Massachusetts laws
MGL c. 265 Crimes against the person:
- § 13B Indecent assault and battery on child under 14
- § 22A Rape of a child; punishment
- § 23 Rape and abuse of child
- § 24B Assault of child; intent to commit rape: weapons; punishment
MGL c. 119, § 21 Mandated reporters defined
MGL c. 119, § 51A Mandated reporting explained
MGL c. 272, § 29A Posing or exhibiting child in state of nudity or sexual conduct; punishment
Statutes of limitations
MGL c. 260, § 4C Statute of limitations for sexual abuse of minors (civil cases)
You can sue for sexual abuse of a minor within 35 years of when it happened, or within 7 years of when the victim knew—or should have known—it caused emotional or mental harm, whichever gives the victim more time. The time limit for filing suit begins to run when the child turns 18.
MGL c. 260, § 4C-1/2 Negligent supervision or conduct causing or contributing to the sexual abuse of minor by another person (same limitation of action as for sexual abuse of minors)
MGL c. 277, § 63 Limitation of criminal prosecutions
Charges can be filed any time after the crime happens. However, after 27 years, any charges filed must include independent evidence that supports the victim’s claims. If the victim is under the age of 16 when the crime happens, the time frame to file charges does not begin to run until they turn 16, or they report the incident to a law enforcement agency, whichever happens first.
Public Law 117-176 Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act (2022)
Removes federal statute of limitations on civil cases filed by victims of child sex abuse, including sex trafficking, child pornography, and other federal crimes.
Selected cases
Web sources
If you or a family member/friend has been sexually assaulted/abused, Mass. Department of Public Health.
Advises on steps to take if a loved one, who is 12 years of age or older, has recently been sexually abused.
List of child physical & sexual abuse services by Massachusetts county, Mass. Office for Victim Assistance.
Find resources around the Commonwealth to help you. Services available in each Massachusetts county are listed. If it is an emergency call 911.
Sextortion, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Explains the basics of “sextortion” tactics used against children online and provides links to resources to prevent, identify, and report sextortion.
The sexual abuse of children in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, Mass. Attorney General.
A 91-page report with 3 main objectives: "(1) to determine whether children were still being sexually abused, or were at risk of being sexually abused by priests or other church workers; (2) to determine whether the conduct of the Archdiocese and its managers in responding to allegations of sexual abuse, or failing to prevent sexual abuse, was criminal and, if so, whether prosecution was appropriate and not time-barred by the statute of limitations, and; (3) to use all available means to ensure that children would be protected in the future."
Warning signs of child abuse or neglect, Mass. Department of Health and Human Services.
Lists recognizable physical and behavioral indicators of child abuse or neglect.
What can I do if I was sexually assaulted in the past?, WomensLaw.org, 2021.
Discusses options for adult victims of child sexual abuse.
Print sources
Defending the unthinkable: Strategies for litigating charges of child sexual abuse, NACDL, 2018.
The evaluation of child sexual abuse allegations: A comprehensive guide to assessment and testimony, Wiley, 2009.
Life with my idiot family: True story of survival, courage and justice over childhood sexual abuse by Kathy and Gary Picard, Lake Town Publ., 2017.
"Limitation of Actions," 51 Am. Jur. 2d Limitation of Actions, Tolling §§ 150-196.
Myers on evidence of interpersonal violence: Child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, rape, stalking, and elder abuse, 6th ed. Wolters Kluwer, 2016 with supplement.
Chapter 6: Child sexual abuse.
"Running of limitations against action for civil damages for sexual abuse of child," 9 ALR5th 321.
Sexual assault trials by Paul DerOhannesian, II, 5th ed., LexisNexis, 2022.
Trying sex offense cases in Massachusetts, 3rd ed., MCLE, loose-leaf.
Chapter 6: Specific issues with child complainants.
Contact
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| Last updated: | July 14, 2025 |
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