Joyful Heart Foundation

We’re excited to share that we’re hosting an upcoming webinar addressing one of today’s most pressing digital threats: image based abuse. THE EVENT: Don’t Believe Your Eyes: A Case Study on Image-Based Manipulation and Abuse and What One Prosecutor’s Office is Doing to Fight Back WHEN: Wednesday, April 9th 1:00 pm EST via Zoom WHAT TO EXPECT: Join the Joyful Heart Foundation as we feature prosecutors from the Nassau County (NY) District Attorney’s Office for a webinar about prosecuting image-based abuse (IBA) and some possible legislative solutions that will better hold offenders accountable and help end the abuse. During this webinar, District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, Deputy Bureau Chief Melissa Scannell, and Senior Appellate Counsel Jared Chester will explore the prosecution of defendant Patrick Carey. In this case, the laws in New York were insufficient to address Carey’s abuse of fourteen young women whose social media images he digitally altered as part of a months-long harassment campaign against them. The webinar will conclude with an exploration of the legislative attempts advanced in New York to address the growing problem of image-based abuse. This webinar is essential for anyone concerned about digital safety and justice. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/g268XCmU

Radiologist Dr. Bharti Khurana noticed the link between ER visits and domestic violence, so she and her team built an AI tool to identify at-risk patients for earlier intervention. https://lnkd.in/gur2d6Ph

Alaska update: Senate Bill 69 would give sexual assault survivors the control to track the progress of their sexual assault exam kit and require timely testing. We applaud the AK Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault for their continued advocacy. https://lnkd.in/dW6JaAGC

“Kids are far more likely to be sexually abused than be in a mass shooting, a tornado, escaping a fire in a bus, you name it. We don’t talk about this.” Erin’s Law—already passed in 38 states—is finally sparking important conversations with children. https://lnkd.in/g8pyRB6F

Join us on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 2pm ET / 11:00am PT for Advancing Justice with Forensic Genetic Genealogy, an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of forensic genetic genealogy (FGG), its application to violent crime cold case investigations, and strategies to investigate and prosecute violent crimes associated with FGG leads. Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) is an innovative method of DNA analysis that combines forensic analysis with traditional genealogy research. Investigative leads developed from this work assist law enforcement in identifying an unknown perpetrator or victim. This technique is exceptionally beneficial to resolving cold case violent crimes, in which other traditional leads have been exhausted. Recognizing the value of this powerful investigative tool, the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) became the first federal program to allow FGG to be applied to criminal investigations using federal funding. Since 2019, SAKI grantees have leveraged FGG testing to support hundreds of investigations, resulting in the identification of previously unknown perpetrators, including serial offenders. As many of these SAKI cases are now proceeding to trial, prosecutors must navigate the nuances of FGG in a legal setting. In this presentation, the presenters will provide an overview of FGG, evidentiary challenges for prosecutors and investigators, including surreptitious collection of DNA from suspects, affidavits for search warrants and discovery requests implicating FGG, managing developing issues at pre-trial hearings, and trial testimony associated with FGG investigative leads. Register here: https://shorturl.at/plTmH

You can make a difference. Sign up for action alerts and help us advocate for survivor-centered legislation in your state. https://bit.ly/3Cz7iUz

89% of survivors say their abuser also targeted their pet. The American Bar Association is urging leaders to pass laws to protect pets and increase access to legal support and emergency shelters. https://lnkd.in/gVEBmsDU

Exacerbated by misconduct at their crime lab, Colorado's rape kit backlog has surged to 1,462 kits, with an average turnaround time of 560 days. Learn about the human toll of the backlog and the efforts by legislators to tackle the issue. https://lnkd.in/gRbG433h

Progress! Expanding the Civil Rape Shield Law in Colorado would ensure that irrevalent details like what a victim wore could not be used against them. https://lnkd.in/gqPuRP9p

Join us tomorrow! Our webinar examining the intersection of image-based abuse with domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking happens Wednesday, March 12th at 1:00 PM EST. Our expert speakers, Audrey Hertzberg (Attorney, EMPOWER Center and Anti-Trafficking Initiative) and Lindsey Song (Associate Program Director, Family Law Project), will share compelling case studies demonstrating how perpetrators weaponize image-based abuse. They'll also share how survivors can access services, resources, and legal support. Register now to learn about these interconnected issues and how to better support survivors: https://lnkd.in/gU36K9BE