Donate to Erin's Law
Erin must cover all travel expenses to each state to testify.
Erin's Law is a 501c4 Donations are not tax deductible
You can learn more at www.erinslaw.org
"Erin's Law will give children a fighting chance, a voice, and the tools to help protect themselves. It should be passed in all 50 states. Common sense. It's as simple as that. "
Actress Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Erin's most recent interview on CNN May 20018 when Erin's Law passed in 35th state.
www.cnn.com/videos/justice/2018/05/14/erin-merryn-erins-law-sexual-abuse-safety-education-paul-dnt.cnn
The mission of Erin's law is to get education in all 50 states on the prevention of sexual abuse. Erin's Law empowers children with their voice instead of allowing sex offenders to silence them. Under Erin's Law every year schools are required to teach personal body safety in school. Erin's Law Federal bill is the first ever federal bill that provides federal funds for schools to teach sexual abuse prevention education. President Obama signed it Dec. 2015.
Below are the states that have PASSED Erin's Law.
Governor Quinn Illinois signed the first version of Erin's Law creating task force February 14, 2011.
Vermont 2009 required by law
Illinois Task force 2011
Texas 2011
Missouri July 14, 2011
Indiana April 11, 2012 (mandated version spring 2017 signed)
Maine in May 2012
Michigan January 2013
Illinois January 24, 2013
Arkansas April 2013
Mississippi April 2013
Nevada May 2013
New Mexico February 2014
Utah March 2014
Tennessee March 2014
New Hampshire April 2014
Connecticut May 2014
Louisiana June 2014
South Carolina June 2014
Rhode Island June 2014
Pennsylvania June 2014
California September 2014
West Virginia March 2015
Oklahoma April 2015
Colorado April 2015
Oregon June 2015
Alaska-2015 (25th state)
Alabama 2015
2015 Federal Erin’s Law bill
signed by President Obama
Maryland 2016
Delaware 2016
North Dakota 2017
Montana 2017 (Tara's Law)
Wyoming 2018
Washington 2018
Virginia 2018
Georgia 2018
New Jersey 2019
New York 2019
Florida 2021
Ohio 2022
As of August 2024 sexual abuse prevention has passed in 39 states.
Growing up in Illinois public schools every year I was eduated with my classmates on tornado drills, fire drills, bus drills, stranger danger, and learned the 8 ways to say "NO" to drugs in DARE.
As a child I never had to take cover because of a real tornado. I never had to stop, drop, and roll or run out of a burning building. I never had to evacuate a school bus due to an emergency, but I had the knowledge to know what to do if any of those situations happened. Where was the drill on how to escape a child molester? Where was the lesson plan on sexual abuse? I never learning about safe and unsafe touches or safe and unsafe secrets. I was not educated on, “How to Tell Today or How to Get Away.” I was never educated on, “My Body Belongs to Me.” When a grown man I knew lay on top of me at 6 1/2 years old and threaten to tie me to a bed if I did not lay still and be quiet as he raped me or when my teenage cousin locked me behind closed doors and warned me, "this is our little secret, no one will believe you, this will destroy our family" as he sexually abused me on a bed I stayed silent and lived in that silence alone. When I was raped and sexually abused as a child I did not know what to do. I was confused and scared. My body seemed to belong to the men that used and abused me. It was the message I was educated on.
It is my mission to pass Erin's Law in all 50 states and I won't let anything stop me. Children need a voice. As a society we are responsible to give them that voice.
Erin Merryn appeared on Oprah Oct 6, 2010
talking about Erin's Law.
Permission was given by Harpo to use this photo.
