestation?

The sports world hasn’t been doing so hot lately when it comes to touching kids inappropriately. We all know about Jerry Sandusky and the whole Penn State fiasco. Then we heard about Bernie Fine’s alleged misconduct at Syracuse. Now, it’s former Philadelphia Daily News columnist Bill Conlin, who is being accused by four adults of molesting them back in the 70′s.

Here’s the problem (other than the kid touching business): Fine and Conlin will most certainly be escaping prosecution because the statute of limitations has run out. How is this possible?

I don’t know all the state laws or whatever and far be it for me to actually look them up. But, how can you have any kind of statute of limitations on crimes this heinous?

It’s one thing to have a statute of limitations on Catholic priests. But, these are sports figures and trusted members of our society, they should be held to a higher standard.

When you watch any of those documentaries about prison (like “Lockup” on MSNBC), the prisoners make it really clear that if you’re in there for sex crimes against children, you’re going to get messed up pretty bad by other inmates. Let’s make that clear: These are some of the lowest members of our society saying this. These are people that brutally killed other people…and they think you’re scum.

So, if we all agree that child molestation is the worst crime that one can commit, why is there a statute of limitations on it? There isn’t for murder, and I think we all agree that this is worse.

It’s especially troubling not to have a statute of limitations on child sex crimes considering it can many times take years and years for a kid to grow up, realize what was done to them, and then tell someone.

This is ridiculous and these high-profile stories are perfect examples of why the laws need to change. Luckily, Sandusky is going to get what’s coming to him because they found out about it soon enough, even if Penn State was hoping they could hold out.

But, c’mon, how do these statutes of limitations even exist?