Hargitay’s Real-Life Role in Solving Sex-Crime Cases

Olivia Benson from Law & Order: SVU is famous for her unwavering determination, a quality that actress Mariska Hargitay embodies perfectly since she began playing the role in 1999.

Recently, Kym Worthy, a prosecutor in Wayne County, Michigan, made a disturbing discovery: over 11,000 rape kits had been left untested in a police evidence room. This issue was brought to light by NBC journalist Andrea Canning on the Today show.

Determined to address the problem, Worthy set out to have the kits tested, but securing the necessary funding was a challenge. Hargitay stepped in to help, raising funds to support the testing process. This effort has led to significant changes across the nation, benefiting police departments and prosecutors' offices everywhere. Thanks to this initiative, thousands of cases have been resolved, and 22 serial rapists have been identified.

Hargitay’s real-life commitment to justice extends beyond her on-screen role. She recently shared a poignant moment from May when a lost young girl, mistaking her for a real police officer, approached her while she was in her Benson costume. Hargitay felt a profound connection in that encounter.

Additionally, fans of Hargitay and Christopher Meloni will be thrilled to hear that Meloni is writing an episode for the fifth season of his show, Law & Order: Organized Crime, which will feature Benson. Hargitay, who has made numerous appearances in the Law & Order franchise, will join the cast in this upcoming episode.