Marsy's Law for Georgia

06/10/2026

Sponsored by Representatives Esther Panitch and Karen Lupton, House Bill 1283 was unanimously passed in the Georgia General Assembly in April.

Once signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp, law enforcement will be required to keep evidence, including r**e kits, for at least 10 years. This allows victims of assault who chose not to press charges at the time of evidence collection to change their minds and come forward later — with evidence from their attackers preserved.

Lawmakers say the bipartisan initiative is expected to be signed by Gov. Brian Kemp.

06/08/2026

The Sexual Assault Victims Advocacy Center has created a card with three simple words that can help ease a little bit of a survivor's pain — "We believe you." Advocates carry these cards in their wallets or purses to discreetly pass to someone they believe who needs help. The hope is that the reassurance will be the push these survivors need to seek help, which is listed on the back of the card.

Sometimes, the first step is just knowing someone believes you.A nonprofit in northwest Georgia is trying to make that moment easier.The Sexual Assault Victims

06/04/2026

As Atlanta prepares for a series of high profile international soccer matches, the country's busiest airport will also be a hotspot for human trafficking. Frontline workers and hospitality staff are receiving training to spot and report suspicious activity that could be linked to human trafficking.

Officials say the message is simple: “If you see something that doesn’t look right, say something.”

06/02/2026

Georgia Senator John F. Kennedy was one of the original sponsors for Marsy's Law as a constitutional amendment. He recounted the challenges in getting the law passed in 2018 and passes on advice to crime victims in this recent interview.

Sheriff Reginald Scandrett receives the Champion Award from Marsy’s Law for Georgia during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week for his commitment to victim advocacy.

05/29/2026

When funding disappears, the need doesn’t. Georgia-based nonprofit Raksha is continuing its critical work supporting survivors of domestic violence and s*xual assault in South Asian American community, despite losing federal grant funding.

Executive Director Aparna Bhattacharyya shared that the organization is now “hustling” to find new resources while continuing to serve those who need it most. Stories like this are a reminder of how vital community support is, especially when federal dollars fall short.

Raksha, the only nonprofit in Georgia dedicated to social issues within the state’s South Asian American communities, including support for survivors of domestic violence and s*xual assault, was among hundreds of organizations that lost funding after the U.S. Department of Justice cut an estimated...

05/27/2026

Georgia showed up and lit up!

The Marsy’s Law for Georgia National Crime Victims’ Rights Week video is here and it’s a powerful reminder of what it means to stand with victims and survivors across our state. All across the state, businesses and landmarks turned purple in honor of those impacted by crime.

Featured in this year’s statewide tribute:
Georgia World Congress Center
Georgia International Plaza
Google Atlanta Office
King & Spalding Building
Carvana Tower Midtown Atlanta
Gateway85 pedestrian bridge
King and Queen Buildings
Avalon Plaza Fountain
Whitfield County Courthouse
Mercer University pedestrian bridge
Macon Georgia Sign Downtown

Watch the video and see Georgia glowing purple:

Last month, something powerful happened across the state of Georgia.Businesses, landmarks, and communities lit up purple in support of crime victims, survivo...

05/25/2026

Ahead of the 2026 summer soccer events coming to Atlanta, Georgia leaders and businesses are stepping up to combat human trafficking.

Led by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, the relaunch of Georgia Businesses Against Trafficking will equip local businesses with training to recognize warning signs and create safe spaces for victims.

With Atlanta identified as one of the U.S. cities with the highest trafficking rates, initiatives like this are critical.

Georgia's business community joins forces to combat human trafficking ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. Learn about the initiatives.

05/21/2026

Justice has been served in a devastating case out of Cherokee County. A Georgia man has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 25 years after being convicted of multiple child s*x crimes involving girls under 16.

This case is a powerful reminder of the importance of survivor voices. Their testimony, alongside the work of law enforcement and prosecutors, helped bring accountability after years of abuse:

A judge sentenced a Georgia man to three consecutive life sentences plus 25 years after a jury convicted him of child s*x crimes involving girls younger than 16

05/19/2026

Senate Bill 542, also known as the Georgia Clergy Sexual Abuse Bill, has passed unanimously, closing a long-standing loophole by adding clergy to the state’s list of authority figures. This means religious leaders can now be held to the same legal standards as teachers and coaches when it comes to s*xual misconduct.

This change is the result of years of advocacy from survivors who refused to let the system overlook abuse carried out under the guise of spiritual authority. Now, the bill sits on Brian Kemp’s desk to be signed into law.

Georgia legislators passed the "Clergy Sexual Abuse Bill," adding religious leaders to the list of authority figures accountable for s*xual misconduct.

05/15/2026

What does it mean to truly tell a victim’s story?

After decades covering crime, Tom Jones with WSB-TV has seen firsthand how gaps in the system impact victims long after headlines fade.

That’s why Marsy’s Law for Georgia recognized him with its Champion Award during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Jones has shown his dedication to creating reporting that challenges, informs and puts victims first because every story deserves to be told with dignity.

He stated, "It's important to capture the story from the victim's point of view because in most cases they didn't ask for their lives to be ended, their bodies maimed or their lives disrupted.”

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