A statute of limitations sets an arbitrary time limit for the prosecution of a crime or bringing a suit for damages.  A window is the temporary suspension of the statute. The Child Victims Act contains a one-year window that will improve the protection of our children because it will help victims identify abusers and enablers before they can do more harm.

The FBI has estimated that only 10 percent of sexual abuse is reported to law enforcement. So 90 percent of predators are unknown. They live in neighborhoods and work in positions where they interact with children. If someone can make a claim against a predator, it is for the safety of the children that he or she be given every opportunity to make that claim, and not be blocked by an arbitrary, probably archaic, time limitation. The window will protect by:

Exposing predators.
The “window” enables victims to publicly expose the predators who hurt them, through the open, impartial, time-tested American judicial system. It means that parents, neighbors, and employers will know about individuals potentially dangerous to children. If, in the judicial process, criminal information surfaces, a predator may also be subject to criminal prosecution.

Exposing enablers.
Through the judicial process—depositions, discovery, interrogatories, and sworn testimony—anyone who ignores a sex crime, shields a molester, destroys a document, or deceives a victim's family may also be exposed.

Families deserve to know whether their child's day care center director, pastor, or athletic association harbored a sex offender, stonewalls a prosecutor, or lies to a parent. Citizens deserve to know whether a diocese or a summer camp director knowingly hires child molesters.

Fear of litigation.
Without the “window”, a supervisor who's been lax about child safety has no incentive to change bad habits or work harder.

With the “window,” decision-makers will know that if they insensitively shun a victim or recklessly endanger a child, they may be exposed in court and face consequences.

Fear of financial consequences.
Passage of the “window” will prod defense lawyers, public relations staff, and others to beef up child sex abuse prevention and education.

Concerned employers will start asking their supervisors, “Do we do background checks on everyone here?” and “Are we ready for a potential lawsuit?”

Those who take effective action need not fear. 
The “window” will introduce a healthy concern about possible negligence. But those who take educational and preventive measures, and do not enable abuse or cover it up, have no need for concern. 

Smart organizations will start or expand efforts to train adults about reporting abuse and teach kids about “safe touch”, knowing that:
* victims are less inclined to sue an institution that seems to take abuse seriously
* judges and juries are more lenient with institutions that are already addressing the problem that led to a lawsuit.