Policy & Justice

RAINN advocates for laws that hold perpetrators accountable and prevent continued harm. Our work in this area includes:

Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

RAINN’s supports legislation that modernizes laws to keep children safe online and hold offenders accountable. Learn more.

Intimate Material & Tech-Enabled Sexual Abuse

RAINN advocates for stronger digital protections against online exploitation, harassment, and abuse. Learn more.

• Tech accountability for software, providers, and platforms
• Sextortion; nonconsensual distribution of intimate images
• Deepfakes; AI-generated and -manipulated intimate images: Explore the issue brief

Protection Against Perpetrators

• Protective orders
• Digital tracking of victims’ physical locations
• Termination of rapists’ parental rights

Abusive Litigation

• Defamation; privileged communications
• Nondisclosure; forced arbitration
• Defense subpoenas; deposition of victims

Sexual Offenses

• Consent
• Incapacitated rape; voluntary intoxication
• Marital rape; spousal rape
• Rape
• Sexual offenses
• Child sexual abuse (CSA)
• Mandatory reporting
• Immunity for trafficking survivors
• Crimes by trusted persons; physician misconduct; custodial abuse

Physician Sexual Misconduct

• Disciplinary actions against physicians
• Involuntary pelvic exams: Read the issue brief
• Background checks; license lookup
• Physician disclosure of sexual misconduct or conviction
• Medical chaperones

Post-Sentencing

• Sex offender registry
• Post-sentencing conditions for sex offenders
• Second-look sentence modification
• Restitution

Everyone impacted by sexual violence deserves support. Our work in this area includes:

Statutes of Limitations

RAINN works to eliminate time barriers that prevent survivors from seeking justice. Learn more.

• Criminal SOLs: Explore the issue brief
• Civil SOLs: Explore the issue brief
• Revival or lookback windows for civil SOLs
• DNA exceptions

Victim Resources & Rights

• VOCA funding
• FMLA laws
• Restitution
• Victim Rights in Court (formerly Marsy’s Law)
• Guardians ad litem
• Survivor Bill of Rights
• Lease terminations

Securing the Crime Victim’s Fund

RAINN works to ensure that victims of crime receive financial assistance through state-based compensation programs and victim service organizations. Learn more.

Additional Support & Services Work

• Appropriations advocacy
• Federal victim support bills
• SANE access to federal programs
• Department of Education work related to Title IX and the Clery Act

RAINN works to improve the reporting process for survivors. Every victim who chooses to report should be able to report safely and without intimidation. Our work in this area includes:

Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) Kits; Rape Kits

• SAFE kit audits
• SAFE kit tracking systems
• SAFE kit testing
• SAFE kit retention
• Survivor access to SAFEs and SANEs
• Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI): payments and access

Education

• Sexual Violence Prevention Education (formerly Erin’s Law)
• Title IX: School notifications of support and rights
• Title IX: Disciplinary process

RAINN advocates for the accurate and timely identification of perpetrators, and we work to ensure investigators apply transparent and trauma-informed approaches. We advocate for state resources that promote fair and impartial investigations. Our work in this area includes:

Trauma-Informed Training

• For law enforcement professionals
• For criminal justice professionals (judges, guardians ad litem, more)
• For educators, medical professionals, others
• For MDTs (multidisciplinary teams) and SARTs (sexual assault response teams)

Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) Kits 

• Auditing
• Tracking
• Testing and retention
• Survivor access to SANEs and SAFEs
• Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI): payments and access

RAINN advocates for fair and timely prosecutions and convictions by decision-makers who are not limited by rape myths. We work to ensure that victim witnesses are treated with respect and able to testify without intimidation. Our work in this area includes:

Trauma-Informed Training

• For investigators
• For criminal justice professionals (judges, guardians ad litem, more)
• For educators, medical professionals, others
• For MDTs (multidisciplinary teams) and SARTs (sexual assault response teams)

Evidence

• Evidence admissibility
• Other acts evidence
• Out-of-court testimony; statements by victims
• Other acts, including prior bad acts
• Rules of evidence
• Immunity: Explore the issue brief

Post-Sentencing Penalty & Accountability

RAINN works to ensure that appropriate penalties are applied and that all opportunities for victim reparations under the law are exhausted. Our work in this area includes:

• Sex offender registry
• Post-sentencing conditions for sex offenders
• Second-look sentence modification
• Lawfully-owned DNA