Radically Vulnerable: Achieving Justice for Survivors, with Marci Hamilton

The legal landscape has started to change for survivors of child sexual abuse. Are we headed in the right direction? And what do we need to do to keep more children safe? We talked to legal scholar Marci Hamilton from CHILD USA about the progress that’s been made—and what needs to happen next.

Topics in this episode:

·         Many adult survivors had no legal remedy. (1:39)

·         Statute of limitations (SOL) reform—and who opposes it. (4:35)

·         How do SOL windows work? (10:29)

• Top public policy aims. (14:27)
• How to help adult survivors. (17:45)
• Youth sports and other fields where kids are radically vulnerable. (20:30)
• Game Over Commission. (27:00)
• Advice for institutions. (29:10)
• What do we most need to understand? (31:33)
• Our next episode topic. (32:42)

Links:

Prof. Marci A. Hamilton at the University of Pennsylvania is the founder, CEO, and academic director of CHILD USA, a nonprofit academic think tank. She is the author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect Its Children.

The Boston Globe Spotlight report on clergy sex abuse (2002).

Catholic Charities.

New York’s Child Victims Act took effect on August 14, 2019.

childusa.org/law has information on child protection laws across the United States.

Child Welfare Information Gateway information on mandated reporting.

New York Survivor Tool Kit.

Game Over Commission.

Leaving Neverland documentary.

At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal.

U.S. Center for SafeSport.

Dr. Earl Bradley, former pediatrician and convicted child molester.

Studies from Michigan State University, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and Congress (“The Courage of Survivors” Senate Olympics Investigation, July 30, 2019).

David Corwin, MD, professor at the University of Utah.