RAINN Press

Columbus, O.H. (April 25, 2024) – Currently, Ohio law makes it legal for someone to rape their spouse. Ohio’s H.B. 161 Opens in a new tab↗ eliminates the spousal exception rule and permits victims to testify against their spouse. It is necessary to prevent sexual violence and provide justice to survivors, regardless of marital status. RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, released the following statement as H.B. 161 heads to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s…

Washington, D.C. (November 3, 2023) — Last night, the U.S. Senate voted to renew the Debbie Smith Act, a law that, to date, is responsible for aiding hundreds of thousands of investigations in America. The bill provides critical funding to public crime laboratories to efficiently and swiftly test DNA evidence, including rape kits. “The Debbie Smith Act … has helped law enforcement test hundreds of thousands of pieces of DNA evidence, identified serial rapists, and…

Current New York statute requires that mental incapacitation result from a person being under the influence without their knowledge or consent. New York, NY (October 26, 2023) —  Today RAINN, Miss New York USA Rachelle Di Stasio, Assemblyman Dinowitz, Assemblyman Hevesi, Former U.S. Congresswoman Maloney, and a coalition of other New York-based anti-sexual violence organizations called on New York lawmakers to close the state’s Volutary Incapacitation Loophole. “The decision to drink does not equal consent to…

Washington, D.C. – The Senate just passed a bill to prioritize the rescue of children who are sexually abused and exploited online. The Project Safe Childhood Act Opens in a new tab↗, led by Sens. John Cornyn, Amy Klobuchar, Chuck Grassley, Marsha Blackburn, Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, and Chris Murphy, will provide law enforcement and prosecutors with the necessary resources and tools to effectively investigate cases of online sexual exploitation and abuse of children. Child…