Posted by ag on March 15, 2004 at 16:12:14
In Reply to: They already do that posted by exer on March 15, 2004 at 15:09:38:
It's good to know there's a way to clear your name of a false accusation, but what if the accusation has some element of truth? What should the recourse be for the offender?
I realize that many people will say "Send him to prison!" But the truth is, not all perpetrators are sent to prison--even when they openly confess to criminal offenses.
This is because many cases cannot be prosecuted in a criminal court due to requirements imposed by statutes of limitations. The vast majority of cases that are successfully prosecuted in the US and Canada are filed in civil courts, where damages are awarded financial penalties.
When it is a case of an adult survivor with corroborating evidence, everything depends on what the victim says s/he wants to see happen in the way of punishment or restitution.