RAINN Press

Jackson, M.S. – Today, RAINN, along with Representative Dana McLean (R-District 39-MS), the Center for Violence Prevention, Joyful Heart, and Ole Miss’ VIP: Survivor Support called for the passage of HB 1537 in Mississippi. The Bill provides immunity from offenses involving substance use to those seeking to report a sex crime. “As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to encourage victims and witnesses of rape and sexual assault to report these life-altering crimes,” says Representative Dana…

Washington, D.C. – On March 27, 2024, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) signed AB 940 — a RAINN-supported bill that provides critical services for victims of crime-into law. This law funds victim services and domestic abuse services, training for grant recipients, and grants to child advocacy centers in Wisconsin. The new law will help close funding gaps in Wisconsin left open after cuts to the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). “VOCA funding surrounds survivors…

Washington, D.C. (September 7, 2023) – RAINN released the following statement after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge sentenced Danny Masterson to 30 years to life today after Masterson was found guilty of two counts of rape in May 2023: “The victim-impact statements were incredibly powerful and we applaud the strong sentence handed down by Judge Olmedo,” said Scott Berkowitz, RAINN president and founder. “We are hopeful that today’s sentence sends a message that justice…

Va. Governor Youngkin Signs Three RAINN-supported Bills Into Law In a sweeping show of survivor-centered legislative progress, Monday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed into law three RAINN-supported bills that give survivors of sexual violence tools they need to seek justice and healing. “Virginia empowered survivors with these new laws,” says RAINN Director of State Legislative Affairs, Mollie Montague. “Whether it is protecting themselves and their children from a rapist, or seeking care after an assault,…

Too often, when survivors come forward to tell their stories, they are met with bad faith lawsuits trying to silence them. Thanks to a new law in California, survivors will be better protected from the risks, and costs, of lawsuits. Following a campaign led by survivor Victoria Burke and supported by RAINN, the legislature passed AB 933, which was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The bill, sponsored by Assembly Members Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and…

A 4992 would clear the way to establish patterns of behavior in prosecution of sex crimes in New York New York, N.Y. – Today, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, RAINN, and a coalition of New York City-based anti-sexual violence organizations are calling on New York lawmakers to support a bill that would stop the kind of ruling reversal that undermined the state’s 2020 case against Harvey Weinstein and subjected survivors who testified…

Victory for Survivors: New Law Protects Survivors Who Report Sexual Offenses Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves Signs RAINN-supported Bill Into Law Jackson, M.S. – April 2025, Mississippi takes a powerful stand for survivors with the enactment of HB 861 and SB 2313, landmark legislation designed to protect those reporting sexual assault. These crucial laws provide limited immunity from prosecution for alcohol and drug misdemeanors to survivors and witnesses who come forward to report sexual offenses. “Today,…

Washington, D.C. (September 13, 2023) – RAINN released the following statement after a House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee for Crime and Federal Government Surveillance hearing to address the various threats of exploitation children in the U.S. face: Today, the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee for Crime and Federal Government Surveillance held a hearing to address the issue of children being sexually exploited and abused online, child trafficking, the technology sector’s role in preventing and protecting children from…

Washington, D.C. (September 27, 2023) – The failure to test rape kits and DNA evidence enables serial perpetrators to commit violence with impunity. A bill introduced today in the House of Representatives will help fix that. The Rape Kit Backlog Progress Act, sponsored by Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC-1) and Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), and endorsed by RAINN, would strengthen reporting requirements and give the public vital information about the status of DNA evidence kit backlogs across…

Washington, D.C. – A bipartisan group of members of Congress introduced a bill to prioritize the rescue of children in efforts to interdict child sexual exploitation offenders by providing law enforcement and prosecutors with new resources and tools. Sens. John Cornyn, Amy Klobuchar, Chuck Grassley, Marsha Blackburn, Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, and Chris Murphy and Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Wesley Hunt yesterday introduced the Project Safe Childhood Modernization and Reauthorization Act. This bill updates…

Washington, D.C. – A bipartisan group of members of Congress introduced the Debbie Smith Act of 2023. This bill reauthorizes funding towards public crime laboratories to process DNA evidence from rapes and other violent crimes. At any given time, there are thousands of rape kits sitting in law enforcement evidence rooms or awaiting testing at state and local labs. These rape kits often times contain the DNA of violent sexual offenders who have not yet…

Law Enforcement Reports Historic Levels of Child Sexual Abuse Images and Videos Distributed Online Washington, D.C. (April 20, 2023) – A bipartisan group of Members of Congress is trying to end the legal loophole that gives technology companies immunity from liability for hosting images of child sexual abuse on their platforms. The Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies (EARN IT) Act, introduced today by Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham, and Reps. Ann…