By Michelle Kuiper
For many survivors of crime, the trauma doesn’t end when the sirens fade or the initial report is filed. Instead, it often marks the beginning of a long, silent wait. Statistics tell a sobering story: between 65% and 80% of sexual assaults are never reported, and for those that are, nearly 70% of cold cases remain unsolved. Behind these numbers are real people who are often left to carry the weight of their experience without the resources they deserve.
My own journey through this system began in 1994. For 17 years, my case sat on a shelf, labeled a “cold case.” Despite the terror I felt, I did everything “right.” I reported the crime, consented to a forensic exam, and stayed in constant contact with investigators. I remember the chilling phone call when police told me my offender’s DNA matched two other victims, yet he remained a ghost, and most importantly he remained free to harm others.
It was a heartbreaking realization that other women were living through the same nightmare because the system wasn’t moving fast enough.
The Gap in the System
In 2011, technology finally caught up. A hit in CODIS (the national DNA database) identified my attacker. But even as he was finally brought to justice, I discovered a secondary, institutional hurt: the “age” of my case made me ineligible for help. When I reached out to the Victims Compensation Fund, I was told my case was simply too old. Because laws are tied to the time a crime is committed, I was stuck with outdated sentencing rules and zero access to the financial resources available to survivors of more recent crimes. It was a form of re-victimization; it felt as though the system was saying that because I had waited longer for justice, my healing was somehow less worthy of support.
Making History in Kentucky
I decided that “too old” was not an acceptable answer—not for me, and not for the survivors coming after me. I immersed myself in advocacy, building relationships with legislators who were willing to listen. Alongside Senator Denise Harper Angel and Senator Julie Raque Adams, we formed a working group of dedicated advocates and professionals —including Joyful Heart—to bridge this gap. After two years of hard work, Kentucky passed an historic, bipartisan piece of legislation in 2024 under SB319. Kentucky is now the only state in the nation to have a Victims Compensation Fund specifically for cold cases. ####
Why This Matters:
- The Cold Case Clause: Survivors of cases that were part of a backlog or connected to new DNA evidence can now apply for a one-time restitution of up to $5,000.
- Removing Barriers: We ensured that these survivors aren’t burdened by the same rigid documentation requirements that often make applying for help impossible decades after a crime.
- A Message of Worth: This law codifies the belief that a survivor’s need for resources doesn’t have an expiration date.
A New Standard for Advocacy
My hope is that Kentucky’s progress serves as a lighthouse for the rest of the country. I have been part of the legal process for 33 years—my entire adult life. I know firsthand how it feels to be told you have waited too long for help.
By passing this law, we told survivors that they are seen, they are valued, and they are never “too old” to be supported. We have proven that gaps in policy can be closed when we turn our lived experiences into legislative action.
To anyone still waiting, still fighting, or still healing: It is never too late.
Michelle Kuiper is a sexual assault expert working to increase survivor access to justice. She is currently the Primary Prevention Specialist for the state of Kentucky and is a criminology instructor at University of Louisville. Michelle previously held the title of SAKI Program Coordinator at the Kentucky State Police Crime lab.