More than 1,000 new laws went into effect in California in 2020, and among the most consequential were those expanding the rights of victims of sexual assault. Two bills, Assembly Bill 1510 and Assembly Bill 218, increased the amount of time, otherwise known as the statute of limitations, that victims have to file a claim against their alleged abuser. Those bills turned out to be only the beginning. In the years since, the Legislature has extended these deadlines again and again, and in some cases eliminated them entirely.
If you have been accused of sexual assault, the implications can include high financial costs, jail time, a criminal record, and mandatory sex offender registration, along with the lasting stigma that follows the accusation itself. Even individuals who are ultimately found not guilty face a tough road: strained personal relationships, problems at work, and, for those with children, painful repercussions at home. Because accusations can now surface years or even decades after the alleged conduct, the stakes of these legal changes are higher than ever.
Working with a talented California sex crime defense attorney who has the skill set and experience to handle such charges is essential to protecting your rights. The high level of emotion that comes with sex crime accusations makes these cases challenging to combat, and the expanding filing windows described below make early, strategic representation even more important.
What Were the Original 2020 Changes?
In 2018, California AB 1619 changed the civil statute of limitations for adult sexual assault from 3 years to 10 years after an assault, or 3 years from the date a victim discovers an injury caused by the assault. However, it only applied to incidents taking place on or after January 1, 2019, which excluded many victims based purely on the date of their assault. AB 1510 was passed to give certain previously excluded individuals a renewed opportunity to file a claim.
AB 218 addressed those who suffered abuse as children. Before its passage, victims of childhood abuse generally could only file suit until age 26, or within three years of discovering the harm. AB 218 extended that deadline by 14 years, to age 40, and lengthened the discovery period from three years to five. It also opened a three-year lookback window allowing previously time-barred claims to be filed, and gave courts discretion to triple the damages awarded where an abuser or institution engaged in a cover-up.
How the Law Has Changed Since 2020
The 2020 reforms set off a wave of further legislation. The key developments every accused person should understand are:
- AB 218 lookback window closed (December 31, 2022): The three-year revival window for old childhood abuse claims has expired, but the age-40 and five-year discovery deadlines remain in force.
- AB 2777, the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act (2022): Created a revival window for adult survivors whose claims were previously time-barred, running from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2026. Claims for assaults occurring on or after January 1, 2009 can be revived, particularly where an institution allegedly covered up the abuse.
- AB 452 (effective 2024): Eliminated the civil statute of limitations entirely for childhood sexual assault occurring on or after January 1, 2024. For those incidents, a lawsuit can be filed at any point in the survivor’s lifetime.
- AB 250 (2025): Lawmakers have continued expanding revival options for adult survivors, with a further window for previously time-barred claims reported to run through December 31, 2027.
The full text of these measures is available through the California Legislative Information website, including AB 2777, whose revival window closes at the end of 2026.
Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Charges: Two Different Clocks
It is important to understand that the bills above govern civil lawsuits for money damages. Criminal prosecutions run on a separate set of deadlines under the Penal Code, and those have also expanded. Since 2017, California has had no criminal statute of limitations for many felony sex offenses, including rape and certain crimes against children, meaning prosecutors can file charges no matter how much time has passed. An accusation today can therefore produce both a criminal case and a civil suit arising from conduct alleged to have occurred decades ago.
What This Means If You Are Accused
Defending against allegations from the distant past raises unique challenges: witnesses’ memories fade, physical evidence disappears, and alibis become difficult to reconstruct. Those same problems, however, also affect the accuser’s ability to prove the claim, and a skilled defense team knows how to expose gaps, inconsistencies, and motives in decades-old allegations. Charges such as sexual assault and battery demand an immediate, methodical response: preserving records, identifying witnesses early, and challenging the reliability of delayed accusations.
The financial exposure has grown as well. With treble damages available in cover-up cases and no filing deadline for many claims, civil plaintiffs and their attorneys have strong incentives to pursue even old allegations. Anyone facing accusations involving a minor should also understand that registration requirements and sentencing enhancements for those offenses are among the harshest in California law.
Speak with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Today
AB 218, AB 2777, and AB 452 have progressively widened, and in some cases removed, the window in which allegations of abuse and related lawsuits can be brought against a person in California. That trend shows no sign of reversing, which makes experienced representation more important than ever.
If you have been accused of a California sex crime, call the Los Angeles sex crime defense attorneys at the Manshoory Law Group immediately at 877-977-7750, or contact us online for a free case analysis. Attorneys are available 24/7 to take your call.