• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic

2

‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion

3

Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard

1

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic

2

‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion

3

Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard
PoliticsU.S. Politics

New York’s Rape Laws Are Now Some of the Toughest in the Nation. Here’s Why

By
Natasha Bach
Natasha Bach
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Natasha Bach
Natasha Bach
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 20, 2019, 8:35 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Wednesday extending the statute of limitations for survivors of rape.

Joined by a number of actresses involved with Time’s Up, such as Julianne Moore, Michelle Hurd, Amber Tamblyn, and Mira Sorvino, Cuomo signed the legislation that makes New York’s rape laws some of the toughest in the nation.

What does the bill say?

The existing statute of limitations for reporting second- and third-degree rape had been five years. Under the new law, the statute of limitations for the former is extended to 20 years, and the latter to 10 years. 

The law also extends the statute of limitations to 20 years for a criminal sexual act or incest in the second degree, to 10 years for a criminal sexual act in the third degree, and eliminates the statute of limitations entirely for incest in the first degree. Finally, victims 20 years to bring a civil suit for these offenses.

The state of New York defines rape in the second degree as sexual intercourse between a victim under 15 and a perpetrator who is 18 or older, and/or “with another person who is incapable of consent by reason of being mentally disabled or mentally incapacitated.”

Rape in the third degree, meanwhile, is defined as sexual intercourse “with another person without such person’s consent where such lack of consent is by reason of some factor other than incapacity to consent” and/or the victim is under 17 years old and the perpetrator is over 21.

I'm proud to be joined by @TIMESUPNOW advocates to sign legislation that provides victims of rape more time to seek justice.

If you're a survivor of sexual assault, know that New York State is on your side.

WATCH: https://t.co/EezWTNhrLO

— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) September 18, 2019

“There has been an ongoing and pervasive culture of sexual harassment and abuse in our society, and it is made worse by the fact that victims of second and third degree rape only have five years to bring a legal claim against their attacker,” Gov. Cuomo said. “Five years is an insult to these survivors and today we’re providing them more time to come to terms with the trauma they experienced and to seek justice.”

Sorvino, who has spoken publicly about being a survivor of date rape, said, “the signing of this bill is a watershed moment, a real advance in the battle against rape culture not only in New York but across the country. Because of it, more survivors can now have their rightful day in court and a chance for justice.” 

“We are here to say to survivors, you are not to blame, you are not worthless, you are not less than,” she added. “You are not dirty or damaged goods. You are not without recourse or support credibility. You are not without hope!”

Hurd noted that “it can be incredibly difficult for survivors to come forward when they’re assaulted. No longer will New York state have an unjust expiration date on justice for survivors of rape.”

The law goes into effect immediately.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—145 CEOs call on Senate to support ‘common-sense gun laws’
—These are the 2020 senate races to watch
—Black women voters are key to the 2020 presidential race. Here’s who they support
—The U.K. government’s worst case Brexit scenario looks a lot like ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
—Can Andrew Yang win in 2020? Inside his unorthodox campaign
Get up to speed on your morning commute with Fortune’s CEO Daily newsletter.


About the Author
By Natasha Bach
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Politics

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Politics

Alaskan pilot Ken Jouppi sits in an aircraft hanger in front of a plane.
LawSupreme Court
A passenger brought a 6-pack of beer on an Alaskan pilot’s plane. He now has to defend his plane’s seizure in front of the Supreme Court
By The Associated Press and Michael KunzelmanJuly 20, 2026
2 hours ago
Blue Owl Capital owns about a third of the Freedom Fuel properties: A look inside the $3.47 gas chain
North AmericaDonald Trump
Blue Owl Capital owns about a third of the Freedom Fuel properties: A look inside the $3.47 gas chain
By Brian Slodysko, Michael Biesecker and Josh BoakJuly 20, 2026
2 hours ago
A 13-year-old teenage boy looks at an iPhone screen displaying various social media apps.
PoliticsSocial Media
French President Macron backs effort to ban kids under 15 from social media before departing office next year
By The Associated Press and Samuel PetrequinJuly 20, 2026
3 hours ago
jd
PoliticsWhite House
JD Vance becomes first sitting vice president to welcome a child in office in over 150 years
By Darlene Superville and The Associated PressJuly 20, 2026
9 hours ago
andy
PoliticsUnited Kingdom
Andy Burnham accuses UK of taking wrong turns since the 1980s in first speech as Prime Minister outside 10 Downing Street
By Jill Lawless and The Associated PressJuly 20, 2026
10 hours ago
uk
PoliticsSocial Media
France wants to ban social media for kids — but Brussels says the bill breaks EU law
By Samuel Petrequin and The Associated PressJuly 20, 2026
10 hours ago

Most Popular

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
AI
'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
By Jason MaJuly 18, 2026
2 days ago
‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion
Success
‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion
By Sydney LakeJuly 20, 2026
9 hours ago
Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard
AI
Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard
By Aaron Walayat and The ConversationJuly 19, 2026
2 days ago
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
Success
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
5 hours ago
Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’
Success
Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’
By Preston ForeJuly 19, 2026
2 days ago
Warren Buffett says his $147 billion investing career was an accident: ‘I may be one of the 10 luckiest in the world’
Future of Work
Warren Buffett says his $147 billion investing career was an accident: ‘I may be one of the 10 luckiest in the world’
By Sarah GlodekJuly 20, 2026
15 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.