Actress Advocates for Rape Kit Reform
- 7 hours ago
- 1 min read
After more than a decade of advocacy led by actress Mariska Hargitay, every US state has now passed laws aimed at improving how sexual assault evidence kits—commonly known as rape kits—are tracked and tested. Inspired by the stories she heard from survivors while starring in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation and launched the “End the Backlog” campaign to address the thousands of untested kits sitting in storage across the country. The movement pushed states to adopt reforms like mandatory testing of backlogged kits, statewide tracking systems, and survivor access to updates about their cases. Maine recently became the final state to pass legislation tied to the campaign’s goals, marking a major nationwide shift in how sexual assault evidence is handled. Advocates say the reforms have helped bring attention, accountability, and justice to thousands of survivors whose cases may have otherwise been forgotten.
Image via Joyful Heart Foundation
Read other stories from the 5/11/26 newsletter:
Comments