Mariska Hargitay Helps Prosecutor Solve Sexual Assault Cases

Talk about an inspired approach.

Law & Order: SVU‘s Mariska Hargitaywho plays Olivia Benson, the officer in charge of the fictional Special Victims Unit in New York City, was instrumental in investigating “more than 11,000” sexual assault cases in Detroit, Michigan.

The turn of events, which will be explored on the Thursday, August 15 episode of the news podcast, “Dateline True Crime Weekly,” saw Hargitay, 60, finance the prosecutor’s work, Kim is eligiblewho found more than 11,000 untested rape aids sitting on a shelf in the evidence room.

Andrea Canningof Canada The date line journalist and podcast host, shared details of the next podcast episode on Today show on Tuesday, August 13. “They found 22 rapists among these resources … and they needed money to do this effort so who stepped in? None other than Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order,” said Canning, 51. “She helped them raise money to do this and it’s having a negative impact across the country. It’s making changes everywhere, from police departments to prosecutors’ offices.”

The news comes seven months after Hargitay opened up about her experience of sexual harassment, writing a powerful essay People which was published on January 10.

“A man raped me in my thirties,” Hargitay wrote in the story. “It wasn’t sexual at all. It was dominance and control. Powerful control.” Hargitay testified that her attacker was “a friend.”

“I tried every way I knew how to get out of it. I tried to be funny, to be nice, to set a boundary, to think, to say no. He grabbed my arms and put me down. I panicked. I didn’t want violence to increase,” the actor wrote. “I know now that it was sexual violence, but I was afraid that he would have physical violence. I went into freeze mode, a normal response to trauma when there is no escape option. I checked my body.”

Through his role as Benson – a character he has portrayed since 1999 – Hargitay has been able to connect with many sex offenders. In 2004, she also founded the Joyful Heart foundation, which aims to “change the way society responds to sexual abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse, support the healing of survivors, and end this violence once and for all.”

Related: Stars Who Left ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’: Where Are They Now?

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has been going strong since 1999, but not all of its main characters have stayed through its long run. In fact, the only remaining original cast member from the show’s first season is Mariska Hargitay, whose character started out as detective Olivia Benson and now becomes the show’s captain. […]

Art continued to portray Hargitay’s life in April this year, when Hargitay was mistaken for a young girl as a real-life police officer while filming scenes. Law & Order: SVU New York.

The witness said People when a “little girl” was separated from her mother at Anne Loftus Playground in Fort Tryon Park and “asked Hargitay for help.” Hargitay reportedly stopped hosting the show for 20 minutes to help find the child’s mother and “comfort” them both.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A professional will provide confidential, non-judgmental support and local resources to help with treatment, recovery and more.