News 12’s Special Investigation Victims of the System Leads to New Jersey Attorney General Mandate

New Jersey AG Mandated All Rape Kits Submitted to Law Enforcement to Be Tested Following a Kane in Your Corner Investigation

New Jersey (September 3, 2024) - News 12, the preeminent hyperlocal news source across the New York tri-state area, shares that the Kane In Your Corner special investigation, Victims of the System, contributed to the momentum that led the New Jersey Attorney General's Office to mandate that all rape kits submitted to law enforcement be tested. News 12's Victims of the System aired June 11, 2024.

Walt Kane, investigative reporter for News 12 and host of Kane In Your Corner, began investigating New Jersey's treatment of sexual assault survivors in 2021. Following Victims of the System, New Jersey State Senator Joe Cryan wrote legislation that would require the state to test all rape kits released to law enforcement and said the Kane In Your Corner investigation is what convinced him that legislation was necessary.

"Survivors of sexual assault deserve every resource needed to obtain justice which is why I sponsored S3089 to require the testing of all rape kits," said Senator Joe Cryan. "The failure to test every rape kit and DNA evidence allows potential serial perpetrators to commit violence with impunity and is a massive denial of justice. I look forward to the Legislature codifying this directive into law and thank News 12 for highlighting this issue. That's what great journalism is all about."

"At News 12, we want to be advocates for our viewers and our investigative team prides itself on putting the communities we serve first as they search for the truth," said Kristin Malaspina, Chief Content Officer and SVP Distribution for News 12. "I'm incredibly proud of Walt Kane, the Kane In Your Corner team, and everyone at News 12 for proving why local news matters and how our impactful reporting leads to change."

You can watch a replay of Victims of the System on YouTube.