Mariska Hargitay and the Joyful Heart Foundation Applaud New York Legislators and Governor Cuomo for Historic Agreement to Expand the DNA Databank

March 14, 2012, New York – The Joyful Heart Foundation celebrates the historic agreement that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Assemblyman Joseph Lentol and Senator Stephen Saland have reached to expand New York’s DNA Databank to include all convicted offenders. The agreement was reached on March 14, 2012.

From Joyful Heart’s Founder and President, Mariska Hargitay: “Expanding the DNA database is a victory for crime victims and all those who care about preventing and ending sexual assault. We are tremendously grateful to Governor Cuomo and New York’s legislative leaders for their work.”

From Joyful Heart’s CEO, Maile Zambuto: “The use of DNA technology has revolutionized our criminal justice system. Perpetrators are held accountable for their crimes, survivors receive the justice they deserve and thousands more are spared the trauma of sexual violence. By expanding the DNA Databank to include all criminal convictions, New York's leaders have ensured that the state will use DNA to its fullest potential.”

Joyful Heart is part of a statewide coalition of victim advocates working to expand the DNA Databank and bring healing and justice to survivors of violence. Joyful Heart's mission is 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.

To view Mariska Hargitay's full statement in support of expanding New York's DNA Databank, visit www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/advocacy_dnaexpansion.htm. For more information on how expanding the Databank will make New York’s communities safer, visit www.dnastopscrime.com.

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