Portantino Pushes to Abolish Statue of Limitations on Rape

By Catherine Morrisey on March 2, 2012@CaMo0

The statute of limitations would no longer apply to the crime of rape under legislation introduced by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge). Portantino’s bill, AB 1682, would abolish the 10-year statute of limitations on rape cases. In a statement, Portantino said he proposed the measure as an alternative to his past efforts to force local law enforcement agencies to more quickly test “rape kits” provided by alleged victims. Portantino’s rape kit bill passed the Legislature twice but was vetoed by both Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gov. Jerry Brown, in part because law enforcement agencies did not support it. The legislator has noted that hundreds of backlogged rape kits are yet to be examined by law enforcement agencies throughout California, and that such delays could prevent them from being used as evidence in future prosecutions.