Los Angeles Police Department detectives who specialize in child sexual abuse cases have begun examining a trove of newly disclosed priest abuse files to determine whether there are cases that can be prosecuted.

Capt. Fabian Lizarraga said detectives "are currently reviewing the [files], to see exactly what we have.... Then we'll have to see what, if any, laws apply and if they're within statute," he said.

Detectives are limited by a law that only allows the prosecution of incidents since 1988. Many of the files appear to pre-date that year.

Lizarraga said the LAPD will be focusing specifically Los Angeles-based priests.

Read more at the LA Times