Reporting Highlights
A National Outlier: Most states allow at least some old rape cases to be prosecuted, but attempts to lengthen the statute of limitations in Massachusetts have failed every year since 2011.
A Short Window: Massachusetts law prevents prosecution of rape suspects after 15 years, even when investigators think new evidence, including DNA, could lead to a conviction.
A Rare Look: Police reports of rape cases are secret under an unusual state law. But one Boston-area case offers a rare look into the impact of the short statute of limitations.
These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
