Reunion Online

On this week's episode of Kukui Connection, Rep. Marilyn Lee welcomes Kata Issari, Hawaii Regional Director of the Joyful Heart Foundation. The Foundation was created by Mariska Hargitay, of the television show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, in 2004. Joyful Heart's mission is to heal, educate, and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse and shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.

The Joyful Heart Foundation, created by Mariska Hargitay of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, is taking on child abuse in Hawaii with the One Strong Ohana campaign

In recognition of April serving as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, 1in6, Inc.—a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help men who experienced unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood live healthier, happier lives—proudly announces their recent partnership with the Joyful Heart Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Emmy Award-winning actress and advocate Mariska Hargitay of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit with the mission to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill expanding the state’s DNA database to include misdemeanors in addition to felonies. Left out of that list of crimes: first-offense misdemeanor marijuana possession, a crime that Assemblywoman Barbara Clark [corrected] noted scoops up a disproportionate number of black and Latino youths.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo joined by Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today signed into law a historic bill that makes New York State the first "all crimes DNA" state in the nation, by requiring DNA samples be collected from anyone convicted of a felony or Penal Law misdemeanor. In addition, the new law also significantly expands defendants' access to DNA testing and comparison both before and after conviction in appropriate circumstances, as well as to discovery after conviction where innocence is claimed.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a landmark in the movement to end violence against women and girls, is up for re-authorization. Authored by then-Senator Joseph Biden and signed into law in 1994, VAWA revolutionized the way violent crimes against women are prosecuted and prevented, and the way communities respond to survivors.

The New York State Assembly is on deck to approve the state's DNA Databank Expansion Bill. Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed the expansion of the bill to include all misdemeanor convictions.

The Joyful Heart foundation was created by Law and Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse. Hargitay hosted the “Joy Rocks” celebration event, which made more than $150,000 during a star-studded brunch at the House of Blues on a sunny Sunday afternoon, March 4.

Listen up, "Saturday Night Live": We think it's time you let Mariska Hargitay host!

Listen up, "Saturday Night Live": We think it's time you let Mariska Hargitay host!