I Am Evidence Movie Screening & Discussion

Join the Mandel School of Applied Sciences Student-Alumni Network and the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Educationfor the I AM EVIDENCE movie screening and discussion. The film is produced by the Joyful Heart Foundation and Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU) and exposes the shocking number of untested rape kits in the United States today.

This compelling documentary follows stories of survivors who have waited years for their kits to be tested, as well as the law enforcement officials who are leading the charge to work through the backlog and pursue long-awaited justice in these cases. I AM EVIDENCE reveals the high cost of the lingering weariness and need for healing surrounding rape investigations in this country, and the positive effects of treating survivors with the respect they deserve and an opportunity for justice.

I AM EVIDENCE features a particular focus on Cuyahoga County, where the Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Task Force is following up on the testing of nearly 5,000 previously untested rape kits. Since 2015, the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences has been the Task Force’s research partner. The Sexual Assault Kit Investigation (SAKI) project team consists of Rachel Lovell, PhD; Center director Daniel J. Flannery, PhD; Misty Luminais, PhD; Maggie McGuire; Joanna Klingenstein; Laura T. Overman, MEd; Duoduo Huang, MS.

A post-movie panel discussion will be moderated by Ilse Knecht, Policy Director, Joyful Heart Foundation, and will feature: Rachel Dissell, Reporter, Cleveland Plain Dealer; Teresa Stafford, Senior Director of Victim Services and Outreach and Cuyahoga County SART Coordinator, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center; and Mary Weston, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.

2 PD hours available; 1 CEU hour pending.